101 List: Growth Books List

by Lavender Elizabeth, December 07, 2013

Over the past couple of months, I've been slowly creating a list of books I would like to read that are centred on learning more about my loving, grace-filled Lord and how to be a better disciple for Him. This list started out with only a few books and has turned into a list of 47! I've written in my second 101 list that I want to read 50 of them - I'm still looking for 3 more that speak to me. Here is my (almost finished) list:


The Allure of Hope by Jan Meyers
A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Better Than My Dreams by Paula Rinehart
Boundaries in Dating by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes
Drops like Stars by Rob Bell
Erasing Hell by Francis Chan
The Five Love Languages, Singles Edition by Gary D. Chapman
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
God in the Mirror by Miles McPherson
God is in the Small Stuff and it all Matters by Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz
God is the Gospel by John Piper
God Loves Broken People by Sheila Walsh
The God Who Hears by W. Bingham Hunter
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo
Help Thanks Wow by Anne Lamott
His Princess: Love Letters from your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd
How to Hear From God by Joyce Meyer
In the Arms of Angels by John Wester Anderson
Jesus > Religion by Jefferson Bethke
Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell
The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
Lady in Waiting by Debby Jones
Listening to Love by Jan Meyers
Love Does by Bob Goff & Donald Miller
The Love Languages of God by Gary D. Chapman
Love Wins by Rob Bell
Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller
Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman
One Thousand Gifts (with devo) by Ann Voskamp
The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian
Praying God's Word by Beth Moore
Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander, M.D.
Radical by David Platt
Sex God by Rob Bell
The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
The Shelter of God's Promises by Sheila Walsh
Stories Behind Women of Extraordinary Faith by Ace Collins
Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
Waking Up in Heaven by Alex Tresniowski
What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst
What We Talk About When We Talk About God by Rob Bell
Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

Top 5 Bouquets: Flower Power

by Lavender Elizabeth, July 15, 2013
There is something so special about the bouquets that are chosen for the bride and her bridesmaids. They have the opportunity to add colour, warmth, and tradition to a ceremony. Below you will find my top five favourite spring and summer bouquets!

Pale Purples, Yellows, and Pinks
 

Light Brights in Beautiful Hues

Bright Blues, Pinks, Greens, and Yellows

Fresh Green, White, and Coral

An Ombre of Orange to Peach
What are some of your favourite bouquets for the warmer seasons? To find these and more, visit my Pinterest Board: The Bouquets.

Color Wheel: Orange You Glad

by Lavender Elizabeth, July 09, 2013
Orange happens to be one of my favourite colours, but I was worried that it could look scary for a wedding.
Boy, was I wrong!


A mixture of orange flowers creates a beautiful, bright bouquet.
Calla lilies offer a pop of orange to the groomsmen's attire.
A polka dot tie paired with a dahlia boutonnière looks great on a beige suit.
Candy bars a sweet favour to offer guests; an orange one is all the more fun!
Having vases of different heights, filled with a range of orange florals looks gorgeous.

"Orange you glad" you can use this colour!?

To see even more orange inspiration, head over to my Pinterest board: Colour Wheel: Orange

Designer Spotlight: Lazaro

by Lavender Elizabeth, July 02, 2013

Lozaro's designs feature elegant, dramatic silhouettes, unique beadwork, along with special and creative touches to each gown. Lazaro has gorgeous dresses that any bride would be lucky to wear on her big day!


Here are my favourite 5 Lazaro gowns:

Style LZ3306: Art Deco Trumpet

Style LZ3314: Satin V-Neck Trumpet

Style LZ3315: Blush Ballgown

Style LZ3251: Buttercup Ballgown

Style LZ3305: Beaded A-Line

101 List: Joining a Christian Group on Campus

by Lavender Elizabeth, June 19, 2013
Growth Group BBQ


Who: Myself & College Life

What: Joining a Christian Group
Where: UC Davis
When: Spring Quarter 2013
From101 List #2

For a long time now, I've been wanting to get connected with a Christian group on campus. My faith is the most important thing in my life, but my health had been holding me back from joining. I was finally feeling better this quarter, so no longer had an excuse. Halfway through the quarter, I emailed a girl asking if I could join her Growth Group (like a Bible Study), and it went from there!

I emailed Evelyn on Monday (April 22) and the next day met someone else from College Life. Clara and I decided to study at Starbucks (which we never do) and had to sit outside (there were no tables inside), and there we overheard a conversation. After eavesdropping for a few minutes, I turned around and informed them that I was doing that, and asked if they were apart of College Life - they were! We talked for a little bit and he mentioned Spring Retreat which was the following weekend. That night, I received an email from the coordinator and then paid at my first growth group meeting.

