Different Church, Same Pew

It's official! We found the church!!! While we are both still members here, we found our away-from-home home-church. Ale and I very much look forward to growing where we are planted. We planned to church shop until Easter ... but when feel the call, you feel the call. Can I get an amen? Hehe. Xoxo-BLC

Melly Makes Me Jelly

Calling all Minnesota Lilly-Lovers! Join Melly on March 6th and make me super duper JELLY by rubbing shoulders with Lilly Pulitzer's Janie Scheonborn.

As the one and only Queen Bee Swain said, Janie Scheonborn is the "High Priestess of all things Lilly!!!" Is there a better title!? I think not. Alright Minnesota Lilly-Lovers, make your calenders and make me j-e-l-l-y!!! Xoxo-BLC

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

While my father was a college football star at Duke University, he has always been a star in my eyes: he is loving, kind, and humble. And he is a big star today because it's his birthday!!!! Happy Birthday Daddy!!!! I love you and and am wishing the very best day. Happy Happy Happy Birthday! Xoxo-BLC

TCSK II

She's baaaaaack!!!! The Clothes She Kept took a little vaca, but is now up and running again. TCSK II even has new additions: from size 2-10.

Happy shopping to you and yours. Xoxo-BLC

Girl With The Pearl Necklace

According to random.org, Miss Monogrammed Prep is winner of Kristin Pearce's gorgie pearl necklace!!! A very big congratulations to you Monogrammed Prep. MP email KP at summerinnewport@gmail.com and leave the rest up to us! Many many many thanks to Kristin Pearce for graciously co-hosting this giveaway and thank you to allllll who entered!! We were so touched by the entries and the super sweet comments. Chin chin and sport those pearls girls. Xoxo-BLC

Plane View

The only downside of our honeymoon: we had to leave on January 9, 2010!!! Bummer. The airport in Barbados is a touch confusing and another USA-bound passenger told us she would know she was on the right plane if "the pastel couple" boarded too. Having Easter throw-up in your closet isn't the worst thing!!! We bid farewell to Barbados as we reached cruising altitude and we cannot wait to meet again!!!! Barbados will always have a special place in our hearts. Hopefully on our next visit we can meet Rihanna! Hey, a girl can dream. Xoxo-BLC

Gone Two-Pieces

As we ate our way through our honeymoon, I sure was glad to have packed a high-waisted bikini!

I searched high and low for this black beauty finding a freshly graduated fashion major in Vancouver of all places. She did a fantastic job custom making this suit! I now want one in every color!!! If it weren't for her, I would have gone two-pieces! Hehe. Xoxo-BLC

Walking on Sunshine

Xoxo-BLC

Bell Curve

I absolutely looooooove to travel. While traveling, I enjoy shopping (duhhh), local eateries, museums, and most definitely zoos! However, I could possibly be the worst sightseer ever. I mean, the Mona Lisa looked just like the picture in my art history book. Gasp! I kind of expected her to smile in real life. I know, I know. This is a terrrrible vice and I am working on it. See, Ale and I even visited the brother bell to the Liberty Bell and Big Ben. That sucker was HUGE! Our tour guide was very kind and tres knowledgeable. Maybe I did sort-of-kind-of-maybe enjoyed the whole sightseeing endeavor. I think I get double points for sightseeing on our honeymoon. Don't you!? Hehe. Xoxo-BLC

Sip Back and Relax

Since I couldn't bring you a pocketful of sunshine or a fruity umbrella covered cocktail ...

I brought you the ocean instead!!! Apparently half the beach was missing from our beach front resort due to the big swells. We sure couldn't tell! We sanded and sunned each and every day. We even braved the "big swells" to take a boat ride along the coastline. Oh la la is just breathtakingly beautiful. And we saw the famous flying fishies. Really. Flying fish! Xoxo-BLC

International Affair

Ale and I nested at Mango Bay Resort in Holetown, Barbados for our honeymoon. It was d-i-v-i-n-e!!! We just kept saying: it looks just like the pictures! It did and nothing disappointed.

