Our Anniversary Weekend

A year has past already? CRAZY! (If you haven't seen our wedding, check it out here and here.) April 8, 2011 we were in Carmel Valley at Holman Ranch getting married! So it seemed fitting that for our 1 year anniversary we headed back to Carmel for a weekend retreat. Our first stop was the Tickle Pink Inn in Carmel Highlands. It was the place we went on our wedding night and one of the nicest places I have ever stayed. The views are incredible, like truly incredible! The entire wall is top to bottom windows with an incredible ocean view.

We made our way to the wine and cheese service and brought our goodies upstairs to our room for this spectacular view. :) And this is only the start!

We took a trip to Big Sur to Bixby Bridge. Ian decided to follow a not so formal trail down the side of the mountain....which I thought was a little scary! But there were some gorgeous views. It would have been the most amazing place for a proposal :)

When we got back to our amazing room this "Happy Anniversary" gift was waiting for us. So cute huh?

The next morning we woke up to some more amazing views, mimosas on the porch and breakfast in bed! Yum yum :) From the moment we arrived until the moment we left we had fireplaces going, so nice waking up to a fire, I'm going to miss that.

Ian had a few surprises in store  which turned out to be amazing. Whenever I watch The Bachelor I always ask Ian why he doesn't take me on dates in helicopters to amazing islands. :) So this trip seemed appropriate to him. It was amazing and totally fun.

Next up, we went to Bernardus Lodge! I am a major fan of hotel hopping during trips and getting all sorts of different experiences in the same go. We went from amazing oceanfront views to a quiet gorgeous valley setting, it was fabulous.

When we arrived we were greeted with a glass of wine and we were ready to go. We started with a fun game of bocce ball followed by a surprise trip to the spa. Again with the surprises from my husband, I swear, he went all out during this trip! After spending a few hours in the spa enjoying all the amazing amenities, we got a couples massage. Super duper relaxing, I swear.

We spent the day hanging at the hotel, enjoying the amazing weather and the gorgeous views, eating at their awesome restaurant and of course hanging in the hotel by the fireplace.

I absolutely loved everything about Bernardus. I am definitely making it my new favorite hotel in the Carmel area and I will be back. I told another bride this yesterday, and I will tell all of you, if you are getting married at Holman Ranch and need a place for guests to stay (when your Holman rooms are filled) this is the place to go! They will take care of you all and I swear you will have so much fun making it part of your wedding festivities. I wished I did.... Anywho, I'm definitely going back to Bernardus, in fact, I am ready to plan my next trip there like now!

Horrible picture but look at that dress :) I love my new tangerine dress.

And now for my surprises! April 8 was our wedding date as I say a million times. April 8 this year fell on a Sunday which was perfect for the treat I had in store for my husband.

I absolutely love Holman Ranch. I just love it. So I thought a picnic at Holman would be the perfect treat for Ian and I to end off our anniversary weekend. Being in the same spot that we were married at a year ago was an amazing experience for the both of us. I never tire of the views of Holman :)

We were greeted with a fabulous welcome bag from Holman including a sweet card! And the amazing Paradise Catering catered a lunch for us including several of the dishes that were on our menu for our wedding. Just look how amazing this menu is! Paradise Catering is such a fabulous company and they truly make amazing food. I was so happy I had the chance to taste their amazing food (I LOVE their vegan rainbow roll!) again.

I set up a fabulous little picnic on the lawn for the two of us to enjoy. I also had a photographer, Tatum Brooke (thanks so much to Kim for coming down and shooting some fab photos of us!), come take some photos of this sweet spot and some photos of us. It was great to get some more photos with the Holman Ranch backdrop since we didn't have the chance to take engagement photos before the wedding. I can't wait to share more of those soon!

And finally, as if all this wasn't enough, he surprised me with something good in a small box. Seriously, how sweet is he?!

So many people made our first anniversary a truly special one! I am so glad we got married at such a gorgeous spot that has allowed us to come back and share our anniversary there as well. We ate plenty of amazing meals, and did so many fun things. Getting back to real life was quite difficult after such an amazing weekend!

