I am back...and married! :)

Hooray for me abandoning this blog and tying the knot behind your back! My highschool sweetheart and I exchanged vows in a quaint chapel on our college campus on November 10th, 2012. It was magical, imperfect and completely wonderful. I don't know if I anyone still remembers or reads my blog to this day, but I've started a new blog that is completely under construction so please pardon the dust and emptiness. This one has my new last name in it and it is going to be the blog for my creative business that I am preparing to establish.

"If I get married, I want to be very married." ~Audrey Hepburn

Love,
Mrs. Knisley :)

Dear reader,

Somehow, I stumbled back onto my blog that has been neglected for a while--it was so bad that I forgot the name of this little electronic diary of mine. Life has been eventful and busy, but this gal ready for bigger adventures in life, along with my loving future husband. Design changes are going to be made to the blog soon, so we'll see where this goes!

P.S. I still feel as if I am talking to a wall on this site, yet there is a strange comfort in knowing that nothing on the Internet is invisible nor hidden.

Hi everyone,

I've missed you all!

You probably noticed I took a long break from blogging. I wanted to make sure I wouldn't be so distracted as finishing up this semester is stressful. After obsessing over Pinterest, I realized how much I enjoy having creative outlets to write, share and express. Happy to say I will be back at least once a week. My fiance and I are busy planning and preparing for marriage (whether that is this year or next year) and I've got so much to share. Life is beautiful, isn't it? :)

I hope you all are well and it looks like I will be using this blog forever since I like it so much.

Kindly,
Lauren

INSPIRED: Covenant on a Cliff

Ben and I were at crossroads about where we wanted to have our ceremony. To check things off the list, here's what we dreamed up:

1. Outdoor nature 

(we love wide, open spaces)

2. A scenic view 

(the kind that should be a painting)

3. Somewhere in the mountains or in a valley 

(something with trees and green grass, you know)

4. A romantic cliff 

(just enough to feel like we are on top of the world)

So here we have it. I guess we want to get married on a cliff in the wildly beautiful nature somewhere. My sweet fiance is a true romantic. He suggested it first when I asked him to describe where he could imagine our vows being exchanged. Heck, the man climbs up hills for fun--where else could we have our ceremony? :)

So, we are on the hunt for this dreamy covenant on a cliff here in sunny, Southern California (yes, it's 80-something degrees here and it's almost December).

1. Pinterest.

INSPIRED: I love our wedding colors.

I really do. Once we were betrothed, it was very easy to imagine our wedding day. My favorite color is green. And his is blue. There you have it, a color scheme was born that we are both more than happy with! Our colors also happen to be based on a peacock feather. We share an admiration for this beautiful bird and love how it ties everything together. I think our love for peacocks began somewhere in high school when we would visit art museums on dates and would see artworks imitating this creature, or that time when we You-Tubed peacocks and attempted to mimic their sounds (I know, very mature, huh?)--nonetheless, it somehow has become a symbol for us.

Each time I see a peacock feather, I just think of Ben. It even went so far as me buying a cute little picture frame at Ross because it was a peacock in the shape of a heart. I'm really excited to incorporate peacock feathers (very subtly) into our special day. Big ticket items on my DIY list are to create groom and groomsmen peacock feather boutounierres (gosh, I hope I can spell that word correctly someday). I also want to have some peeping through my bridal partys' flower bouquets.

P.S. My navy blue shoes and green flower bouquet will be enough to hint at the peacock feather! I almost decided to go with a peacock fascinator, but was afraid of taking it too far. In this case, less is more.

1. Etsy.

Thank you.

With grandma (a.k.a Nanny)

Sisters.

My step-brother! He's a gem!

Family.

Future parents in law! :)

Triathlon in Santa Barbara!

Engagement photo :)

Video of my freshman orientation at my University! :)

My parents/family couldn't be there that night, so Ben gladly came

with me & supported/celebrated with me the whole way. He is truly

my number one fan. I love, love, love this man! 

Seriously so happy to be marrying him!

Anyway, much to be thankful for with all these memories!

Here in the States, we celebrate Thanksgiving. Nothing too special or traditional like the good ole' days when we were little and had to dress up to go to Great Grandma Marie's house--now, it's just a nice dinner while spending time with loved ones. And I still cherish it. My father recalled his best memories to be those spent eating food with family and friends. Whether you are in the U.S. or not, I hope you are enjoying your day and time with loved ones.

P.S.

 I am so grateful for so many things, I know take SO much for granted. Sometimes I have those outer-body experiences where I just look at my family, my fiance, some friends, etc. and I just think of how beyond blessed I am. Even when life hardly seems fair, there's something wonderful in my lap that I can't see I already have. 

INSPIRED: A "Princess" Veil

Although I am only 5 foot 2, I still dream of being a princess who gets married away wearing a veil that flows for miles (well, maybe just a few feet) in the wind. My grandmother has been encouraging me to wear the veil of my dreams. I felt hesitant because it seems that everyone wears a long chapel or cathedral veil--but now I see why. They're so darn gorgeous!

I am completely and utterly drawn in by the whimsy and timeless flair of a simple, tulle veil that flows like a waterfall behind me. I think I am calling it quits on the tulle birdcage veil I purchased a few months ago. Though I am petite, I can still be that princess on my wedding day that I've always dreamed of. After all, my prince has come! :)

Do you see that little girl in the photo to the left of the box?

Yep, that's me dressed up as a bride at 5 years old.

Always dressing up and dreaming.

 Look at me now, ha.

1. Amanda Smith Photography. 2. The Knot. 3. Photo by Joanna Noel.

Deep Breaths & Shouts of Joy

Hi everyone,

I'm back from a long couple of weeks of studying and working! It's currently my week of Thanksgiving break for both school and work, HOORAY. That means more time to spend my handsome fiance, family, sleep in without setting my alarm clock, and time to soak up some inspiration for daily life and wedding planning. Seriously, I am so passionate about weddings--just adore all the true love behind it that makes it so special and important. It just makes me so happy stringing colors together and matching items up to create a plan. I don't think planning ever, ever stresses me out. A  lot of people lately have been telling me how stressed I should be (especially since I am finishing up my degree)--but if I am taking it day by day, why should I be? :) That's why I love blogging; it lays out my plan and helps me remember things more easily. I am able to reflect upon things and see them in a different light. I also appreciate when people leave comments, it really helps out!

Anyway, glad to take a deep breath and just relax. I wish you all a wonderful week. And for those of you in the States here as I am, I wish you a cheerful week of Thanksgiving! :)

Sincerely,
Lauren Ashley

New Garter, New Direction!

Okay, the fiance and I are making plans for a 2013 wedding due to school plans--as we are waiting until he gets into grad school (which will be the fall semester of that year). We are learning patience, and are excited we have time to figure things out and also to enjoy the bliss of being betrothed.

It can be difficult at times to keep on waiting for these wonderful and beautiful things in life--but who said the good things in life weren't easy and didn't take some time? By the way, I've changed my mind on my garter and got this beauty. I dearly and absolutely love it.

1. Garter: Etsy.

Hi!

Wishing everyone a fun and safe Halloween.

I'm Kate Middleton today--you know, British royalty! ;)

What is everyone up to tonight? Anything special?

P.S.

My handsome fiance didn't 

want to be Prince William today, haha!