{weekend bucket list}

1. I’ve been waiting to see this movie for a very long time. The trailer looks incredible, and I really do think it’s going to be a fabulous movie! I don’t even care that Kristen Stewart is in it, it looks that good.

2. I’m so excited for Blog Brunch this month! I’ve been struggling with how to use Facebook more efficiently, so I’m looking forward to talking to other bloggers about how they use it for their blogs and businesses.

3. Book club is on Sunday! I chose this month’s book, and I’ve yet to finish it (oops!), but I know it’s going to be good. Plus, it’s an excuse to get together with my lady friends.

4. The Ventura flea market only comes around every few months, so I’m determined to make it there on Sunday morning. I don’t have anything in mind really, other than looking for some pretty things for my best friend’s wedding. Do you think Taylor Swift will be there again?

{may’s favorite things}

I know I say it every month, but time really is going by so fast. Can you believe that today is the last day of May? These first five months of the year have been absolutely incredible, and May has bee one of the best yet!

1. I wear the bow that I got from Melanie Lea almost every day. It is definitely my favorite new accessory, and obviously one of my favorite things from May!

2. I took a chance one day and emailed one of my favorite wedding designers, Kelly Oshiro, to see if she’d be willing to meet me for a drink. We did, and it was great! She gave me some amazing advice, and I feel so fortunate to say that I’ve met such a talented designer.

3. I put up a new mantra every week, but this one really struck a chord with me and with some of my readers. It’s my official mantra right now, and I definitely wouldn’t be where I am if I hadn’t taken it to heart.

4. At the beginning of the month, I was able to help an old friend with her wedding and it turned out to be just beautiful. I can’t wait to see the rest of the pictures!

5. It may be the last day of the month, but I’ve officially hit 600 followers! That’s pretty cool.

{P.S. - don’t forget to enter my Shabby Apple giveaway!}

{shabby apple giveaway & two winners}

Today is an extra special day, because I have an extra special treat for all of you!

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I’m sure you all have heard of Shabby Apple by now, and have seen some of their adorable clothes and accessories. Well, Shabby Apple is offering of my lucky readers $75 to get whatever they’d like! There are a few ways you can win (please leave a comment for each):

1. Mandatory Entry – “Like” Shabby Apple on Facebook

Additional Entries:

2. Leave a comment telling us what you would buy if you win

3. Follow me {@joelleduff} on Twitter

4. Tweet about the giveaway

5. “Like” Something Charming on Facebook

The giveaway closes on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at midnight, so be sure to enter before then!

Oh, and one more thing….I need to announce the winner from the last giveaway, in which I offered two readers two months of free sponsorship! And the winners are…

Email me ladies so I can get your information and put up your buttons!

{wedding wednesday: the save the dates}

I can’t believe it’s already Wednesday! I guess it’s true that the best part of a long weekend is a short week. It may only be only Wednesday, but it’s already a great week! And that is even with the food poisoning I got on Monday night…

Anyway, here we are again, at another Wedding Wednesday post.

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Once you have set the date and chosen a venue, you may want to consider sending out save the dates to your guests.

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You want to include any information that your guests might need to “save the date.” Other ideas might be to include a hotel that you’ve blocked off rooms for, your wedding website, and a note saying that a formal invitation will follow.

You might want to only send them to close friends and family, just in case you decide later on to reduce the guest list, or if you have a falling out with someone. Sending a Save the Date, and then reneging on that invitation, is one of the biggest wedding faux pas that you can commit. It’s just best that way, to avoid any hurt feelings.

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And now, I have a special treat for all of you!

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That pretty card up there was designed by Jocie from Cards Etcetera, and she is offering one reader their own, custom Save the Date! Her cards are just beautiful, and she will create one for you and send you the image to print on your own! All you have to do is leave a comment below, letting us know that you’d like to be entered to win!

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{a lady’s summer closet}

A few months ago, I did a post about the items that are essential in a lady’s wardrobe. Since it’s now  unofficially summer, I thought I’d return to that idea and post the things I find important to own for the summer.

1. Ask anyone who knew me as a teenager, and they’d tell you that I took full advantage of the warmer weather by wearing pieces of clothing that my current prudish self would find scandalous. I think a lot of girls go through this phase, but thank goodness I’ve grown out of it. I much prefer to wear comfortable dresses in lighter fabrics, like this one from Mango, rather than short skirts that show a little too much.

2. It’s essential that we protect our skin from the sun, especially if you live near the beach like I do. Sunscreen does the trick, but why not take it a step further and look a little chicer in the process by wearing a pretty sunhat?

3. The same goes for our eyes. These Dolce and Gabana glasses are perfect for a sunny day.

4. Heels are always in, but a nice pair of wedges just evoke summertime. Don’t you think these Michael Kors wedges would look pretty with that maxi dress?