Happy Anniversary to us! :)

Help Make Engaged & Inspired A Better Place

As I wrote in my New Year's post at the beginning of this year, Inspired Guide, is never finished and something I want to always continue to make much better. One thing I know  is that if Inspired Guide isn't solving a very real problem that brides face, then I am not doing my best job.

The purpose of the guide was never to be "just another vendor guide" but something that changed the way that brides and vendors found each other, making it much easier for both sides. I don't feel that Inspired Guide has really accomplished that goal just yet, but I will say that when we launched our vendor guide some years back, photos for vendor listings and budget search were not the norm. But to make it the best, that is where the help of you fabulous brides and vendors come in!

I have been working on a new product for some time, and it is finally time to get the input of the people that will be using it all the time. I want to make sure I am solving the problem that YOU face, and not the problem that people think you face.

FOR BRIDES:

If you would like to be a part of making Engaged & Inspired a much much better space, e-mail me for the link to the bride survey! The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete, but the info is absolutely invaluable to me and I would be so very happy to get your input.

To reward you, I will be giving away an assortment of Wedding Chicks totes bags including the following. I will be giving away 10 total, so make sure when you send me an e-mail, you let me know which number tote you would like to win!

FOR VENDORS:

We would LOVE to get perspective and feedback from vendors to give you what you are looking for as well. The survey takes about 10 minutes to fill out and the information would be invaluable to me! Since your time is incredibly valuable and your help will shape the way Engaged & Inspired plays out in the future, we will give you a free year as a premium vendor on Inspired Guide.

For a link to the survey, e-mail me and I will send it along! List your location and the type of vendor you are as well, so I can make sure to have a diverse group.

Thanks again, and I can't wait to show you the new site we have come up with!

 

Selling Some Wedding Awesomeness

Let me start by saying that I majorly apologize for the picture quality! Eww, I know. I have been on a massive spree to clean out my house and Inspired Collective and get rid of lots of old stuff to make room for some new and much cooler stuff. I have spent the last few days listing things like crazy on Craigslist, but there were a few gems that I knew the wedding world would just love! So here goes.....I listed prices on the bottom. I'm in the Bay Area, CA so hopefully I can find locals to take all these goodies off my hands, but I don't mind shipping some of the smaller items. e-mail me at allison@engagedandinsired.com if you want to see more photos or buy something.

Shabby Chic Cabinet with chicken wire on the doors and Anthropologie "LOVE" hooks. $500

I have about 70 old books, all different colors, $3 each.

Martha Stewart Cake Platter: $30

"Give Me Your Forever" Ceremony sign: $200

Vintage Frame: $30

Vintage small keys: $2 each

Let's Eat Tags: $10 for 20 tags

Love Notes: $10 for 20

Love Notes Sign: $20

Cupcake Platters: 2 for $30

Vintage Platter: $20

Smile Print: $25

Sola Flowers: $10 for 20 of them

10 table numbers made from books, stamps and twine: $50

Teacups: $3 each. I have about 100

Saucers: $1 each with the teacup, $2 each without. I also have other pieces of china that match these sets

Vases: $2 each

Chevron Wall Divider. Perfect for behind a dessert bar: $300

Vanity: $400

E-mail allison@engagedandinspired.com for more photos or to buy.

New Years Resolutions + Non-Resolutions

Last year I wrote about my non-resolutions in a blog post. I haven't visited that post all year until today. And though they were my own words, it was truly inspiring. I forgot about my accomplishments, my feelings and how how things were just a short year ago. So much has changed since then, and I have to say, I was a lot smarter then. 2010 and more specifically December of 2010 was the best time in my entire life. I had finally made it and I was truly truly happy. I have a writing job I LOVED to pieces, I was making a 6 figure income and I had goals, dreams and purposes. Literally what more could I ask for?

