{sunday bun day}

I just have to say, I really admire all you fashion bloggers out there who find a way to take photos almost every single day. I wanted to challenge myself by taking photos just once a week, and it's difficult! So I'm begging you, what advice do you have? And what tips do you have for my husband, who I drag outside every Sunday afternoon to take photos of me? I can't imagine it's the best job in the world, but he does it anyway!

In case you're wondering, I did wear this outfit all day long, including to a potential client meeting. What I guess I'm trying to say is, if we're ever meeting somewhere and we've never met before, you'll know who I am...

dress :: old navy // purse :: kate spade // sandals :: target // sunglasses :: kate spade // ring :: kate spade // watch :: fossil // earrings :: lauren conrad at kohls

Oh, and I have to introduce you to the newest member of my family. I think I'll call her Fiona. Isn't she beautiful? That would be my purse, if you haven't figured it out yet...

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

{happy friday}

Well, it's going to be inevitable that there are some weeks when I just don't find much of anything that I want to share with all of you for Five Things, and it is definitely one of those weeks. Not to mention I'm a little preoccupied with a wedding this afternoon at one of the cutest little inns you ever did see.

Have a good weekend everyone!

{let's do this + a kate spade giveaway}

So, you obviously (or probably) already know that Google Reader is getting the ix-nay on July 1st, which means that if you use the service (which I absolutely loved), you'll need to find a new way to follow Something Charming! I just wanted to pop in quickly this morning to tell you all of a few different ways you can keep up with this little blog here. And now, I want to give one of you all a little treat. As a thank you for following along, I am giving away a $50 gift card to Kate Spade! I thought you all might like that. Just comment below, letting me know how you follow along (honor system here), and I will choose one winner next Friday, July 5 at midnight. Good luck!

{peony charming: the font}

I definitely have a new obsession. Ever since I tried my hand at copperplate calligraphy a few months ago, I haven't been able to do anything else! I added a few options with this style of writing to my Etsy shop, and now I have another fun announcement to share.

That's right, I have made another font for all of you. If you ever tried making a font out of your own handwriting, you know how fun it is! And it's kind of crazy seeing your writing on the computer, typing it out. 

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions! Oh, and be sure to tag me (@joelleduff) and use the hashtag #joellecharming if you share anything that you use my fonts for on Twitter or Instagram. I have three of them now (you can find Joelle Charming and Olive Charming on my blog and in my Etsy shop as well), and I always love seeing what creative things people use them for!

***Update November 4, 2013 :: I'm not currently selling all of my fonts through Etsy, so you can view and purchase them all here!***

{monday's mantra}

Happy Monday friends! Hope you all had a great weekend. Robert and I got to spend a lot of time together these past few days, drinking wine and meandering around the farmer's market. I'm always so thankful for weekends like this, where I get to enjoy the life that we've created for ourselves. And that brings me to this week's mantra!

For me, the why is my future, and the future of my family. It's no secret that I do want to start a family in the next few years, and it is so important that I'm able to care for my children, both financially and by being present. I'm building a company based on the values that I want to instill in my family, and I'm building a life that will (eventually) allow me to stay home to raise my children. Not only that, but I do what I do because I love creating beautiful things, and giving others the wedding of their dreams. That's what makes it all worth it. 

What's your why? 

{sunday bun day}

So, this week's bow is actually brought to you by...me! I am one of the least-crafty people I know, but I've been wanting to try my hand at making bows. I found some adorable yellow fabric at the store, and went to work. The exact color is a little difficult to see in these photos, but I'm kind of loving it. I may have even another new addiction...

I will definitely be perfecting this bow making this week, and who knows! Maybe you'll even be able to buy a bow from me someday...

{five things}

Can you believe it's already June 21 everyone? That makes it SUMMER. Officially, at least! It's been really warm around here for a few weeks now, but I'm really happy that summer is finally here. I just know that it's going to be an amazing three months. I have a ton of weddings, but also so many ideas and projects that I can't wait to get started on.

This weekend is going to be pretty quiet, with only one client meeting. The rest of the weekend is dedicated to a trip to the farmer's market, spending time with friends, and hopefully sleeping in!

