Summer in New England

Today I'm sharing some photos from early last month when we traveled up to Rhode Island to pay tribute to my Uncle Pete along with my mom's entire side of the family. Our family planned a gathering and it was so nice to be able to catch up with all of them in the same place. We had a cookout in the perfect 70 degree New England summer weather and I was able to snap some fun photos that evening! It's always nice to contribute something to this type of gathering to say thanks so I decided to bring over a couple bottles of Sequoia Grove wine. My family loves wine. They love drinking wine and my parents even have their own little vineyard! So, needless to say, these bottles were a hit. 

How To Wrap a Bouquet of Fresh Flowers

Dress: Tasseled Halter Maxi Dress (on sale!) || Shoes: Slide Sandals || Bag: Coach Dinky Crossbody in Chalk c/o || Watch: Daniel Wellington c/o (get 15% off with code 'PRETTYINTHEPINES) || Sunglasses: Aviator Sunglasses in Gold

It seems the older I get, the more I become more like my mom in the way that we love flowers. I usually have to control myself in the grocery stores (especially Trader Joe's!) but I just can't say no to soft pink roses, peonies, hydrangeas, and all the greenery! It is the best piece of home decor you can find... thanks Mother Earth! Fresh flowers also are a perfect gift to bring to a friend or loved one but the plastic wrapping at the grocery store can sometimes take away from the natural/earthy vibes. So, today I'm showing you a super quick tutorial on how to wrap your flower bouquets to make them look even more beautiful! 

Bouquets & Bubbly Party

You might have read the sneak peek post of Bouquets and Bubbly, a Galentine's Day event hosted by Kendra Scott, Southern Style, and myself, at The Glass Box in downtown Raleigh last month (how is it already March?!).  Events with Kendra Scott are always so much fun but being able to plan one with them was even better! I've always loved planning parties focused around a specific occasion and what better time to throw a girly soiree than Galentine's Day?! Thank goodness for Megan Kerns Photography who was able to capture the entire night in these gorgeous photos! You'll have to check out the other amazing vendors who helped make the night a success: Flowers and Flour, Paintbar, The Cupcake Shoppe, Sugar Euphoria, and Stephanie Shives Studio. 

Bouquets and Bubbly | Sneak Peek

I was going to wait until we got all of the photos back to share details about our Bouquets and Bubbly event last Thursday but they were too good not to go ahead and share; therefore, you get a sneak peek! I can't wait to see the rest but for now, here is a little glimpse into a Galentine's Day party that Kendra Scott (huge thanks to their event manager, Logan!), Zelle, and I planned at one of downtown Raleigh's newest venue's, The Glass Box.  This unique venue was the perfect spot for the occasion and we invited a bunch of local bloggers and other creative business owners from the area to come with a "galentine".    

Photography by Megan Kerns Photography

Valentine's Day Inspired Bar Cart

 I love holidays.  Some holidays definitely have more meaning than others but I just find joy out of any holiday.  An occasion to celebrate with others is one of my favorite parts of life and I won't let a holiday pass without taking full advantage of the festivities! I decided to clean my bar cart the other day that had been covered in dust.  After it was all clean and sparkly, I figured I would go ahead and decorate it for the upcoming holiday, Valentine's Day, because why not.  It made me realize that I have a lot of random faux florals laying around my house and also an enormous assortment of paper straws that I most likely will not actually use (but they look so very cute!).  

Hosting a Fall Party

I've always loved planning fun get-togethers and parties with friends, especially around this time of year! There is just something so special about spending quality time with friends, celebrating the season together and catching up on eachother's lives. However, entertaining also comes with a lot of prep and planning and there are a few key components you don't want to forget about! Today, I am sharing with you my personal top priorities during the party planning process. I hosted a pumpkin painting party last Saturday with some of my sorority sisters from college and it was a blast!