The besties

Times and interests changed and though I didn't notice it as it was happening, boy do I see it now. I somehow got caught up in day-to-day and continually putting myself down. I saw very clearly what I wasn't accomplishing and paid no attention to what I was. I sort of became my own worst enemy in having so much doubt in myself. I began feeling like I completely lost what I have spent the last few years building up, not to mention the momentum I had before. I wasn't planning on writing my resolutions/non-resolutions, but after reading last year's post, I find it extremely important to continue this. Sometimes you forget that you can be your own mentor.

My flower girl and favorite little girl

I stated I was much smarter then, but I was much more inspired as well. Some not so wonderful things happened this year and I guess I still haven't gotten out of the funk. It is time to change that, and I know it.

Wedding fabulousness

Last years resolutions:

1. Make The Inspired List the most amazing vendor guide that helps thousands of brides on their big day. {Work In Progress} We now have tens of thousands of people viewing Inspired Guide every month. We re-designed and re-launched the site and it is a much better resource at this point. I don't think anything is ever really done, so this one is definitely still a work in progress as I would love to see Inspired Guide and Engaged & Inspired break all new records this coming year.

2. Continue to be a writer and don’t ever give that up for a 9-5. {Accomplished} This I have stuck to. I would never go back to a regular old job, although days don't pass where I don't wish I could go back to the unispiring and easy world of a regular old job. I don't want a 9-5, but I want a start-up, a passion project and something that I can dive into and flex my creative muscles.

3. Marry the man that I have been in love with since I was about 13 years old. {Accomplished} You all have heard that we got married, right? :)

4. Travel the world like never before. {Accomplished} I added Chicago to my list of sight seeing as well as Australia and New Zealand. I think that is pretty good for a year's time. But boy do I have big plans for the coming year.

5. Make a little time for Vegas :) {Accomplished} I have a guilt pleasure for Vegas. I really do. This year the besties and I had the time of our lives and celebrated our bachlorette, Melissa. And meeting/hanging with Kid Cudi for the afternoon wasn't a bad surprise to the trip either.

6. Expand and grow with Engaged & Inspired and continue to inspire and be inspired by all that the wedding world has to offier. {Work In Progress} I'm getting there,  and I have big plans for this coming year, but like I said, there is never a time when I will feel "done" with the progress of E&I.

7. Continue saving like a crazy person and continue to have zero debt to anyone. {Negative} Well, not really negative, but I didn't stick to this one like I should. I'll totally admit that I went a little off the wire here, which is a combination of opening a new shop and losing a job. I don't have any debt, but my savings has seen the brunt of my decisions.

8. Comment more on blogs. I always mean to and I want to show my love so this year I’m making time for that. {Negative} What is my problem with this? Google Reader needs to create a comment button to make it much easier!

9. Buy my Lexus. (This one I can’t wait for!) {Accomplished} I switched to Audi and bought one. It was definitely a reward to myself for all my hard work :)

10. End the year with little Reaghan in my belly. {Negative} This little girl hasn't arrived just yet, and who knows when she actually will. So I leave this one unchecked off for now, until the day comes when we are both ready.

Photo by Scott Andrew Photography in Napa

New Years Resolutions:

1. Spend more time doing what I love, and not getting sucked into things because I feel like I have to.

2. Find a passion, that thing that I want to do and go for it! Stop being a drifter and focus on what I want and what will get me there.

3. Finish decorating my home and start saving to buy our next home.

4. Get my savings back on track and continue to stow away 50% of all earnings. You will thank yourself later.

5. Do things that make you happy so you can truly say you are.

6. Learn how to enjoy things and be happy again.

7. Learn photoshop and how to design stuff on my own so I don't have to be at the mercy of my extremely busy husband.

8. Get inspired again.

9. Make Engaged & Inspired what you truly want it to be.

10. Add date nights back in with the husband, and get off the computer and phone. (More on how I am doing this later. It's actually pretty cool)

11. Become a better listener, friend and person. Be there for people and don't be afraid to be a little vulnerable.

12. Get work discipline in again, but doing things that mean something.

13. Realize my worth again and be confident in that. Don't doubt or put myself down. I can do whatever I want to do.

14 Make an effort and try harder in everything you do.

The fabulous Yasmin of Floral Theory handing me my bouquet

As for my non-resolutions. There are not as many as last year, as I don't feel like I have done my best. Lots of room for improvement, but in an effort to recognize my strengths and not doubt myself, I will put something down here.