The resort housed 70ish rooms and the majority of the guests were British (we were one of four American couples/families). It was an intimate setting but with great diversity --- from families with very well-behaved children to elderly couples reliving their honeymoon --- everyone was most enjoyable.

The staff was delightful: they water and fed us allll day. Also, the resort provides live music each and every night. Good thing we packed our dancing shoes!!! Holetown is the swanky part of the island and everything was within walking distance from our hotel. Think: shops, eateries, galleries, nightlife, and even a sports bar --- Ale didn't even have to miss the national championship game! We'll talk more about that TIDE later. Xoxo-BLC

Backseat Driver

Let the honeymooning begin!!! We landed in sunshine filled Bridgetown, Barbados on January 4, 2010 and hopped into our taxi to Holetown only to find out: (1) the flight wasn't over ... they FLY sooooo fast down those tiny winy roads, (2) their two-lane roads equal our one-lane roads, and (3) driving on the left side is the right side. Aren't the sugarcane fields just gorgie!? Don't blink or you'll miss them. Our taxi driver not only drove like the fast and the furious, but he gave us a rich history lesson, native pointers, and many laughs until we reached our final destination. Xoxo-BLC
PS: My sweet friend IRL sent me this flyer --- pray for these sisters safe return home!!!PSS: Happy Ash Wednesday to you and yours! :)

Girl With The Pearls

Many thanks to the talented and wonderful Kristin Pearce for generously offering to co-host a g-i-v-e-a-w-a-y here on The Company She Keeps!!! Kristin, of the blog Summer in Newport and Etsy Shop Kristin Pearce Designs, makes beautiful jewelry. The giveaway is this stunning 12 mm white shell pearl necklace strung on 17" silk with Swarovski crystal screw clasp (similar, enlarged picture here). Isn't it divine!??? KP says, "With a black dress on at night, this necklace looks like it came in a blue box with a big white bow. It is amazingly real looking, the pearls are heavy and perfectly lacquered to look authentic." It's valued at $125.00. How generous KP! To enter to win, please leave a comment by 02/23/10 on this post and the winner will be announced 02/24/10. No blog? No problem, just leave a comment with your email. Many thanks Kristin Pearce for graciously co-hosting this lovely giveaway and chin chin to a girl in pearls! Xoxo-BLC

Happy Birthday Mamatella!!

Happy

Happy

Happy

Happy

Happy

Happy

Happy Birthday Mamatella! I hope YOUR day is filled with love, laughter, and cake too!!! Much love and many blessings to you on your birthday. Enjoy!!! Xoxo-BLC

Happy Valentine's Day!

Will you be mine valentine?

Happy Valentine's Day from my heart to yours!!!

Xoxo-BLC

Intermission

Please excuse the brief intermission: we have holidays to celebrate!!! Then a different kind of holiday --- a little honey and a little moon. As you know, Ale and I went to Barbados the week following our nuptials and we'll warm up your cold weather with a few posts. Until then, squeeze the one you love because tomorrow is for LOVERS! Kiss kiss. Xoxo-BLC

PS: Please send some love to my sweet childhood friend Elizabeth at Olive My Life! She is on my heart in and in my prayers. Blowing kisses your way E!!!

Happily Ever After

Enough already!!! Our nuptualpalooza ended as we ran through bubbles and rode off in an English taxi to the Dunhill Hotel. Many thanks for letting me rehash every single tiny winy little detail of our wedding. I know I was a touch hush hush preceding the festivities, but oh la la was it so much fun to relive it with you on the blogosphere!!! Now, I promise to STOP talking about our big day. Again, many thanks and happily ever after to you too. Xoxo-BLC

PS: And, let the games begin ... it's the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver tonight! Go USA!!! :)

I'm with the band.

