I see seasonal bucket lists over on Pinterest from time to time and even though I love the idea, I’ve yet to partake.  But seeing one on Kelly’s blog made me decide that the time was right to finally put one together.  The seasons go by so quickly and making a list helps me prioritize the items that I really want to make happen.

1. Outdoor picnic concerts (as many as possible)
2. Attend my best friend’s beach wedding (KP and I have a mutual BFF!)
3. Jersey Junction
4. Holland Beach Fridays
5. Go estate sale-ing
6. Bonfires
7. Host a backyard movie night
8. Ride our bikes to the farmer’s market
9. Watch a meteor shower
10. Introduce cocktail hour to the Lemon House
11. Grill out (more)
12. Eat al fresco.  Like every day.

Have you come up with a summer bucket list?

Linking up with Alie Edwards

Last weekend was a beautiful one for our family.  Mr. Lemon’s little brother graduated from High School.  My little brother got married (that’s a picture of their reception decor above – flowers from Posh Petals).  Our good friends brought their baby girl over to our house for the first time.  She was simultaneously terrified and enamored with one of our cats and it was adorable.  Another good friend who has been living abroad for several years will be here in the mitten for most of the summer.  I’m working on a wedding.

So yeah, things are going pretty swimmingly right now, if I do say so myself :)  Hope everyone else is doing well, too!

And here are the Friday Favorites…

colorful decor + diy = a beautiful party
geometric ball + spray paint = i think i should make one for the dining room.  in gold.
amazing colors + waterfall = i might be willing to camp for this
buttery leather + guests = a beautiful documentation of life
cheese + balsamic + tomatoes = do i link to something on her blog every week?  perhaps.

xoxo,
Rebecca

Crush #1 – This beautiful bar from Style Me Pretty Living is so soft and girly – just look at those heels on the bottom shelf!  This bar also sports a popular element of the styled bars I’ve seen around – the gold shaker and glasses set that was available at Target over the holidays.  [shown here with the tray I picked up when the prices were drastically slashed]  In person, I didn’t fall in love with the shaker and glasses set, but my heavens do they photograph beautifully!

Crush #2 – This bar is all about cheeky touches, color and some truly vintage elements.  Shown on Style by Emily Henderson, this cart definitely shows how you can incorporate a lot of bright colors and it can work.  Plus, check out that lamp!  Whaaaat the what.  Serious style there.  This cart makes me want to scour flea markets to find an amazing vintage rocks set.  Although you won’t believe some of the things I’ve already found!

Crush #3 – This smaller cart just kills me with cuteness.  Wouldn’t it be fantastic in the corner of a bedroom?  So swank for a nightcap.  And again you can see my obsession with the colors, touches of gold (those glasses!)…and there’s that darned Target shaker again!  The Every Girl featured this one and I truly find it adorable.

#4 – This bar isn’t housed on a cart but instead on a tray table.  House of Earnest repainted it a bright yellow and outfitted with a few cocktail staples and a stunning bouquet.  This bar is more how I might style a bar for a get together with the girls and not necessarily an everyday bar (clearly…there’s ice in that bucket and juice sitting out!).  But I think it’s simple, clean and lovely.

#5 – Okay, this bar cart from The Life Styled might truly be the death of me.  That cart is to.die.for.  The the girl deserves it because she went above and beyond to bring that baby back to life.  The wheels.  The brass.  The bottle holders.  squee!  Not too mention the cute touches she added – those vintage glasses are sublime and peeps…she put a skull on it.  Well played my friend, well played.

#6 – I’m wrapping with a bar that is so different from most of my loves (even though, yes, it still includes gold!).  Featured again on The Every Girl, this bar has a more casual, industrial vibe and I think it would be beautiful in a loft-style home.  Did you see those flamingo glasses?!  I die.

Any styled bars happening in your homes?

Miss a post this past month?
An Evening in Verona – Grand Rapids Ballet Spring Gala
Arrested Development Party Pinspiration Board
Floral Cottage Bridal Shower Mood Board
Floral Cottage Bridal Shower
West Michigan Woman.com Guest Post

Blogiversary Giveaway…have you entered?!

Follow along on Instagram!

Today is apparently National Macaron Day…which makes we want to be in Paris.  I guess I will have to make do with gorgeous photos of macarons, like the one above from Just Get Off Your Butt and Bake (for the record, I will be staying on my butt and not baking macarons…right now they scare the bejeezus out of me…but maybe someday).

But even though I’m not in Paris (*sigh*), this weekend is a very exciting one!  Mr. Lemon’s youngest brother is graduating from High School and my youngest brother is getting married.  It’s a very “happy for brothers” weekend around here :)  So very thrilled for both of them as they get ready to start a new chapter in their lives.  And thrilled that we get to be alongside them to celebrate.  Any celebrations for your weekend?