1. You held up through the good and the bad this year and kept somewhat of a focus. Times were tough, but you got through them. Continue to be resilient this year and make things happen.

2. You starting getting more on track with your passion and realizing where your skills lie. Continue to follow that passion and sort through what is and is not good for you. You actually went for it, and you are in a better place now because of it.

3. This year you made decisions that have helped further your career and your life. Continue casting aside things that are unimportant for those that truly are.

4. You got married! Not only did you pull off one hell of a wedding, you started a journey that is unlike any other.

5. You made your own life go right because you were in charge 100%. Way to stay grounded and true to you.

6. You have created something for yourself and though it isn't where the ideal scene is, you are far better off than if you had never started.

7. You did 100 days straight of Yoga. Not a bad way to start the year. Continue that this year.

Steph and I finally hanging out in New Zealand

And there you have it. As of now, 2012 and I haven't gotten off to the best start. But all that means is I have a foundation from which to build and the only place I can go is up. In times where things get trying, I actually learn a bit more about myself, who I want to be, and what I want to do. The only way out of things is the way through, and though these first few days of the year have been the worst, some amazing things have actually come from them that never would have happened without actually going through it. And for that, I am grateful.

Here is to you, 2012!

{Sponsored Post} Wedding Websites by Purpinka Designs

I'm pretty sure I mentioned that Ian and I had a wedding website. Well, we did. Ian is a developer turned designer, so he knows how to do everything....and believe me, I take advantage of that just a little bit! He designed our invitations (no photos of those :( they were pretty badass though. I'll have to pull out the camera and snap some pics!) and I wasn't a fan of the traditional RSVP card. Having to pay double postage plus all stationary costs, I just wasn't feeling it.

I don't see anything wrong with a wedding site as the only way to RSVP. People tend to lose the card and might not send it back in time or could lose the invite and therefore all the info about the wedding. The website had links to hotels, our registry, and a little RSVP form. Between e-mail and Facebook, it is way too easy to share the link to people that may have forgotten about it.

All this jabber is to inform you that I loved having a site, and it saved us a little bit of money too, which is always appreciated during the wedding process. This is where Purpinka Designs comes in! This is a wedding website design company that is here to help you with your design needs. Unlike other wedding website companies, they are there to actually talk to and help get everything on the site running smoothly.

They have a selection of designed themes, including photo and video galleries:

But the best part, the RSVP tool they have on their site to make your life just a little bit easier. You are able to log and see a lot of information including the RSVP's, their meal selections, etc. Believe me, an online resource where everything is in one place, that is an incredibly useful tool for anyone planning a wedding.

Want a little something for free? Download their free e-book "11 Ideas You Never Thought of to Show Case Your Wedding Photos"  (hint: it’s NOT the same boring photo albums, shirts, and mugs stuff)! If you want to enter the giveaway, go ahead and do that as well!

And if you are a wedding vendor looking for more information about Purpinka Designs, they are currently working on an affiliates program (watch the video for more info too). So be sure to contact them to find out how you can all work together and make it a win-win for everyone!

Accessory Giveaway by JewelMint

I'm a major fan of accessories, so today's giveaway is exciting me like you wouldn't believe! I'll get to the how to enter and the awesome prizes in a second, but first let's talk a little about this rad company called JewelMint. Fashion icon Kate Bosworth and Hollywood’s stylist of the year, Cher Coulter have teamed up to bring you the ultimate in affordable luxury with their member-only jewelry club.

