My Parents Were Awesome

As you half-begrudgingly pack the suitcase for another festive trip home for the holidays, we and the founders of blog phenom, My Parents Were Awesome, encourage you to pause for a moment to pay homage to your beloved 'rents. After all, they gave up a heck of a lot of awesomeness over the past 20-30 something years to pass the torch on to you.
Don't let mom fool you with her embroidered sweater or dad with his loafers and Ford Taurus. There are secrets locked behind that now salt-n-pepper mustache you may not even want to know. I'm talkin' chain-smoking, shirtless guitar-strumming, and rejection of established institution like you would not believe. It's true; before they were ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’, those two were just your everyday ‘Leroy + Ruthie’ or ‘Ron + Darlene’—a couple of plaid-clad lovebirds flashing peace signs and breaking curfew.

Thank goodness there is just enough photographic evidence of this said awesomeness to pique our curiosity and ensure us that our parents might just get us more than we think. So this holiday, pour another glass of eggnog, and pull up a chair next to the ones who invented awesome.

2 Girls. 1 Cute Invitation.

Check out these sweet ABC birthday invitations we created for our friends Steve and Angie for their twin daughters' first birthday party. Homespun in the hippest way, Angie carried this look out beautifully with purple and green gerber daisies, vintage-styled wooden alphabet blocks, and a custom cake created by Take the Cake to match the invitations. You know how we love handsome design made of sugar...mmmarvelous. Happy belated birthday, Zella and Mica!

Images 3 and 4: Neysa Ruhl Photography; Image 5: David Schlosser

Yummy Designs by Amy Atlas

Dessert meet design. Design, dessert. Now that we're all acquainted, let's party! It's not often two of my favorite things in the world coexist as harmoniously as they do on Amy Atlas's signature dessert tables. Works of art in their own right, these stunners are no doubt the highlight of the party—drawing guests in with their out-of-this-world details and heavenly flavors. Coveted by big names such as O Magazine, Martha Stewart, Better Homes & Gardens, and Preston Bailey, Amy Atlas is a must-have for many high-profile events in New York and around the country—and it's easy to see why everyone is still hungry for more.

It's no secret we strive to add that designer's edge to all of our goodies, but it's such a treat (no pun intended) to see this degree of artistry carried out with sugary edibles. Thank you Amy, for surprising us with your creativity and keen sense of style.

I Can Feel A Hot One

Simply put: I would love to design something inspired by this poignant Manchester Orchestra video for I Can Feel a Hot One. Wow.


Manchester Orchestra - I Can Feel A Hot One (Official Music Video) - Click here for the most popular videos

Blush Boudoir

We're feeling saucy today—feels like a splendid time to show off some glamorous, sultry boudoir photos by our photographer friend, Tracy Abstson. Her Blush Budoir project is laced with so much hotness, I practically need an icy beverage just to finish this post.

I simply love this concept: sexy, beautiful shots of yourself, propped to your liking to capture your more provocative side. The key here is eloquence, and Tracy is able to toe this fine line so gracefully without missing the sparkle. Her comfort level with her clients is obvious and creates the perfect platform to bring out the vixen in all of us. Typically intended for your sweetie's eyes only, I can't think of a better gift to spice things up a bit.

Also, check out Tracy's modern day vintage hair accessories: PinMeUp Couture

Genna and Clark's Farmhouse Wedding

You may remember an inspired mood board we shared for Genna and Clark's Bohemian Farmhouse chic wedding invitations a couple of months ago. Well today, we are happy to share the finished product with you along with some breathtaking shots by Poiema Photography. On October 17th, Genna and Clark tied the knot on Clark's family farm, Jumping Run Farm. An old dairy farm in charming Louisburg, North Carolina, this rustic diamond in the rough laid the the perfect groundwork for an enchanting, personalized event guests would not soon forget.

Clark shared some photos of the farm with us before we started this design which made it easy to capture the perfectly homespun essence of the farm and the viney terrain of the property itself. The invitation suite we created came tucked in a woodgrain paper belly band bound with baker's twine and a single apple green button.

Clark's own photography of the farm debuted on the front of a vintage inspired RSVP postcard for an extra personal touch.

You simply can't have a wedding on a dairy farm without a couple of lovable cows in the mix.

Luxurious 1-color letterpress done by the amazingly talented Studio On Fire and intricate nature-inspired detailing add just the right amount of finesse.

Clark and Genna, we have enjoyed every minute of working with you. Your love story is the stuff fairytales are made of, and your wedding photos capture your personalities perfectly. Many, many congrats.