Thoughtless Thursday...Dog Days of Summer

Thoughtless...perhaps, only you can decide:

 

1. With us deciding to stay at home this weekend and forego the sunny beaches of Seaside with the bestest, her hubby, and family {honestly, what are we thinking?}, Jeff and I have some time to get to work around the house and I am hoping to start and finish some projects...in no particular order, we're going to embark on these "fun" assignments:

• Work on gallery art wall for our downstairs--a.k.a man cave/family living room
• Organizing storage areas--upstairs closets, cabinets, and basement space to make sure everything in our house has a place so that things actually get put up
• Searching for new bedding for the master...such a tedious chore and a hard one at that. Bedding stores in Nashville are few and far between, but hoping I can find something fresh and fun to change up our room and add some fun new colors
• Buy new outdoor patio umbrella and outdoor pillows and accessories to bring in some added color for summer entertaining...so wishing we could get new furniture, though that is on the list for next year

2. Getting an email from our fabulous wedding photographers entitled "Image Premiere" last night may have made my entire week...sure, our meetingisn't until July 29th, but that means we are inching closer to getting our wedding pictures!

3. With so much going on in Nashville this weekend, Jeff and I are hoping to venture to the Farmer's Market to stock up on local produce, head to Franklin to partake in the 4th of July Main Street Festival and Fireworks, perhaps take a little afternoon/early evening picnic to Arrington Vineyards for some wine tasting and live music, and spend as much time relaxing as possible...not to mention grilling out a traditional holiday meal is already in the works...I need a hamburger and hot dog like yesterday

4. Recently, Jeff and I have been ordering catering and food for family and friends from personal chef and health counselor Callie McMillin...her local business is fantastic and it's perfect for people on the go who want homecooked food, but can't always make the time to do it with such hectic schedules. 

5. I hate changing my name--there, I said it. It's not that I don't love my new name and hubby, but the whole process is just draining...first the government stuff, then the work stuff which has turned out to be much more extensive, then come the bank accounts and will changes and insurance coverage, and all my emails and such...I want a fairy IT guru/godmother to come get this done for me.

6. My new favorite summertime cocktail is Crystal Light Strawberry Lemonade with vodka and a splash of pineapple juice...amazing and light--perfect for hot weather!

Enough mumbo jumbo for today...what all is racking your brain and keeping you occupied today?? I am anxiously watching the hours because I'm mroe than ready to get home early this afternoon to say hello to something new--woo hoo!! Happy Thursday friends ;)

The Best Day Ever...Out of Town Gift Bags

Finally, right? Another wedding recap...I'm hoping I can get through at least one of these a week or until I receive all of my fabulous wedding pictures!! I'm hoping I can swoon my photogs with some baked goodies or something of that nature ;).
When I started thinking about OOT gift bags, I knew I wanted something that screamed Nashville...also known as Music City USA. I had very specific items I wanted to include, and started off on my quest to purchase fun items to make these unique for guests that were sweet enough to travel to TN for our big day. Without further adieu, here they are:

The finished products...all lined up and ready to be delivered to the hotels

Now backing up to the assembly and what items were in each takeaway tote:

Goo Goo Clusters--a Tennessee staple

Mini Jack Daniels bottles--no explanation needed

Goody's Headache Powder Packets--for the day after ;)

Music City Mix CD made by Dad--check out the CD label

Bottled Water with personalized labels

 Homemade Late Night Munchies Mix--popcorn, M&Ms, peanuts, and coated with melted almond bark...so addictive

Homemade Mini TN Jam Cakes--made by Mom and the perfect sweet treat!

Trident White Gum

Spirit of Nashville Postcards

Custom Wedding Itinerary--complete with a listing of our favorite places to eat, shop, and visit as well as detailed directions to the church

The weekend before the wedding, Meg/Aaron, Mom/Dad, and  Jeff and Igot to work on baking/mixing, and getting the items ready to be packaged and then Mom and I made ourselves a small assembly line Wednesday night...we were a machine making sure everything was just perfect and I just loved how they turned out!

For the custom water bottle labels, munchie tags, stickers, and itineraries, I worked with the fabulous Mekala from Tie That Binds.

She helped me achieve the exact look I was going for to tie these small details into the overall color scheme and look of our invitations. Ladies, she is WONDERFUL to work with and you can see more of her designs on her blog here.  {P.S. I'll have more to show you from her when I recap the rehearsal dinner, too!}

As for the other items, I found these all around Nashville and online:

Kraft tote shopping bags: Michael's

Bright yellow tissue paper: Hobby Lobby

Cello bags for munchie mix/mini jam cakes: Nashville Wraps--available to purchase online

Raffia ribbon for mix: Nashville Wraps/Hobby Lobby

Retro Nashville postcards--Spirit of Nashville

Goo Goo Clusters: Cracker Barrel

Quick Overview!

Hey there all,

It's been a crazy couple of weeks for Clover and Folly... Between the Great New York Bound Road Trip Adventure and moving/living/breathing in Brooklyn there hasn't been much time for posts! But, in a photo montage I will try to bring us up to date.

Enjoy!

I had company on this road trip!!

It was the Great Tameeka who kept me

awake in times of sleepiness (by playing car games),

changed the radio when my iPod died, and

navigated like a true sailor.

I honestly don't think I would have made it without her!!

Layered frames taken with a Holga camera of the Arizona landscape.

Photo shoot off HWY 93 in Arizona.

So, after driving all day and through the night we finally made it to Fort Stockton, TX.

It was the fan that really saved the day in this place, not to mention the salad wagon!

On the water in New Orleans, LA. We were searching for some good Creole food...

After a delicious dinner at La Roux in the classic French Quarter we waltzed

into Fritzel's for some New Orleans Jazz!!

