Elaine Turner LOVE!

Most people who know me well know that I love love love Elaine Turner accessories and shoes. I discovered Elaine as my parents were beginning there move to Houston TX (where she is based and her flagship store is).
My mom and I walked into the store, looked at each other with huge smiles on our faces, and both fell in love with Elaine's beautiful- and comfy- designs!

One of the most fun things about Elaine Turner is that she bases her collections off of a "destination," location. Last season, it was Istanbul, and this season, it is Buenos Aires. As always, I am in love with everything in the collection.

Here is what I am currently coveting:
Julia Butter
Madelyn Desert Lizard
Bella Blush Python 



Happy happy shopping!! 
xo,
Grace











Dreamy Beds!

Hi everyone! Here in The South, things have gotten pretty cold. It actually snowed today about three inches-- I could hardly believe it! Needless to say, I spent the evening cuddled up on my couch, surfing Pinterest and watching last night's Bachelor episode.

During this period of lounging, I took a delightful nap in my cozy bed, which sent me on a long mental tangent about how much I love a great bed. There are so many important elements to a bed, so many opportunities to do something really spectacular.

Growing up, I always was fascinated by the idea of having valance draping over my headboard. I think I was so taken with this idea because of my love of every Disney Princess movie (they seem to be particularly popular with Walt Disney), and this idea of lush drapery is something I've never really forgotten (although - I should note that after I outgrew my fun bunk beds,  I had a pretty fabulous four poster bed... I loved it).

So, here are some of my favorite "mature" examples of this princess-ey look, proving that this is a style that can be anything from sophisticated, rustic, costal or elegant!

Enjoy, stay warm, and sweet dreams!





xo, 
Grace


Incredible friends!

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a fabulous holiday weekend!!
I have been feeling so blessed recently by the outpouring of love from my friends and their excitement to support Ben and I in our engagement.  I have so much to be thankful for, I don't even know where to start or end, but here are a few highlights from the last week or so that I just have to share!

My wonderful friend Laura gave me the cutest engagement basket that was so thoughtful and cute. She included wedding magazines, a cute picture frame, ring pops, the movies Bridesmaids, The Proposal, and the Five Year Engagement, adorable stationary, a candle, a bottle of wine and TWO nail polishes.


Here is the OPI Nail Polish Color Cosmo-Not-Tonight Honey on my nails. LOVE it. 


This weekend, I went to Savannah GA to visit my friends that I was fortunate enough to spend the summer with in NYC, and my life-long friend, Claire.  It was an amazing weekend, and I was so overwhelmed by their excitement and love that I cried enough that it started to get embarrassing ;). 


They crafted for me an incredible basket that had a Kitchen theme, with so many amazing items in it! Some of my favorites (although they are really all my favorites) include, a book by Timothy Keller called "The Meaning of Marriage," the best smelling soap you'll ever find, a gorgeous robe, kitchen-themed socks with little forks and spoons on them (YES!), goose measuring cups, an adorable tea pot, a cheese board, beautiful coasters, ceramic egg holder, and more. They are too good to me! Claire gave us a cookbook called "Two In the Kitchen" from William Sonoma, which is a   easy to follow cookbook for couples... so excited to try that with Ben. Not to mention--  the hand-crafted veil headband made by my very talented friend Julia. 

Honestly, though, the best parts have been the cards. I can't say much more about that because I get teary thinking about the sweet things people have written!

I am beyond thankful to get to start planning this new chapter of my life with Ben.  The love and support shown to us is such a testament to what a wonderful person he is! I am one lucky lady.

xo, 
Grace

Golden Globes!

Did any of you watch the Golden Globes tonight?? I can honestly say that all I watched was the pre-show on the Red Carpet (whoops- Downton Abbey was coming on), but I loved so many of the dresses this year!
Overall, I really liked all of the experimentation with silhouette going on, and also all of the pops of COLOR out there!

Here are my three  favorites:
1. Olivia Wilde in Gucci // 2. Caitlin Fitzgerald in Emilia Wickstead // 3. Kate Beckinsale in Zuhair Murad

What were your favorite looks?
xo, 
Grace

I'M ENGAGED!!

