Sunkissed Dreams Come True | Our Wedding Day

Well, after a long hiatus from my blog, I have returned. The last year was crazy and wonderful and full of love and adventure and MY WEDDING! I'm finally back to being able to work hard on following my dream of opening my own shop, sharing beautiful styles & ideas, and creating my own products!

Planning our wedding was a lot of work, but made for many fun nights working on projects with my now husband, sister and other great helpers. We were able to turn our wedding into not only something beautiful for our family and friends to enjoy- but something very personal as we showcased everything that brought us together - from music, to colors, to surfing, photos of our adventures, handmade soaps, bonfire pits 

and many other wonderful things. 

I realized how much I love working with my hands as I was creating vases, flower arrangements, 

invitations, programs, layouts, and other decor. I am trying to now incorporate this into my business goals....But for now, I'd like to share some beautiful moments from our special day, 

as well as our personal touches that made it THE BEST DREAM COME TRUE!

I had so much fun creating our invitations & ceremony program! It's amazing what you can do with a few flourishes and some good fonts. I used CatPrint to print everything- they're great to work with and very reasonably priced! 

Word of advice: order less programs than you think you'll need...we have so many leftover!

I wanted lots of colors in my bouquet, so that's what we did! Sunrise orange & coral roses, pink snapdragons, large mums, baby's breath and a little greenery- it turned out just how I had wanted! 

Farther down I talk more about how we made all the flower arrangements ourselves.

Us girls had a gorgeous house to get ready in for the day- it was located on the grounds at our venue, Vista Ranch & Cellars in Merced, Ca.  Complete with salon, a kitchen for us to grub in and plenty of mirrors for us all to get ready! 

 

I've always loved opals, so Eddie did a wonderful job of  incorporating that into my engagement ring. 

Eddie and his little brothers- they look up to him so much.

So grateful to have my two little sissies be a part of our bridal party.

Our wedding day was fairly overcast- which made the colors of the dresses pop and the almond blossoms look gorgeous and snowy!

I ordered my wedding dress off of Etsy from an amazing seamstress based out of San Francisco. I couldn't have been happier with it, and it was SO affordable! My veil was also from Etsy, a different seller, but matched perfectly.

The guys had a lot of fun getting ready, playing corn hole and shootin' the breeze out at a friends ranch in the country that morning. They all got pocket watches as gifts from my man, so they were having fun with them in the photos. 

Making the boutonnieres wasn't too hard- I used leftover flowers from the bridesmaids bouquets, added some greenery and wrapped with jute twine. They matched so well with the girls' dresses.

Baby's breath was our go to flower for a lot of the larger arrangements. 

A handmade wooden wine box showcased our programs beautifully.

I hand painted all of the vases with our wedding colors. 

It created such a vibrant & pleasant setting with the cloudy skies. We intermixed the vases with large tea light candles in hobnail jars (love these) or small holders wrapped with either burlap or lace. 

Myself and some of the girls spent the day before the wedding putting together all the flower arrangements. We ordered a ton of flowers from a local shop, Fresh Ideas Flower Co., with colors and flowers I liked. We made my bouquet that day as well- it was so much fun, and smelled glorious with all those fresh flowers around us!

Handmade lavender soap bars, from a wonderful shop I found on Etsy, as favors for our guests. 

My aunt created our cake from a few ideas I gave her- it looked amazing and tasted delicious!

Cork frame collage of our adventures. 

I found a lot of my supplies for these projects in my parents' garage, leftover from my dad's wood working jobs. 

The time my pops and I spent together that short time before he walked me down the aisle was so precious. Chatting and laughing with him, then taking his arm and letting him give me away to the man of my dreams is a feeling I will never forget. I've always been very close with my dad- so knowing that this man I chose to be with the rest of my life, had my dad's blessing, was so wonderful.

Chocolate milk for our unity ceremony. Mmmmm...

Just the best, most unreal feeling.

My little sis/Maid of Honor gave a very sweet and touching toast.

We danced under the moon to our favorite song, "Harvest Moon" by the great Neil Young.

Framed old photos of our grandparents & parents displayed on the cake table. 

My precious little niece, aka the Flower Girl, fell asleep during the ceremony and for hours after! 

So this was our one photo together... 

The wedding day is very long & emotional, you're so high on life and it hardly feels real. 

It was the weirdest but best feeling to know that I was now all his and he was all mine.

I still revel in the ecstasy of that day, and hope to never let that feeling fade. 

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A huge thank you to Cori Delgado Photography for capturing our special day. 

She's an amazing photographer and a very sweet gal.

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Until next time. XOXO

Sunkissed Recommendation: Blackfish

This documentary was incredible. You really find out the truth (that somehow these companies have kept a secret) about these beautiful killer whales that spend their life inside a "swimming pool".

It's emotional and eye-opening, beautifully put-together, and makes you want to go to every establishment that holds wild animals and set them all free.