Timeline:
1) emailed Evelyn about Growth Group on Monday, April 22
2) met Zach on Tuesday, April 23
3) went to Growth Group & paid for retreat on Wednesday, April 24
4) left for Spring Retreat (with complete strangers) on Friday, April 26 - Sunday April 28

Going on Spring Retreat, despite it being so far outside my comfort zone, was the best decision! My faith was encouraged, the speaker was incredible, and that weekend solidified my feeling that College Life was where God wanted me.

Growth Group became the highlight of my quarter. The women were great! My friends from high school are some of the most wonderful, Godly women that I have ever met, and this group reminded me so much of them! They made me feel so welcomed and loved, and taught me so much and brought me closer to the Lord in such a small amount of time! I am so unbelievably grateful to have spent the second half of spring quarter with them and cannot wait for next year!

Spring Retreat - the Juniors

Where in the world have I been?

by Lavender Elizabeth, June 12, 2013
It has been almost a year since I have written outside weddings on this blog! This past year of school has been beyond crazy and I just haven't had time. However, as of yesterday, summer vacation has arrived! This summer I will continually be updating this blog, getting back to sharing what I love.

Over this quarter, as I was reviewing my 101 Things list, it occurred to me how much has changed and how my goals have changed. Because of that, I have decided to start another 101 Things list. I will still work on my original one, but will now have even more things to do. Some of the goals crossover onto both lists because they are still very much goals of mine, but many are completely new! To check out this list, go here!

As I begin another chapter of my life, I welcome you to come along for the journey!

xo Ainsley

Color Wheel: It's Mint to Be

by Lavender Elizabeth, April 18, 2013
One of the hottest new colours for weddings is mint! This colour is sweet, fresh, and soft all rolled into one!

Getting married in a mint chapel is just too adorable for words.
A unique white design on a mint tablecloth gives any table an added pop.
The cream complements the mint lace of this bridesmaids dress perfectly.
With just added hints of mint, like the birdcage, this invitation is simply sweet.
To satisfy guests' sweet tooths, these coconut bars (tinted mint) is the perfect thing!
What else would you give as favours but mints, in mint, with the label, "mint to be!?"

Green lemonade is not only a yummy drink, but a perfect splash of colour.
Mint save-the-dates with a whimsical font is a great reminder for guests.
Grey suits with mint ties is classic and chic for the men.
Designs on mint-coloured nails is unexpected and beautiful.
Cake pops are another hot item in weddings right now, so mint ones are wedding-forward.
Stacked books with candles and vases is a cute centrepiece idea.

To see even more minty inspiration, head over to my Pinterest board: Colour Wheel: Mint

What is "mint to be" for you?

xo, Wedding Day

Friendly Inspiration: Clara

by Lavender Elizabeth, April 07, 2013
Week Five: Clara
Our Relationship: I met Clara my freshman year of college and now we're living together for the second year!
Her Major: Bio-Psychology
Her School: University of California, Davis
Her Interests: cats, tv, eating, tumblr & YouTube


Clara's Questionnaire:
Colours: blues, greens, coral
Feeling: rustic, home-y, not too fancy, relaxed
Season: spring
Dress: not mermaid, no big ball gowns (minor is okay), simple with a little flair, nothing too beaded or ruffled
Location: outside ceremony and reception
Special Requests: would like some kind of photobooth

Clara's Dream Wedding:

The Colours: Shades of coral and aqua are the perfect combination for a spring wedding!

The Invitations: With its unique design and coral and aqua colour scheme, this invitation is the perfect choice!

The Bride's Attire: This bateau top and lace fabric bridal gown by Modeca incorporates just enough flair for Clara's low-key garden wedding.

The Bride's Beauty: Clara wishes to have her natural features enhanced without wearing too much makeup, so we chose a natural eye colour, voluminous eyelashes, and a perfect pink pout. Along with natural makeup, Clara will also have naturally coloured nails (she's not a huge fan of nail polish). Clara has beautifully thick hair, but when she's going to be dancing up a storm, she definitely wants her hair up, so we chose this unique braid-bun updo for her.

The Bridesmaids' Attire: This seafoam green dress by Social Bridesmaids is a perfect mix of colour and detail.

