Happy Holidays to you all! I can’t believe it’s already Christmas Eve! It definitely snuck up on me this year!

I just wanted to give everyone the heads up that I will be taking a short break from blogging to spend some time with my family. My brother was injured in Afghanistan last week and my family has gone up to North Carolina to spend Christmas with him and his wife! The good news is that he’s fine, there’s only a slight chance of him needing surgery…and he’s home early! I am spending Christmas in Florida with my husband and extended family, and will be flying up to North Carolina on Saturday to join the rest of my family for a few days. (Kind of freaking out about the cold, I never travel in the winter because I don’t have warm clothes!) I’m super excited to see him…last time I saw him was March, and he couldn’t make it to my wedding due to running training missions in preparation for deployment. But rest assured, he WILL be watching all of my awful wedding video (that’s another post to come shortly regarding my horrible wedding video).

I will definitely be taking some time over this “break” to get all of my ideas organized and plan big things for 2010! Remember to make the most of these last days of 2009, and start looking towards an amazing 2010! I know I am! Don’t forget to stop and cherish the time spent with family and let them know how much they mean to you. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday! Merry Christmas!!!

These are just a few of the stores offering deals online:

Oh Amazon.com. It’s a shopper’s heaven. You can find just about anything, and it’s usually at a lower price than you will find in stores. Plus, they’re having Black Friday AND Cyber Monday deals. I got a $400 Garmin last year for $199…amazing, right? And they have that great Wish List feature, so you can tell your family, and make them do it too!

And of course Overstock.com is having deals for this weekend as well!

I recently found the yokomono Studio on a blog, and they have some great bags and home goods! Everything is 20% off for this weekend! Here is the Multi Pockets Pouch that I’m loving…

Ann Taylor Loft is having a special Style Steals deal lasting until Sunday. Sweaters and jeans are all under $29!

I know these are just a few of the stores offering deals, and there are a ton more online! However, after seeing some of the deals at clothing stores, I just might have to stop in to try some things on. Other than that, all of my shopping will be done online this year! What other stores are offering great deals online? Did anyone hit the stores for Black Friday this year?

Photo via Smitten Sticks

Smitten Sticks are handmade paper expressions, mustaches and the like, mounted on a stick for easy handholding. They’re simple, playful and perfect for creating those fun moments just begging to be captured, whether it’s during a wedding, birthday party or any other celebration rife with photo ops.

Photo via Smitten Sticks

Smitten Sticks are the collaboration of Edyta, a wedding photographer, and Vana of Le Papier Studio. Edyta was forever on the hunt for creative, quirky and clever props for her brides and grooms to incorporate into their wedding photos. It dawned on her that in order to get the quality and aesthetic that she and her clients demand, she’d just have to make them herself! She had the inspiration and Vana was the perfect partner to make her vision come to life. Together they created these great props that are showing up all over weddings and parties!

Photo via Smitten Sticks

You can get your hands on some of these Smitten Sticks by going to their Etsy store and purchasing a Smitten Stick package! And lucky you, Smitten Sticks has teamed up with Southern Weddings Magazine for a giveaway! It ends today at 11PM, and all you have to do is make a comment about what makes you the happiest in life!

Who wants to use some of these Smitten Sticks in their photos?

Egg Press, $16

Linda & Harriet, $30
{This one is my favorite! It’s letterpressed and on the reverse side of each month is a post card! How cool is that?!}

Parrott Design Studio, $28

Daisy Princess Paperie, $15-16

A special thanks to Paper Crave for sharing all of these, among all of the other amazing paper goods they find! Plan to start 2010 with a beautiful calendar to keep your wedding planning and life organized! And if you don’t end up starting the year organized, at least your wall or desk will look pretty!

Here are a couple of vintage accessories I’ve found on Etsy. There are a ton of vintage bridal accessories on Etsy!

Bel Canto Designs has pieces that are exquisite. Rhinestones and pearls are the key elements to these elegant vintage pieces.

I’m loving these necklaces by Mercury Jane Designs. The combination of classic pearls with some vintage dazzle is beautiful!

These veils and hairpieces by C.R. Boggs Designs are the perfect vintage accessory to add to your wedding day ensemble.

Of course there are hundreds more vintage accessories. Search through Etsy for more vintage designs. It’s a great place to find the items you need to complete your wedding day look!

This must mean that Fall is coming! With the impending arrival of fall, I’ve started to dream of running outside, bonfires, soup, the scent of cinnamon, jewel tones, grays, cardigans and sweater dresses! Of course I’ve been gazing at a few of these things, reinforcing the feeling that Fall is coming. I actually have been expecting to walk outside and feel a cool breeze, but for now it’s just a breeze. Hey, I’ll take whatever I can get!

Image found here

Photo via Yankee Candle

Ann Taylor Loft Fall Outfits

J.Crew

All outfits found at Dillards

What are you looking forward too with the coming Fall season?

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Here are few things I’ve seen in the past few weeks that I wanted to share with you all!

If you haven’t discovered Etsy yet, go there NOW! It’s not a physical store, it’s an online community of “stores” where creative people sell their handmade items. They have everything from furniture to hair pieces. It’s a GREAT place to find items for your wedding!

The Etsy store PaperEclectiques sells unique and custom paper items. She currently has a slew of different items that can be used for so many things! Here a few items that would be perfect in a wedding.

Great as a Table Number! Monogrammed Gift Tags

Blank Tags-great for escort cards! Perfect to use on favors!

Another Etsy store, EmiciBridal, has gorgeous ringbearer pillows. The ones shown below are on sale until Monday! Get one for yourself!

Yellow and Green

FIAZCO makes handmade clutches from high quality fabrics and fine silk. They would be a great gift idea for that special bridesmaid, or for yourself to carry on your wedding day!

Dahlia Collection

Gwyneth Collection

OrangeSlice offers beautiful, innovative pieces of jewelery carved from handmade wood laminate. The designs are incredibly intricate and beautiful. A piece of jewelery from this collection would be great for bridesmaids, your mother, or yourself. Perfect for a vintage wedding.

Cherry Hardwood Teardrop

Asymmetric flower necklace

I hope you find something you like! If you find another Etsy store that you think is amazing, please share it with me! There are SO many Etsy stores out there! It can take hours out of your day!

Have a happy Friday!

One of the most enjoyable, lighthearted and sweet things I’ve ever seen! Amazing!

Enjoy!