As always (minus last week), here are five of my favorite links from my week to yours:

1 // I'm LOVING Joy's series on goals right now!

2 // This is an older post, but it still has some great non-traditional wedding planning tips. 

3 // This farm to table inspired shoot is absolute perfection. I can't wait to style something like this when I have a bit more time on my hands!

4 // On jealousy. I really needed this. 

5 // Would you ever declare email bankruptcy? I just don't think I could do it. 

What are your plans for the weekend?

{sparkling margaritas}

I'm not much of a cocktail kind of girl (you all know that I love my red wine), but I am always in the mood for a good margarita. Usually when I go out, I'll stick with a regular margarita, on the rocks, no salt, but I always love to experiment at home. I recently purchased a bottle of Sauza® Sparkling Margarita, and I was really impressed! It's absolutely perfect for a hot summer night at home, especially when you have a few girlfriends over! They come in a few different flavors, including Original Lime, Wild Berry, and Mango Peach, so there is most definitely something for everyone!

Margaritas are always one of my favorite drinks to entertain with. It's so easy to pair food with them, especially in Southern California, and it's fun to experiment with glasses and garnishes. I always love pairing margaritas and Mexican food with bright colors, like hot blue, fuchsia, and yellow. Try looking for a funky table cloth to put on your table, or even a hot pink pinata to use as decor!

One of the best things about these margaritas is that there isn't much prep time needed, and you can have the drinks ready for your guests when they walk in the door! Salt the rim of your glasses before your guests arrive, and put them onto a fun tray with striped straws, so that all you have to do when they get to the party is pour in the sparkling margaritas and drop some ice in the glass. For an extra special touch, try offering shots of Grand Marnier that they can either shoot on their own, or pour into their margarita.

What's your favorite drink to entertain with in the summer? Have ever tried a sparkling margarita?

Sauza® Sparkling Margarita is our brand new, ready-to-serve sparkling margarita. It's available in three delicious flavors: Original Lime, Mango Peach and Wild Berry. Now you can add a little more sparkle to your ladies' night. Connect with us here: http://facebook.com/SauzaMargaritas.


Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Sauza® via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Sauza®.

{happy birthday olive}

Olive celebrated her birthday on Tuesday! We got our baby girl two years ago, on June 18, 2011, and they thought she was about a year old. Since we don't know her exact birthday, we just celebrate on the day that we got her, and say that she's three years old!

We adopted our baby OliveDuff from a local organization that rescues small dogs from local shelters. Olive was originally an animal hoarders dog, and was eventually taken to a shelter when her owner could no longer care for all of her animals. We found her at a local Petco, at an adoption event. She was so sweet, barely made a sound, and we knew it was meant to be when Robert picked her and she put her head on his shoulder. On the way home, she cuddled into my lap like it was the one place in the world she was meant to be. 

If you've ever met Olive, you know that she's something special. She truly is one of the sweetest dogs you will ever come across, and really only barks or growls when you're playing with her. In fact, she didn't make one sound for the first two weeks that we had her, until Rober taught her how "to speak." 

She's my baby girl, and she most definitely knows that I'm her mom. I'm her person; when she's overwhelmed or scared, especially when there are a lot of people around, she wants me to hold her. Nobody else will do, and she'll follow me around until I do pick her up. She's a good girl, and doesn't run away when we open the door. We'll actually let her outside without a leash at all, because we know she'll come running to us as soon as we call her name. I honestly never thought that I would be in love with this dog as much as I am, but I know for a fact that we were all meant to be a family. 

Why yes, I did bake her a cake, which she absolutely loved. And that blurry photo with her birthday hat was the best we could get. She definitely doesn't like wearing anything on her head! For presents, she got her favorite Greenies, a pretty new harness (with a bow) and a matching leash! She was one happy girl on Tuesday.

{mint julep}

Now, I'm not really a whiskey girl, but every once in a while my husband will make something that even I can appreciate. Last year he found some mint julep cups at our local flea market, and he's been dying to try his hand at this classic cocktail! We planted our mint a few weeks ago, and it's just now starting to grow, so he decided Saturday was the day. Let me tell you, it's not only a pretty and fun cocktail, but it's absolutely delicious as well!