The Bridal Party Shoes: I love the idea of colourful shoes for a wedding, and Clara totally agrees! To offset the colour of the bridesmaids' dresses, we chose this beautiful coral pump by Thomasina. As a way for Clara to match her bridesmaids, she will be wearing Jessica Simpson pumps in the same colour as the bridesmaid dresses.

The Groom & Groomsmen Attire: In keeping with the lightness of Clara's colours, the men will wear a medium-grey suit with fun bowties to match the bridesmaids.

The Flowers: This bright coral and pink bouquet was an immediate favourite for Clara! The groom and his groomsmen will wear matching boutonnieres.

The Ceremony: Clara wanted a casual, yet elegant, outdoor venue for her ceremony. When we came across this garden location (Lake Oak Meadows) in Temecula (Southern CA), it was meant to be!

The Ceremony Decor: Lining the aisle will be hanging mason jars with coordinating flowers to Clara's bridal bouquet. To add a light-hearted feel to the ceremony, we'll create a ribbon backdrop for the couple in the wedding colours.

The Reception: Lake Oak Meadows also has a great reception space with the exact feel that Clara wants - especially with the fire pits!

The Reception Decor: Minimalistic decor is the name of the game! With these adorable wooden boxes filled with beautiful garden florals, it's the perfect mix of garden and rustic elegance. Rather than table numbers, words will be written on the boxes to add some uniqueness to the tables.

The Escort Cards: The font used on these escort cards is perfect and the little hearts give them character!

The Cake: Clara wanted a simple cake with some wow accessories!

The Guestbook: Clara loves photobooths, so this guestbook will incorporate the photos taken by her guests.

The Favours: M&Ms in the wedding colours fill a mini mason jar that will be given to the guests.

Little Extras: Some extra little details to make Clara's day unique.

Photo: Clara is beyond in love with her cat, Kitten (also known as Bootle), so this is a must-have photo!

Reception Fun: A photobooth for the guests is a must-have at this wedding! 

Drink Bar: Drinks in both aqua and coral in mason jars will be a for sure hit with the guests!

Next week, I'm going to do my bestie, Kiley's, wedding - and fun fact, she's actually getting married! :D

Sources:
Colours: Colour Lovers
Invitations: Truly Engaging
Bridal Gown: Modeca
Bridesmaids: Dessy
Flowers: Style Me Pretty
Reception Venue: Lake Oak MeadowsHulse Photo
Reception Decor: Wedding BeeInspired by ThisRuffled
Escort Cards: Emmaline Bride
Cake: see my Pinterest
Guestbook: The Knot
Favours: My M&M's
Photo: see my Pinterest
Photobooth: Stace Cadet Designs

Save-the-Dates: All the ways to Remember

by Lavender Elizabeth, March 29, 2013

There are so many ways to help your guests remember to "Save-the-Date" of your wedding. From classic stationary to engagement photos, it can be wonderful to keep with tradition; however, adding some creativity can truly play a part in showcasing the couple's personality. Here are my top five favourite ways to help guests save-the-date!


A Love Story Flowchart
(via)

A Folded Heart Reminder
(via)

Photobooth Fun
(via)

Pop-up Couple
(via)

A Timeline of Love
(via)

What are some of the best save-the-dates you've seen?

Contest: Loreal Get Noticed

by Lavender Elizabeth, March 22, 2013

Hello lovely wedding-lovers!


My younger sister, Bethany, has entered Loreal's Get Noticed contest and she needs your help!

To vote:
1. Follow this link: Get Noticed
2. Click the heart!

Bethany entered a little later than she wanted to, so needs votes quickly!

Plus, today is her 19th birthday and by voting, you'd really make her birthday wish come true!

Here is the photo you're looking for:

And I mean, come on, look at the beautiful job she did with the makeup! She should totally win! :D

Top 5 Photographs of the Little Ones

by Lavender Elizabeth, March 15, 2013
The bride and groom aren't always the center of attention on the day of their wedding; sometimes the kids steal the show. To help the little ones feel included during the wedding festivities, be sure to take some flower girl- and ring barer-specific photos. Here are my top five favourite kid-shots!

1) Flower Girl in the Bride's Dress
(via)

2) Ring Barer Dancing with the Bride
(via)

3) Flower Girl Gazing at the Bride's Gown
(via)

4) Ring Barer as the Leader of the Cool Guys
(via)

5) Little Girls Hiding Under the Bridal Gown
(via)

Sometimes the littlest ones make for the sweetest of photos!