I wish I was with Nationwide Coverage!!! They stole my heart two years ago when they played at Ale's cousin's rehearsal dinner. Any other band just wouldn't do and they did a marrrrvelous job PACKING out the dance floor!!! Everyone danced from our sweet little flower girl to alllll our college friends to even Great Aunt Ma. Nationwide Coverage plays everything from Motown to Rock to Miley Cyrus's Party in the USA (don't judge, you love it). Speaking of, when I am elected President of the United States, Nationwide Coverage will be playing at my inaugural ball. Then I plan on making world peace and painting the White House PINK!!! Vote for me! Xoxo-BLC

The Wedding Crasher

Gasp! We had an uninvited wedding crasher!!! Well, if I had known the Clemson Tiger wanted to come to our wedding, I would have made him the guest of honor! I am so glad he crashed. Gooooo Tigers! Xoxo-BLC

Baker's Make

I have one wicked sweettooth! As such, it was a top priority to have many sweet treats at our wedding. From the chocolate fountain to the groom's chocolate cake to the vanilla wedding cake to our favors (sugary treats pictured below) there was an abundance for every sweettooth. Dee Cakes made Ale's cake in the shape of his home state with Tiger paws allll over it. It was so cute and yummy too! Confession: I picked out the swimming pool blue colored frosting for our wedding cake (pictured without the flower topper). Hehe. And, I secretly still really dig my decision. It was briiight blue ... and delish too. Have I given you a cavity yet!? Xoxo-BLC

The Fete

My loving parents hosted quite a reception for our 250 guests! The venue: the top floor of an uptown building in Charlotte, NC. I always thought I would have a country club wedding reception like my sissy Elsie, but the city-chic venue fit us just perrrfect. Our dear family friend and owner of Moore Than Gourmet catered the whole event --- the food and drink were absolutely delishhh! Apparently Donald Trump and I have the same taste; in china that is. Our guests were rumored to have eaten off the same china pattern. Anyhoo, Apsy did a fantastic job with the decor. There were flowers and candles everywhere. And even a few pom poms over the dance floor. The whole fete was just magical and colored 100% by the company we love most. Chin chin! Xoxo-BLC

Martial Bliss

What you can't see in this photo: Mamatella, my sissy Elsie, and bff Ashmash tying all 38 ribbons to bustle my dress. Elizabeth, our photographer, did not miss a beat and snapped this picture --- one of our favorites!! Xoxo-BLC

A Wife Sentence

Ale is now serving a wife sentence! Hehe. Xoxo-BLC

My (FLOWER) Girl

"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day.

When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May."

Our flower girl is the sunshine that lights up an entire room! She stole my heart years ago. Our chilly January wedding felt like a May day with her joy, smile, and warmth. Many thanks little one for being our sunshine --- you were the BEST flower girl! We miss you. Xoxo-BLC

Who, What, Wed

Bridesmaids: check.

Groomsmen: check.

Groom: check.

Bride: check.

Married: we are ... check, check, check!!!

Xoxo-BLC

Aisle Be Just Fine ...

Aisle be just fine with BFFs like this!!! I am so blessed to have such amazing friends. My life is colorful because the bridesmaids and honorary bridesmaids (pictured, minus Apsy and Ash) are the company I keep. Many thanks and much love girlies. Xoxo-BLC

PS: I just looove the artistry of our wedding photographers. Yaya Almond Leaf Studio!

Meet The Parents

Mamatella, Ale, me, and Paparazzi.

Galebo, Ale, me, and his padre.

Stepmadre, Ale, me, and Daddy.

Xoxo-BLC

PS: Happy Groundhog Day to you and yours!

Will Spring spring early? I hope so! :)

Vow and Forever

Since my father is a minister, I always thought it would be so special for him to officiate our wedding. And that it was! Ale and I were his 150th wedding (but his first in a tux). As we planned for Daddy to perform the ceremony, I began to worry about who would walk me down the aisle. Initially I wanted to exert my independence and walk by myself. That lasted half a minute. I then thought of those most important to me: Mamatella, Paparazzi, my granddad, and Daddy. I aspire to be just like my mom; she is perfection. Paparazzi has always had my best interest at heart. My granddad believed in me when no one else did. Daddy loved me first. Talk about being in a pickle! I prayed about it, thought about it, and this is how it happened: Daddy walked me down and Mamatella gave me away. It worked beautifully. The best part, Mamatella whispered to me: "this is totally awesome" when we linked arms. She could not have been more correct. Thankfully, I knew Ale was the one walking me up the aisle. :) Xoxo-BLC