To make a mint julep, just place about ten mint leaves in the bottom of your cup and pour the simple syrup on top. Gently muddle the leaves with a spoon (don't pulverize them), and pour in your in bourbon. Place some of your crushed ice in the glass and gently stir it all together, and then top with more crushed ice to create an almost snow cone. Enjoy!

{calligraphy for a charming occasion}

If you like my Facebook page, you're probably so tired of hearing this already, but I just had to share with all of you! One of my dearest vendor friends just happens to be one of my favorite photographers, and I am so fortunate that she's always willing to help me out with special projects when they come up. She agreed to photograph some samples of my calligraphy so that I could update my Etsy shop, and open up a Cloud Parade shop. I got them back Saturday morning, and I am SO excited with how they all turned out!

Thank you so much to Anna Delores Photography for the photos!

If you're looking for some calligraphy for your wedding or a special project, you can see my Etsy shop here! I love working with people on fun, creative projects, such as logos, certificates, poems, quotes, and so many other things, so feel free to email me if you are looking for something in particular, or even if you want to chat about what your options are.

{monday's mantra}

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a fabulous weekend. Robert and I went on dates three nights in a row this past weekend, which is pretty much unheard of. I always love spending time with him, so I would say we had a great few days. We saw This is the End (absolutely hilarious) and Man of Steel (didn't like at all), and then used a gift card to get drinks on Saturday. Sunday we went to Orange County to spend the day with our dads, and didn't get back until late last night. In all, I'm most definitely ready to start my week refreshed. Here's to hoping that this week is better than the last. 

What's your mantra this week?

{sunday bun day}

Last week, I stopped by the J. Crew Factory to find myself a new pair of work pants for my wedding. I always love it when I just happened to stumble upon a great sale, and I obviously had to check out their clearance when I saw that it was an additional thirty percent off. I may or may not have found my most amazing purchase of the year yet there, and I just couldn't wait for an excuse to wear my new lobster shorts!

shorts :: J. Crew // sandals :: Target // shirt :: Forever 21 // ring :: Kate Spade // necklace :: Charlotte Russe

I don't know that I can get away with a massive bow with my lobster shorts, so it was a baby bow day. I have a feeling I'll be living in these shorts this summer though!

{featured on wedding chicks}

It's always inevitable that when I'm having a rough time, something comes along to remind just how wonderful life is. I feel so fortunate that I get to do what I love, every single day, and getting recognition for that is just the icing on the cake! 

A sweet little photo shoot I did with some of my favorite vendors (and best vendor friends) is up on Wedding Chicks today! I want to thank everyone who helped me put together this beautiful shoot, and I hope you all get a little inspiration on this gloomy day. 

Photos for this vintage garden shoot are by the wonderful Anna Delores Photography, and florals are by Stella Bloom. I'm so excited that I get to do another wedding at McCormick Home Ranch this year as well! You can see the full feature here. 

{on pampering yourself}

If you saw yesterday's mantra, you may have noticed the underlying stress. Needless to say, things are crazy. Crazy busy, crazy exciting, crazy stressful, around these parts. I don't really want to complain, because I don't think it's a bad thing. But that doesn't mean it's not overwhelming or stressful. I'm working harder than I ever have in my life, and I'm most definitely not getting paid what you would think. 

I love doing what I do. I've never been happier! There are days, however, where I feel like I'm suffocating. Or that I'm not good enough. That's why this week's mantra is what it is. 

There may not be many things I can reduce my stress. I can work as hard as I can, and there will still be more to do. What I can do, however, is pamper myself. It's been hard for me to justify a regular pedicure or buying a new outfit in the past. These days, however, I've realized that it's necessary if I want to keep my sanity. Relaxing while getting my gel manicure, knowing that I won't have to worry about my nails for two weeks, or getting that adorable maxi skirt because it's comfortable to work in, are just enough to balance it all out.

So if you're feeling a little off these days, go treat yourself to a massage, or buy yourself a new lipstick. And don't beat yourself up over it, either. We all deserve a little self-love every once in a while. 

I've been getting regular gel manicures for the past month and a half, and it's been one of the best decisions ever. This is a little bright, but it is summer after all!