Friendly Inspiration: Caitlin

by Lavender Elizabeth, March 11, 2013

Week Four: Caitlin
Our Relationship: I met Caitlin in Mrs. Matthew's Grade 3 class & we've been best friends ever since!
Her Major: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Her School: University of Arizona
Her Interests: Dance (she wishes she still did it)

Top Left: Grade 8; Top Right: Grade 10; Bottom Left: First year of college;
Bottom Right: Going into our third year of college


Caitlin's Questionnaire:
Colours: red, black, white, silver
Feeling: vintage, cozy
Season: summer
Dress: simple, maybe lace or little sparkles
Location: outdoor ceremony, indoor reception

Caitlin's Dream Wedding:

The Colours: Caitlin's colour scheme inspired me to create an old Hollywood feel to the wedding.

The Invitations: These black on black wedding invitations are elegant with an added vintage touch.

The Bride's Attire: Caitlin was hesitant about a lot of sparkle or beadwork, but when she saw this Lazaro gown, she fell in love!

The Bride's Accessories: To give her look a vintage feel, I found these pearl and diamond accessories to pair with her dress.

The Bride's Beauty: For Caitlin's hair, we chose effortless waves, partially pinned back, which work perfectly with the cut of her dress. For her makeup, we had to include the hollywood glamour of the red lip and dramatic eyes, along with the classic look of a french manicure.

The Bridesmaid's Attire: To match the cut of Caitlin's dress, these bridesmaids dresses were chosen. To incorporate the red into the bridesmaids' look, these beautiful red pumps were chosen (and the crystal heel is such a bonus!).

The Groom & Groomsmen: All black suits (including the dress shirt) are effortlessly glamourous, and paired with red ties (so the groomsmen match the bridesmaids) and a silver tie (so the groom matches his bride), the look is perfect!

The Flowers: I absolutely love the bouquet that Caitlin chose! It's so luscious and adds so much colour to the bridal party and groomsmen's looks! (Now don't quote me on this, but I believe these are garden roses.)

The Ceremony: I lived in Yorba Linda for three years (and still visit every year), and never knew that the Richard Nixon Library hosted weddings - and beautiful ones at that! The backdrop to the ceremony is the gorgeous First Lady's Rose Garden, which creates the perfect space to get married.

The Ceremony Decor: The arch featured below stood out to me for two reasons: first, because of the gorgeous chandelier, and second for the natural feel of it. Rather than the vines that cover it here, I would use twinkle lights. Lining the aisle, I would hang florals (most likely Ranunculus) and on every other, hang vintage tea-light holders with crystals. Ideally, I would like to hold to ceremony at dusk so that the lights and candles can be visible to the guests.

The Reception: The Richard Nixon Library offers a grand ballroom filled with gorgeous chandeliers and an elegant atmosphere. The feeling of the room is completely in keeping with the feel that Caitlin wants for her wedding.

The Reception Decor: I decided on two looks for the tables, each of which are described below!
When I saw this table, I knew that I wanted to recreate the look of these
plates!
I couldn't find what I was looking for online, so I made a quick sketch of
what I was thinking of with the plates. On the silver tables, I would start
with a square black plate, a red napkin on top, and then layer it with a
silver plate. For the black tables, I would do the opposite colours for
the plates.
On each table, I would include all of the above.
Black Table: black, pleated tablecloth & silver Chiavari chairs
Centerpiece: vase filled with diamond vase filler; crystal hangars around
vase; red calla lilies & red orchids in vases; red orchid & rose petals
around the centerpieces, along with crystal holders for tea-light candles 
Silver Table: silver, pleated tablecloth & black Chiavari chairs
Centerpieces: mirrors to base the vases; vases filled with diamond vase
filler; crystal hangars around vase (like in bottom left photo); white
ostrich feathers in vases; red orchid & rose petals around
centerpieces, along with crystal holders for tea-light candles


The Escort Cards: This elegant way to display the escort cards, along with the beautiful calligraphy used, was exactly what this wedding called for!

The Cake: This cake was practically made for this wedding with its vintage black lace and red roses. 

The Favours: This black, white, and silver candy buffet is a great way to allow the guests to create their own favours, getting exactly what they want! (Slight edit: I would want to add some red candy to the mix.)

Next week, stop by to see a bright and happy spring wedding for my roomie, Clara!

Sources:
Invitations: Paper Ink Love
Bride's Attire: JLM Couture
Bride's Accessories: Something JeweledBride ShopLolam Bridal
Bridesmaids: BloomingdalesDessy
Groomsmen: The Tie Bar
Flowers: Style Me Pretty
Ceremony: Wedding Wire
Reception: Wedding Wire
Escort Cards: Martha Stewart Weddings
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