Some Things Are Meant To Be

I'm trying to get back into creating posts with more meaning this year since that was one of the reasons I wanted to start this blog- to inspire and to celebrate life. The fashion posts are always fun, but I want to add a little more feeling and heart into my blog (and also a little more of Charleston, the city that I love!)

With that being said, I wanted to write a little bit about having faith and believing in what is meant to be. 

This has always been a common phrase throughout my life because even at a younger age, I would often see how things that didn't seem great at first always turned out to be something wonderful, or at least turned out to be a wonderful lesson learned. 

I've used this phrase a lot lately in regards to my relationship with Robbie. As I go through our "love story" I see little signs here and there telling us that it is meant to be, though maybe at one point I never would have believed it! ;)

All through the wedding planning process, all of the big decisions have been fairly smooth and things have fallen into place as they should. I know not at all things will be this easy but sometimes I feel like when you have to force something to work, it's probably not meant to be.

Robbie and I have started to look at houses to buy when we get married, and we both are going at it with that same mindset. If it's something that is supposed to happen, that God has written in our plan, then it will all work out just as He meant for it to be.

Life Lately

Sorry that I've been a bit under the radar lately due to certain engagements. Mostly meaning mine. :) I've been over the moon about planning our wedding but with the busy holiday season (I know it's technically not the holidays anymore but I'm still playing catch up!) I haven't had much time to get back into the blogging world! 

Weddings have been on my mind a lot lately, but not just mine... 

In between Christmas and New Year's I was a bridesmaid for the third time this year, and this time Robbie got to be part of the festivities as a groomsman too! It was good practice for our big day! :)

This past weekend my mom and I hosted a surprise shower for another friend that is getting married this March. After the shower on Saturday, we took two of my girls to start looking for bridesmaid dresses while we all were in Richmond at the same time and then afterwards, went over to my grandmother's house who wanted to show me her wedding dress from 1954 (complete with a hoop skirt!)

The wedding in March will be bridesmaid duty (actually MOH duty this time!) number 4 this year, and then one of my sorority sisters and best college girlfriends gets married in June to round out my 5th time as a bridesmaid within one year before it's my turn just 2 weeks later.

It's been very busy this past year with bridal showers, bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners, and weddings but I couldn't be more excited about it all and it has been such an honor to stand by my best friends' sides on their wedding days! I don't know what I'm going to do after my wedding when that season has come and gone! I'm so lucky to have these ladies and their awesome husbands/soon to be husbands in my life and it's been great being a bridesmaid so often to know what to expect for when it's my turn to be the bride. 

If you want to see a better recap of 2014- check out my post here! Hope to get back to more regularly scheduled posts as I get back into the groove of things. Have a great Wednesday!

Lilly Online Sale!

Cheers to the New Year, it's time for the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale!

Getaway Quilted Vest

Topanga Lace Dress

Sanibel Dress

Layton Dress

Hayden Cardigan

Elsa Top

Asher Top

Augusta Shift Dress

Amalie Cardigan

Janice Shift Dress

Rogan Top

Shop more of my picks here:

TOPS

DRESSES

BOTTOMS

Two Thousand Fourteen Recap

2014 was one of the best years yet- filled with of great times with the best of friends, the promise of forever with my best friend, and a loving and supportive family by my side through it all. Here's to 2015 and all that is has to bring!!!

one: spent a low key New Year's here in Charleston nursing some nasty colds

two: took our first trip together to Asheville and enjoyed a romantic dinner together while it started to snow outside (one of my favorite date nights of ours!)

three: toured of the Biltmore which looked beautiful with all of it's Christmas decor

four: ate at the famous Tupelo Honey Cafe, which certainly lived up to it's expectations

five: tried not to freeze our butts off in Asheville with temps in low teens

six: attended the Charleston boat show and drooled over the beautiful boats and yachts

seven: enjoyed a sunny Sunday downtown

eight: ate lots of oysters at Boone Hall for the Lowcountry Oyster Festival

nine: went out and saw chilly Charleston after it was hit with an ice storm

one: got creative with my Valentine's Day decor

two: started this blog!!!

three: indulged in a chocolate covered waffle brunch while my little brother was in town

four: did some shopping on King Street and enjoyed the sunny skies

five: saw one of the most beautiful sunsets down at the Battery

six: Palm Avenue reopened after renovations and the Lilly jeep came to visit

seven: celebrated Valentine's Day with my favorite guy and some of our favorite foods

eight: attended the South Eastern Wildlife Expo and got to see lots of expensive shotguns, adorable dogs, and Robbie was totally in his element

nine: ran/walked along the Ravenel Bridge and saw some great views of Charleston

one: caught a gorgeous sunrise at the Waterfront Park

two: my bff Michelle came to visit for her birthday weekend with her boyfriend (now fiance!)