Watch the trailer here>

Visit the website and find out more, por favor>

Until next time. xoxo

Sunkissed Sneakers

One of my favorite things about summer is the fact that you can throw on a pair of cute sandals with just about any outfit and run out the door...

so when cooler weather approaches it gets a little more difficult for me to figure out what to put on my feet! 

I LOVE boots just as much as the next girl, but let's face it, boots don't go with every outfit and it can be tough to find boots that are super comfy for all-day wear! 

Thankfully, sneakers are making a come back! No, not running shoes, but fun hightops! 

They're comfy, keep your toes warm, and add a little sporty spice to your outfit!

Here's a few pairs that are super fun, and can be rocked just about anywhere...

volcom buzz high top perforated shoe

roxy renegade studded hi top

the zipit sneaker

wifky lace-up high top sneakers

pony splitup high top sneakers

Throw a pair of these on and your inner child/hardcore girl power is sure to come out.

Until next time, keep dreaming. xoxo

Sunkissed Stylin'

Fall is here and although I LOVE a good hoodie,

cooler weather doesn't have to mean jeans and sweatshirts everyday...

keep it fresh with printed bottoms and fun beanies!

Get your's here:

Element Dilly Dally Beanie - Swell Make Me Roar Leopard Lounge Pants

And some Friday tuneage to get your weekend started right!

• Jessie Ware feat. A$AP Rocky - Wildest Moments Remix
• CHVRCHES - The Mother We Share
• Avicii - Dear Boy
• Kings of Leon - On the Chin
• Dr. Dog - Broken Heart

Until next time, keep dreaming. xoxo

Sunkissed DIY: Distressed Jeans

Fall is here! Time to pull out the jeans, sweaters, leggings, & boots!

I love jeans, but I hate buying them! It takes me forever to find a pair that is comfortable AND fits me right. So, instead of going and buying a new pair of jeans, the other day I decided to take an older pair I had and give them a fun, new look! I've always had mixed feelings about jeans with holes in them, but recently I've been digging the style, so I decided to just make myself a pair! Didn't take that long at all, and turned out just how I had hoped!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

1. A pair of jeans that you don't mind cutting up but still like the way they look on you
2. A box cutter or other really sharp blade
3. Sand paper (I didn't have any and didn't feel like going to the store, so I just used a pumice stone and it worked great!)
4. A thick piece of cardboard or card stock

WHAT YOU DO:

1. If you're not sure where your knee goes, just fold the pant leg in half, up to the crotch, and where the crease is in the leg is the section you're going to cut for the knee holes. Make a little box with a pencil, so you have some guidelines.
   
2. Grab that piece of cardboard and push it down into the leg until its laying right behind where you made your lines. This way the blade doesn't go through to the back of the leg!
   
3. Now, take your box cutter or blade and starting at the top line make a firm cut straight across the leg (leaving about an inch to the seam on either side). Keep making these cuts, leaving about 1/4 inch between each one, until you get to the bottom line that your drew. I made some cuts shorter than others, just to give the hole a more jagged edge.

It should look something like this!

4.  I also made some smaller cuts (as you can see in the photo above) above/to the side of the big ones, to add a little more natural wear and tear look to the pants. 

5.  Go ahead and do the same process on the other leg.

6.  I also wanted to make the bottoms of the pants and the pockets look worn as well, which you can do very easily:

• Cut the bottoms of the back of your pants just above the seam and use your sand paper or stone to wear down the seams, sides and very bottoms of the pants. Take the blade cutter and cut some horizontal slits right above where you cut the material off as well.
  
  
  
  

• Now, put the cardboard into the front pockets, one at a time, and make a few cuts, horizontal or vertical, on/around the pockets. Then take your sandpaper or pumice stone and wear down the edges of the pockets, around the fly and button, and anywhere else you want to take out some pent-up aggression!
  
  
  
  
  
• We can't forget about the back pockets! Remember the cell phone or lip gloss holes you got in your back pockets back in high school?! Ya, we wanna relive those days with these jeans. Make a few slits in the bottom corner (don't forget to put the cardboard as a shield first!), top corner, rub the sandpaper at the corner seams and across the top and boom, you're done-zo!
  
  
  
• You can also "sand-down" the belt loops, anywhere on the seams, on the pant leg seams, just basically wherever you want to add a little more wear and tear look!
• Now throw them in the wash and then dry completely - TWO TIMES for the best results!
• Put them on with a flowy tank or tee, some sandals or sturdy lace-up boots and you're ready to hit the town! Or just look at them and reminisce about your high school crush. :)
  

Until next time, keep dreaming. xoxo

Sunkissed Escapades: California Dreamin'

I know, I know...I haven't posted anything in a very long time.

I guess I've just been enjoying my summer too much to want to sit down and write something.

But, I finally got inspired today and I thought I'd share some of the 

fun adventures I've had the privilege of going on so far this summer. 