Enjoying a cocktail, or two...

; )

Joshua the poet! (left) was reading his latest poem

to the much admiring birthday man, Keith (right).

Ratatat in Memphis, TN!!!!! So goood!!

This was our first couch-surfing experience of the trip and it was wonderful!

Owen (far right) was so awesome and showed us around the town. Here we are gearing

up for a water balloon fight in the park. It's ON!!

Being lovers of all things thrifted, Tameeka and I found the only AMVETS in Tennessee.

What a life-changing experience...

Here we are dancing in the park in Nashville.

It was adorable they had a classic Big Band and everything.

The Parthenon in Nashville!!

Unfortunately we didn't get a photo with Seth, our couchsurfing host but he was very hospitable and showed as a great time.

Thanks Seth!

Next stop, Roanoke, VA. Here we are with Jessica our host on her college campus.

It was great to see the town and enjoy some of THE best donuts of my life....

Seriously.

Tameeka is excited to see her family in Philly, PA.

And Finally: Brooklyn!

More photos to come of the past two weeks in the Big Apple ; )

Tuesday Fun...Taking It Easy!

Back at it with last weekend's updates...yesterday was the "typical Monday" and it was hard to get my butt in gear! I started out at the Social Security Office and DMV to begin the name change process and oh boy, what fun that was. Less painful than imagined, but still not too enjoyable--let's be honest, the boy's have it easy in that department.
Now, back to the weekend, which was all about taking it easy.

Friday, we hit up Macy's and Bed, Bath, and Beyond to begin the gift exchange/return shopping spree. After all was said and done, we got our new set of pots and pans and everyday flatware--yes, old people over here. Then, we met Mom and Dad at Chuy's for dinner and drinks.

Saturday morning, I hit the gym, then went on my work clothes shopping adventure. Fast forward 3 hours and I was able to walk out of the mall with some great new finds...not to mention I saved a ton of $$ because everyone was having major summer sales--score!
That afternoon, Jeff and I did some car shopping, and then joined up with the Grunkes for a fun and laidback evening cookout. They wined and dined us with peach pork chops, grilled sweet potatoes, green beans, and the most sinful caramel ice cream--worth every bite though!

Sunday, we finally made it back to church and Jeff and I both agreed it was great to be back in worship. Then we headed to my parent's house where the plan was to swim and layout, though summer showers prevented that escapade so we took to Scrabble, movies on the couch, and grilling for dinner. Fantastic way to wrap up another fun weekend.
So now it's Tuesday morning--and my mind is a bowl of jelly...I can't seem to focus today so let's talk randomness...
1. I gave in to ABC and watched another episode of The Bachelorette last night--LAME! Why do I do it? I'm sorry Ashley, but you look ridiculous pining after nasty sleazeball Bentley and I am glad the guys let you know it...and that sequined dress with the hair bun--yikes.

2. I am so excited the 4th of July is almost here! I am ready for fireworks, hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, and a 3-day weekend...it just can't get here soon enough.
3. Retailers are already emailing out the new wave of fall boots that are coming in...seriously? It's 85 degrees outside people--the last thing I want to think about is fall and winter...give it a rest already!

4. So, once the wedding is over and the day has finally past--what does a girl do with her time? She plans vacations...Yes, I have to keep my mind occupied so we're in the middle of planning our long anticipated NYC Christmas Adventure--4 couples, Broadway shows, wining and dining, and taking in the city sights--what could be better? I am over the moon happy to finally experience my favorite city with my best friends and their beaus.

Alright, enough for now--I'm on the hunt to find a fun, yet simple DIY project to occupy some of my free time this weekend so we'll see what I can come up with. I'm ready to whip out some spray paint or the glue gun and get crazy! Happy Tuesday...tomorrow I'll finally be back with another wedding recap--woo hoo!

A Great Move Forward

It has been all together WAY too long since a post has been made here. This is especially inexcusable since there has been many miles (around 4,000 truth be told) of travel involved in life of C&F during the past several months . Ok fine we've relocated to BROOKLYN, NEW YORK!!

While this is a very exciting move for Clover and Folly, mixed with a bit of melancholy I must admit due to leaving it's birthplace of San Diego, CA, there have been many things leading up to it and a move to the Big Apple was inevitable it would seem. So let us celebrate with champagne and fashion yay!!

Driving into Brooklyn... Absolutely spectacular.

Before leaving SD the designer of Clover and Folly, April Cromer, was involved in a year long collaborative project under the title of Art Meets Fashion. This proved to be an invaluable experience in the career and inspiration of the emerging designer and has contributed to her acceptance to Parsons The New School for Design! Congratulations April, may you thrive in the Big City!!

Getting back to the AMF project, which involved five collaborators, five final looks, three fashion shows, and an entire year of hard work, the collection was finally debuted at the San Diego Airport on April 28, 2011. It was then shown at NTC on May 7th, with a finale fashion show at SPACE4ART in downtown San Diego.

Here is the result of their hard work, as it can FINALLY be showcased online without ruining the anticipation of surprise:

Ash Lady

starts the show and represents the apocalypse itself.

Mudd Lady

is the second look of the collection and signifies the beginning of the rebirth after total destruction.

Seed Lady

is a representation of new life and growth starting to take place with a clean, fresh start.

Water Lady

nourishes the earth so that new life can continue to grow.

And finally Crystal,

who offers enlightenment after darkness and represents the final stage of the rebirth by providing hope for a new beginning.

The full five piece collection.

And now to introduce the collaborators:

(Left to right) Valentine Viannay, artist, Robin Pryzbz, educator/artist, April Cromer, designer, Aurelia Damore, photographer, Jeffrey Brosby, photographer.

To view more about the collection please visit:

www.theelevation.info