three: capturing some great architecture and detail at St. Phillip's church

four: ate way too many cookie dough oreos

five: brightened up my apartment with some pretty daisies

six: welcomed spring with open arms

seven: celebrated Jared and Erin's wedding in Bluffton with some good friends

eight: recovered from the wedding with a nice Beaufort River breeze

nine: another bff and her husband came to visit and we ate, drank, shopped, and took goofy pics

one: savored the spring blooms

two: longing for beach days, I explored around Isle of Palms

three: tagged along on Robbie's work trip to Naples, FL

four: got some Vitamin D and soaked in the sweet ocean air

five: played tourist for the day while Robbie was away

six: watched some golf in HHI at the RBC Heritage

seven: snacked on Easter candy on our way home from seeing our parents

eight: had our first boat day of the season for Lindsey's birthday

nine: sipped cocktails on the first day of the Southern C Summit

one: coordinated outfits with Mom (great minds think alike!)

two: loved learning, networking, and brainstorming at the Southern C Summit

three: attended a bridal shower back home in Richmond for Jennifer

four: survived (barely) my first off-shore fishing trip

five: celebrated Jennifer's bachelorette the best way we know how- with a boat trip, Southern food, monograms, Lilly, Wet Willies, and of course a dance-off

six: played tour guide for Jennifer and friends down by Rainbow Row

seven: Memorial Weekend with some good friends in town

eight: spent lots of time on the water to celebrate the unofficial beginning of summer

nine: played dress up at Lula Kate and around town with Jess

one: after a weekend away, we packed a picnic and ate dinner at the Pitt Street Bridge just before sunset

two: I was surprised with some gorgeous tulips from my secret admirer ;)

three: traveled up to VA for Sarah and Blake's wedding where we drank wine, shag danced, and had a great time with great friends

four: discovered Oku happy hour and enjoyed some delicious sushi and sangria

five: celebrated Robbie's grandparents 65th wedding anniversary and met his family

six: played hooky and took the boat out to Shem Creek for some lunch and sunshine

seven: got ready for Jen and Justin's wedding up in Richmond

eight: celebrated with Jen on her beautiful wedding day in seersucker and pearls on the James River

nine: relaxed at home in my favorite spot in the house- the porch!

one: made lots of Sweet Tea Monograms shirts for the Fourth

two: celebrated Independence Day and our anniversary at the brand new Beach Club in Hilton Head

three: cooked out at my parent's house with fun snacks and festive drinks

four: saw the sunset at Harbour Town after a fun day on the beach

five: played with sparklers before fireworks on the Fourth of July

six: stopped for ice cream on a warm summer night before taking a walk on Folly Beach

seven: savored a beautiful Lowcountry night after cooking dinner together

eight: got goodies ready for my little's bachelorette

nine: experience Chapel Hill and celebrate Hannah's bachelorette bash

one: took cooking classes at Charleston Cook's

two: reflected on Lake Wylie and celebrated the life of Robbie's grandfather

three: enjoyed family time in Charleston

four: traveled to Luray, VA for a beautiful rehearsal dinner on White House Farms

five: danced, laughed, and cried lots of happy tears at Hannah and Andrew's wedding

six: drank pineapple mojitos in Amelia Island while Robbie went fishing

seven: celebrated an early birthday with my love

eight: popped bottles for Lindsey's beach bachelorette

nine: wore lots of Lilly for Lindsey and had some giggle fights while we were at it

one: saw the sunrise in Ponte Vedre

two: cheered on the Hokies in our maroon and orange during their win against Ohio State

three: spiralized some zucchini and was mesmerized by how many neat things I could make

four: was honored to be asked to be Meesh's maid of honor

five: socialized with some blogger babes at Ro Sham Beaux

six: survived lots of "dark and stormy" weather

seven: indulged in lots of mini Clemson cupcakes for Robbie's dad's birthday

eight: savored the sunshine when it finally arrived in beautiful downtown Charleston

 nine: Sunday funday at Vendue Rooftop

one: attended the first Charleston Pop Up dinner

two: Sunday bike rides downtown became a new favorite tradition

three: realized that I actually love raw oysters

four: caught crabs from the Stono River

five: took a little Charleston staycation before Robbie started his new job

six: ate lunch and explored Kiawah Island and the Angel Oak

seven: finally got to meet Carly while she was in town with some other bloggers

eight: #pumpkineverything

nine: toured Middleton Place with my parents

one: received my first fishing rod as an early birthday present- and of course it was pink!

two: watched Maggie & Lilly while my parents went to a football game at USC

three: ate an early birthday brunch at Hominy Grill

four: celebrated my birthday with my parents (and Robbie later on) in Hilton Head on a beautiful fall day

five: walked along the Ashley River on Veteran's Day

six: made flower crowns with some fun blogger ladies

seven: went skeet shooting with Robbie and my parents up in Georgetown

eight: prepared for Thanksgiving in Beaufort and Hilton Head

nine: GOT ENGAGED! :)

one: tried on my first wedding dresses after our first wedding planning consultation

two: toured venues for our big day

three: ate brunch at Hominy and finally tried the Charleston Nasty Biscuit

four: saw the lights of the city and the tree at Bryant Park in NYC

five: had a ball at Michelle's bachelorette with lots of pink drinks and fun ladies in New York

six: traveled to Philadelphia to see all my family on my dad's side and introduce them to Robbie

seven: Christmas Eve at home in Richmond

eight: made delicious cups of Christmas cheer

nine: celebrated Colton and Lindsey's big day and was honored that Robbie and I could be by their sides!