And here are the Friday Favorites!

blues + glitters = a fanciful little barscape
calendar + stamp = i think i would use this all over the place. obsessively.
donuts + party = you had me a donuts
beer + cheese …and also this= a new food blog i’m crushing on
drugs + rock and roll + late nights + booty calls = shiny disco ball {decor}

$1000 + giveaway = don’t forget to enter

xoxo,
Rebecca

http://westmichiganwoman.com/entertain/item/677-outdoor-entertaining-essentials

Centerpieces were created with flower filled painted mason jars, a burlap mini-runner, burlap wrapped votives, and a yarn wrapped jar with a yarn ball.  Tulips were chosen specifically because of family significance for the bride-to-be and I loved how the bright red popped against the white!  Goodness knows I’m not a floral designer so simple arrangements are best for me to tackle – I max out with three types of flowers.  I also really love how yarns give off a homey, cozy vibe and are an easy way to add a specific color to party decor.

We also decided to set each place for two reasons – first, I think it makes the tables look prettier and second, you have to leave sooo much room to set up 30 mason jars on the drink table.  My mom came up with a cute way to fold the napkins that created a little pocket for the fork and knife and even showed the red stripes – I loved it!  The napkins were my most recent addition to my going green for entertaining initiative.  So now I have 49 (one got stained) reusable napkins for events!

For a gift table backdrop, I recreated She Paperie’s LOVE letters.  I very rarely remake someone else’s idea without changing it into my own creation, but I just love, love, loved how she put the paper mache letters together and ended up doing nearly the exact same thing (although her’s still looks better than mine so please check it out!).  The “L” was painted then covered in flowers from a floral vine that was completely deconstructed.  The “O” was simply covered in newsprint attached with Mod Podge.  The “V” was wrapped in mustard yellow yarn and the “E” was wrapped with strips of three shades of burlap tied and glued on.  Everything for this project, including the letters, was purchased at JoAnn’s!

For lunch, we kept things simple and delicious with a garden salad, cranberry spinach salad, pasta salad, sandwiches, mini bags of chips and chocolate cupcakes.  I tend to lean towards more simple spreads when entertaining but I find that as long as the food is good and plentiful, no one has any complaints!  I filled my beloved drink dispensers with two types of flavored water – blueberry/lemon and strawberry/lemon.  I really loved how they tasted – very light and refreshing – and will definitely be making them again.

One more post with the printables from the party!

Napkins – Ikea’s Tekla Dish Towel
All LOVE Letter Materials – JoAnn’s
Drink Dispensers – Macy’s

I have *so* been looking forward to this long weekend.  We’ve had several busy weekends and have several more coming up in June, so for our sanity we decided we needed to stay home this weekend.  Which honestly ended up being a really good thing because I have a cold that will.not.go.away.  I woke up last Sunday with a sore throat that is just insisting on sticking around for the holiday.  Nards.  We were really hoping to host a casual grill out on Monday and I really don’t think it’s going to happen.  *sigh*  Hopefully your holiday is healthier than mine, occasional readers!

And here are the Friday Favorites…

playoffs + my boyfriend with the “c” (mr. lemon is aware) = LGRW
unofficial start of summer + trying to eat real food = definitely trying some of these
gold + pops of color = perfect little bar cart (so scared of styling my bar so loading up on inspiration is key)
colors of the rainbow + great prices = i want this cardi in all of the colors
thai peanut + salad = can someone make this for me?  please?

xoxo,
Rebecca

I really liked how the party turned out in the end, but you’ll have to wait for that post to see how it all came together!  Today is a mood board put together from my Pinterest board (which had been hidden so the bride-to-be didn’t know all of the details; love the secret boards feature!)…

Al Fresco Dining | Burlap tables | Drinks | LOVE Letters | Burlap Centerpiece | Bouquet | Invitation

Last year for my blogiversary, I did a small giveaway.  This year I decided to mix it up and join one of the group giveaways I’ve seen around.  A large number of bloggers come together to create an amazing giveaway package for one winner.  Because of this, I’m able to be part of a $1000 (yes, THREE zeros) giveaway put together by Spaceships and Laser Beams (looking for boy party inspiration?  check out their site!).  The $1000 is intended to be used towards a photographer’s shopping spree which I absolutely love the thought of.  I have a DSLR camera but still have a long way to go in learning how to use it so I’ve signed up for a Photography 101 class at our local Community College this fall.  I’m so excited for it!  What would you purchase if you won the shopping spree?!

Head over to Spaceships and Laser Beams to enter to win!