{monday's mantra...on tuesday}

I already told you I'm behind this week, but hopefully that won't be the case for long. I wasn't going to do a Monday's Mantra post either, but it was necessary. If I need to hear anything this week, it's this. 

Tomorrow may be Wednesday, but that doesn't mean it's too late to start the week over. I need to be more gentle with myself, and much more forgiving. Life really doesn't need to be so difficult. 

{sunday bun day...on monday}

So, Robert came up with this genius idea of...Sunday Bun Day! Because, obviously, I love buns. I actually had a photographer that I know quite well say today that she's never seen me with my hair down, which I kind of take as a compliment? I guess it's pretty fun to have something signature like that. 

Anyway, this first Sunday Bun Day is coming to you late because, well, Saturday's wedding was pretty brutal and I'm still recovering. I spent the majority of the day Sunday on the couch or cleaning the house, and I've tried to stay away from the computer. I need to decompress, you know? But hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things soon! It doesn't do any good to dwell on the past, so I'm ready to jump back into this week, head first. Though it may take me a few days to get through my mess of emails right now...

{five things}

Hope you all had a great week! I'm looking forward to an amazingly beautiful wedding this weekend at one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Does anybody recognize the venue? I was seriously amazed when I did the walkthrough a few weeks ago, and I can't wait to see it all come together! That's taking up most of my weekend, though I do get to make family dinner for one of my favorite caterers and some of my best vendor friends on Sunday. 

I have some of the most amazing vendor friends. This is a photo of a group of us after we left a wedding industry mixer on Monday night. Obviously we had a great time.

As always, here are five links from my week to yours :: 

1 // I am beyond obsessed with this incredible wedding on Once Wed this week. I have a serious vendor crush on Joy Thigpen. She basically gives me something to aspire to. 

2 // A fascinating look at negotiation by Steve Jobs. 

3 // I'm not sure I could ever do it, but this article by an author who tried to follow Gwenyth Paltrow's diet was pretty hilarious. 

4 // Have you seen Shit Bloggers Wear yet? Amazing. 

5 // Warning, there's swearing here. But you should definitely watch this. Love it. 

That's all. Happy weekend friends!

{everything has changed}

This deserves a post of its own.

Watch it. I promise you won't be disappointed.

{what i'm reading v.6}

It's that time of the month everyone! I actually had to keep myself from posting this a few weeks ago, because I've found not just one book that I love, but two new series that I just can't get enough of. I've now read 28 books toward my goal of 52 for the year, which puts me at 11% ahead of schedule!

1 // I've actually had the Selection on my iPad for at least six months now, but I don't even think I tried to get into it. I'm such a sucker for summaries, and for some reason, this one didn't suck me in. Lisa tweeted at me recently (she's my favorite person to chat with on Twitter about books - we have such similar taste!) and asked if I've read it yet. I decided to try it out and I just couldn't. put. it. down. It's been a while since I've found a series that pulls me in this much, Divergent was probably the last. I just...oh goodness. If you liked the Hunger Games, Divergent, and Matched, you have to read the Selection. I would say it's kind of a combination of all three. I'm so sad that I have to wait almost an entire year before the last one comes out!

2 // I read a lot of books, and it is always hit and miss for me. Sometimes I can't even explain why I love a book so much, and sometimes I will put a book down within the first paragraph. The Lux series by Jennifer Armentrout fits into that first category. I won't lie, I wasn't expecting to love this series as much as I did, but I could not put this one down either! I read the two books in the Selection series and the three books in the Lux series within a week of each other, which is crazy! I would compare this one to Twilight, but with better and much more relatable characters. I really liked the writing, which is much more in line with the way that teenagers speak these days. There's one more (at least, I think) coming, and I just can't wait for that either!

3 // If you liked Fifty Shades of Grey, I would definitely recommend the Bared to You series by Sylvia Day. I has a very similar plot to Fifty Shades of Grey, but that didn't bother me much. It's a guilty read; most definitely both erotic and entertaining at the same time. Entwined with You is the last book in the series (I think) and I've been waiting for it for a while!

What are you reading? And what do you recommend I read next?