loving these items from the Martha Stewart Walmart line... via MS Weddings blog, The Bride's Guide.  Now if I can just gear myself up to go into the closest Walmart--it's a disgusting and dirty one, unfortunately. Thank goodness for online shopping! 

in case you missed it...

There is the beginning of a buzz in blog world today about Amy Atlas' beautifully put together party-scapes. I am totally in awe and just had to share! Amy is a party planner based in NYC.

via Simply Lovely via Kids & Cocktails

lovely mercado display

I'm loving this store display from Mercado.

white sangria

Donna Hay has this delicious looking recipe for white sangria.

what a long, strange trip its been...

Sometimes life comes at you all at once. For some reason I wanted to just let Sept. 11th pass by this year without doing what I usually do...watch specials on TV, re-listen to all of the stories, reflect on my experience. I didn't tune in to the news this year, having overdosed on political coverage in the past several weeks... I thought I needed a break from it all. Then I came across Brooke's post as I was catching up on my blog reading, and it all came flooding back. 

Brooke and I both were working at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia on 9/11. Everyone that had come into work that day on the 26th floor had gathered in the office area of Gael Towey (the editor of the Living magazine). She had an all-glass office with an unobstructed view of the towers. My main memory was watching the towers come down in person, then seeing it re-happen on a small, 10-inch TV that was in her office right in front of the window...there was about a 5 second time delay. While there was the sense of it being this large, collective experience with so many co-workers standing around, there was also this feeling (for me) of being so alone in that historical moment. 

Then just yesterday I learned of some friends separating. I don't think I realized how much of an impact it would have on me and my husband. We can't sleep, and can't help but feel so very, very sad about the situation. To top it off, our son has a stomach virus for the first time, and seeing him sick isn't helping either.

In the midst of all of this, we've got a full weekend of happiness. An engagement party, a baby shower, and some friends coming into town who are considering moving here. So I'm starting to feel the universe slowly re-calibrate with the yin to our yang, the sweet to the salty, the good to the bad. 

I think times like this make me realize why I love celebrations. Already I'm head-planning (definition: parties that happen in my head) a divorce party for my girlfriend, so she can hopefully see some light among the darkness. When I've gone through difficult moments, surrounding myself with people who love me has been essential to bouncing back. 

photo courtesy of three potato four

HPG favorites

It's so nice to finally see the HPG may collection in stores and online! Here are some of my favorites. Have a great weekend!

pretty up your drinks

I love these beverage dispensers from Roost. Lemons, cucumbers or limes in water, sangria, fruit tea (a Nashville favorite)...so many possibilities! If only I had the room to store them.