I have never been more excited to write something in my whole life!  On January 1. 2014, at about 12:01 am, Ben proposed at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World, in front of Cinderella's castle and below amazing New Years fireworks. It was truly the most magical and incredible moment of my life.


Obviously, when he got down on one knee and heard his sweet proposal, I said yes immediately! I was so shocked and overjoyed that I struggled to find words after that!

So here is how our day went: 

I flew to visit Ben the day after Christmas to celebrate with his parents and grandparents who were also down there visiting him.  Our 7 year anniversary of dating was on January 1, 2014, so I was also planning on staying to celebrate that with him, too! Little did I know that it would be the best anniversary EVER!

The last day that his family was here (New Years Eve), we all decided to go to Magic Kingdom to celebrate.  His family has Disney in their blood-- they have gone once a year (or more) since Ben was a baby (over 27 times I think!).  His grandparents used to go with him when he was younger, but they had not gone with him in over 20 years.  I was so excited because I knew what a special day it would be to have them be with Ben again in a place where they share so many amazing family memories.
Here Ben is with his grandfather in the magic kingdom over 20 years ago!

In the days before, we did a bit of research on the Magic Kingdom on New Years Eve, and every site we found said the same thing: You HAVE to get there early if you want to get in at all. Turns out they close admittance to the park when it reaches capacity: 600,000 people. HUGE right!?

Sure enough, we ate some doughnuts and got there at 7:30 am, already greeted by swarming lines and masses of people.  A woman told us later that they did end up closing the park from about 9:30am-1:30pm, so its great that we got there so early!!

As soon as we walked in, I was in the best mood-- something that did not go away for the rest of the day! Even though there were lots of people there, the excitement of the New Year was tangible. We were able to ride a lot of rides before the huge crowds hit. One of the highlights was riding Small World with Ben's grandmother who LOVES that ride. 

We had lunch in Belle's Castle which was delicious and wonderful, spending the rest of the afternoon wandering around the park together. At about 9:00pm, we were able to get amazing seats to watch the firework show that was set to start around 11:50pm.  Ben had picked out the spot earlier in the day-- an alcove overlooking the castle-- which I thought was very thorough of him, but I still suspected nothing!

While we were waiting for the fireworks to start, I spent time chatting with Ben and his parents. At one point I asked them what their favorite Disney memory was, and Ben's dad responded "The fireworks tonight." I asked him how that was his favorite if they hadn't even happened yet, and he responded that he just knew that they would be incredible. I still didn't suspect anything!! Looking back, I should have!

Before the show started, Ben and his dad set up small cameras to record us watching the fireworks, which I thought was a bit strange because they were facing us and not the fireworks or the castle. I didn't really think twice about it, though, because they have been making home videos forever, and I knew the right angles to capture things at. I just assumed it was something that they did all the time!

The fireworks started before midnight, and Ben and I were snuggled up together in the front row, holding hands and watching the amazing show. At midnight, there was a countdown, and as the big fireworks started after that, Ben got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, seamlessly removing the ring in a box from his pocket, popping it open with the ring in perfect position. Not to mention, his mom took pictures of the whole thing!




I was honestly so surprised and full of joy that the rest of everything that happened goes in slow motion when I remember it. I know that I immediately said YES, and then the GORGEOUS ring slid on my finger to fit perfectly, and of course, I cried and cried (tears of extreme happiness).  The people around us cheered and took pictures, and they even announced it on the loud speakers of the Magic Kingdom! Honestly, I cannot imagine anything more perfect or amazing for Ben and I. The proposal was more incredible than I could have ever dreamed of. 

Disney is OFFICIALLY the place where dreams come true!!!!!!

I am so thankful to my amazing fiancĂ© and how thoughtful he is. I could never have pulled something like this off as seamlessly as he and his family managed to do.  I cannot wait to get started on all of the wedding planning and the rest of our lives together!

a VERY HAPPY xo, 
Grace


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