Although, I do basically live in the dead center of California's

hot and dry Central Valley, I've been able to get out a lot and go see my favorite places-

the sea and the mountains.

I am so very thankful that I am only a few short hours from both of these places.

The ocean makes me happy and content; the mountains, trees and fresh pine smell soothes my soul and makes me feel grateful to be living on this beautiful planet. 

This photo is actually from a little ranch nearby my home, I just thought it was so pretty.

It also perfectly portrays my hometown, that I'll always love. 

I went to visit a friend staying in Santa Cruz and spent all day at this beach, off of 26th avenue. 

The sky went from cloudy to sunny all day, 

but I wasn't complaining as long as there was soft sand under my toes.

These two photos are from Manresa State Beach, near Santa Cruz. I went there recently and went paddleboarding for the first time! I totally get what all the hype is about now! When you're so far out in the water and it's just quiet and peaceful, you can't help but just be happy about life. It's a great workout as well, all that balancing definitely works your core and leg muscles. We saw dolphins while we were out in the water too! 

It was such a beautiful day.

We rented the paddle boards from Capitola Surf and Paddle. The staff was super friendly and the boards were great! Check out their website right here and if you're in the area needing any board rentals I would highly recommend them!

Now, this is one of my favorite spots in the Sierra Nevada Mountains: Pinecrest Lake! I grew up coming here on family and church camping trips. My whole family spent all day swimming and playing in the water, 

kayaking, hiking, and picnicking by the lake. You can rent kayaks, paddleboats, speed boats, and party boats all right there at the dock for fairly reasonable prices.

This is a beautiful place and the water is clean and gets pretty warm during the summer! 

We stopped midway through our hike and did a little cliff jumping. 

It always takes me a little while to build up the courage to jump; 

but felt amazing once I landed in the deep, cool water.

(not quite sure what I was doing with my hands when I was jumping...)

PS: I'm wearing the Beach Riot Tarzan Top here...love it so much! Totally stays put and the back is to die for!

I never tire of the majestic redwood trees surrounding every 

road, pathway, cabin and house in that area.

There's a fun place on the lake where they have a bunch of huge logs floating and tied together; the challenge is to try and walk all the way out to the end of them without falling! 

Pretty difficult...we got almost the whole family to try it out!

This gorgeous piece of nor cal beach is a little less well known. It's just off the 1 North heading out of Santa Cruz, and is a little hike through some pretty terrain to get there, but well worth it! There was only like 10 other people there when  I went traipsing about it on this gorgeous day. 

I just love how the rock formation looks like a natural made lighthouse; 

I could have sat in this spot all day.

I took a trip to Yosemite last month and the drive there was literally just as awe-inspiring as the national park itself. We stopped the car atleast 5 times while driving there, just to get out and take in the gorgeous views.

These three photos are from Mono Lake, a place I had never heard of, but am so glad we came across! There's tons and tons of seagulls and other birds there, that claim all the little islands in the lake as their home. The reflection of the clouds on the lake was one of the prettiest things I'd ever seen and the tall, glorious mountains around it, just add to the overwhelming beauty of it all. 

We hiked to the top of Nevada Falls in Yosemite, its not too difficult and the trail up is right next to the waterfall, so you get a nice little cool-off from all the mist blowing in your face. 

The view from the top is obviously gorgeous and there's tons of little spots to take a load off and enjoy a snack and some drinks before heading back down, or (if you have the energy) continuing up to the next spot!

I went down to LA back in June to see a concert and the last night we were there, we headed over to Venice Beach for a little stroll and then drinks at this amazing bar/restaurant. Its called the High Rooftop Lounge; its on the roof of Hotel Erwin, right in the midst of all the Venice Beach action. 

The drinks are amazing, they have delicious appetizers to munch on, comfortable little booths with blankets for when the breeze picks up, and ofcourse the view is unbeatable! 

Best time to go is right around sunset, so you can catch the million dollar view like in the picture below. You can make a reservation here at their website, so you don't have to wait for a booth when you show up!

This little piece of heaven in the next few photos is just outside of Watsonville, out in the boondocks. We went driving through there on the way home, pulled over and walked down an empty road with a canopy of trees and vines. I felt like I was in a scene of Twilight or something! If you just stopped and stood there, you could literally hear nothing, except for the sound of birds chirping and wind whistling quietly through the trees. 

We climbed down into this little creek, crossed a moss covered log and did a little exploring. 

Its such a cool feeling to explore a place that you know very few people have wandered through. I couldn't help myself from just standing there and smiling. 

I'm a firm believer in the need to emerse yourself in nature's beauty, if not as much as possible, then at least every once in a while. It has a way of putting things into perspective, giving you a fresh outlook, 

and reminding you how beautiful life can be. 

Free mental therapy, you could say. 

So, if you haven't had the chance to do some "wanderlusting" lately, 

you need to before the seasons change again! 

Until next time, keep dreaming. xoxo