Ready for a little accessory awesomeness? JewelMint provides members with the top trends and must-have accessories for the given season. At only $29.99 a piece, you can afford some wonderful pieces without breaking the bank. And with the holiday madness upon is, this is a brilliant thing for gifts or for yourself (because even during the holidays, you need a little something for yourself.)

Indulge in your passion for the hottest accessories by becoming a JewelMint member and get personalized Jewelry Recommendations from Kate Bosworth and Award-Winning Stylist Cher Coulter for just $29.99. Members have the opportunity to take a style quiz and gain access to exclusive, handmade designer jewelry. New designs are there for you to check out each month, so you can always get the most awesome accessories out there.

 

For those of you who die for the best accessories, JewelMint is offering you a 50% discount on your first month, just for signing up! Head to jewelmint.com and enter discount code EAI50. So, want to win some awesome accessories? (I am a major fan of that bracelet above)

THE PRIZE: 1 lucky lady will win $150 worth of JewelMint goodies!

HOW TO ENTER:

  • Create a free JewelMint account
  • Browse the collection and pick your favorites
  • Comment on here what your favorite piece is.

{Sponsored Post} Anjolee :: The Art of Jewelry

We can't get enough of rings. And these bridal sets by Anjolee are no exception. Anjolee manufactures all of their jewelry so they can provide customers with great service and fast delivery. Oh and free shipping! And who doesn't love free shipping! So let's talk a little bit about Anjolee and how they can help you find a great diamond bridal set (for first-time proposers or upgrades, hey, upgrades are great!)
    Anjolee offers their collection o customer with prices below retail.  The extensive jewelry collection includes: Diamond Tennis Bracelets, Gemstone Bracelets, Diamond Earrings, Diamond Necklaces, Diamond Pendants and Wedding and Bridal Rings and more.
    Buying from Anjolee ensures customers get the best value possible. Many of the products are unique designs that can only be found at Anjolee.com.

Anjolee.com is the ONLY jewelry website with a unique customization system giving the ability to custom-build jewelry based on taste and budget. Anjolee’s website has been recently redesigned with improved functionality, and enhanced user experience. Anjolee offers customers with a great online shopping guide but even better, they have an iPhone app to help them search for the perfect bridal set, made specifically by you.
Check our anjolee.com and start building now!

We Are Expanding :: Be Part Of It

After two years of doing it all myself, I am ready to invite in a few special people to the Engaged & Inspired group.

This little thing started when I got engaged and has expanded to include a vendor guide with over 1,000 vendors, a a small group of services, and an physical location known as Inspired Collective. This growth has allowed me to make my dream of working for myself a reality for the past year +. And though I totally love every second I feel like my blog is laking the one thing that it started with....a real bride planning a wedding! So if any of you brides out there have ever been interested in blogging your way to the alter, now is your chance.

BRIDES: To be considered for this position please send over an inspiration board of your wedding and a little bit about yourself and your wedding (how far along, venue, vendors, plans, etc.) 

EXPERT BLOGGER: If you aren't a bride, don't worry, we have a position for you as well! We need some insight from the experts and those with great style. You don't even have to be a wedding-specific bloggers (I have some awesome ideas to make it all work). To be considered for this position, send over an inspiration board that you feel best describes you and taps into your creativity. As well as who you are and why you are awesome!

SALES WIZARD: Lastly, we are in need of an uber savvy sales wizard. Inspired Guide has over 1,000 vendors partaking in our wonderful vendor guide, but we need someone who can crank those numbers up like never before. The pay is commission-based, but the percentage is pretty well worth it. I don't have a ton of must-have's because I don't care if you went to college or have much experience. I really do feel that if you have the passion for it, you will drive yourself from there. But in the interest of the obvious, I have listed a small list. Our goal is to really help to connect brides with vendors that fit their criteria. We want all of them to do really well and help to do so any way we can.

  • A love for sales
  • Passion for the wedding industry
  • Experience or at least interest in working with vendors

E-mail your resume's, inspiration boards and info to littlemissengaged@gmail.com titling the position you are interested in scooping up!

Thanks a million for the past few years!