5. What would summer be without spending some time in the water? A lady’s bathing suit doesn’t need to cover everything up necessarily, but it is important that you find something flattering for your body. This is the first year that I’m actually considering getting a one piece! Thought this lovely pink two piece is also on the list…

6. Summer is also wedding season! Which is obviously a great reason to go find a new, flirty cocktail dress. I’m loving this pretty chiffon dress, aren’t you?

7. While I was in Paris for the summer a few years ago, I noticed that regardless of the weather, Parisian women had one staple: a scarf. Choosing a colorful scarf in a light fabric is a great way to accessorize an outfit, and make you feel just a little more French.

8. And lastly, a lady definitely needs a new pair of sandals to show off that summer pedicure, don’t you think?

{flowers & pie}

Hope you all had a lovely weekend and beautiful Memorial Day.

{monday’s mantra}

Happy Memorial Day everyone! I hope you are all enjoying your day off, and that you are remembering why it is that we are able to get a three day weekend.

Today’s mantra is for you. Because, you see, it’s taken me a long time to get to where I am now, where I believe in myself enough to know that I can do big things. I also know, however, that there are so many people in the world who don’t see their value and their potential.

I truly do believe that if I can get to this place in my life, so can you. So even if you don’t see it in yourself yet, know that I believe in you. You can do great things too.

In case you need an extra confidence boost this week, I’ve created some desktop wallpapers for you. I hope you look at them when you’re feeling down, and see that you have someone who believes in you.

1900 x 1200
1600 x 1200
1024 x 768

{happy hour: bethany from rinse repeat}

Aren’t you excited!? It’s officially happy hour. Or, it will be, for me at least, in about four hours. But until then, I have another beautiful blogger for you to meet today. And I’m extra excited about her, because I’m pretty sure we could best friends in real life. Seriously, I adore this girl, and she takes the most beautiful pictures. If you haven’t met Bethany before, I highly recommend that you go say hi today. I promise you’ll find your new favorite blog!

{weekend bucket list}

Are you as excited as I am that it’s a three day weekend?! I have big plans for the next few days, of which include lots of food, a client meeting, and seeing my best friend that I haven’t seen in a few months. It’s going to be an amazing weekend.

1. {via} I’ve been feeling very motivated to {finally} clean my office. There have just been so many pretty office pictures floating around Pinterest and I’m tired of my tired office. I spend so much time in there, and I really need something a little more inspirational.

2. {via} I have a special occasion that I need flowers for soon, and I’m going to do my best to get down to the flower market in Downtown Los Angeles to buy some to practice with. If you are from around here, do you have any advice for navigating the flower market?

3. {via} We don’t have a porch or balcony, but we have a little space next to our front door, and last year my brother made us a sweet little planter. We put basil and rosemary and chives in it last year, but it’s been barren since the winter. The weather is nice now, so I’m excited to plant more herbs. I’m thinking more basil and rosemary, and maybe some mint. Mint does go really well in summer cocktails!

4. {via} Again, we don’t really have an outdoor space, but I’m tired of not having a BBQ! We might have to lock it to our carport, but I’ll do what it takes. It’s summer. And summer means BBQ.

{summer essentials: cold cocktails}

Memorial Day is Monday, which means that it’s the unofficial start to summer! Now, summer isn’t my favorite season {that would be fall}, but I can still appreciate the longer days, warmer nights, and fun that come with summer. I thought I would start sharing with all of you some of the things I’d like to do this summer, as well as the things that I find essential for the season.

You best believe that I will be making all of these this summer.

1. Reisling Strawberry Slushie from With Style and Grace

2. Pink Tequila from Refinery 29

3. Blackberry Sage Cooler from Spunkyrella {this one is a virgin, but I think it would go great with gin}

4. Roasted Peach Lemonade from the Naptime Chef {all it needs is some vodka}

{wedding wednesday: the colors}

Today’s Wedding Wednesday topic is going to be so much fun! There are some brides who have known exactly what they’ve wanted in a wedding since they were a child. Others need a little bit more inspiration than that, when the time comes.

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There are a few things you need to take into consideration before choosing your wedding colors.

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The options for color combinations are almost endless, and it’s even become popular for couples to not have a color combination at all. Instead, some just like to go with their theme or venue, and choose elements that work with it.

Another option is to use one color in different hues, or use neutrals {grey, nude, white, cream, etc.}. These two are very popular, and I think we will be seeing a lot more weddings in the future with color palettes that don’t involved multiple colors.

If you need help choosing your color palette, here are a few resources for you:

The Knot has some advice for choosing your colors.

To see what colors would look like together, use Adobe’s Kuler application.

You can search on both Lover.ly and Style Me Pretty by color.

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