wish list.

With my birthday and Christmas on the horizon, I've been selfishly obsessed with adding to my Wish List on Pinterest. Being in a strictly enforced no shopping drought doesn't help matters. Some of my biggest current wants:

pretty graphic pillows and blankets, especially chevron and ikat.

 cookbooks! oh so many cookbooks.

a record player.

a sparkly dress for holiday parties.

I don't know why, but I'm really feeling the dead papier mache animals.

and if I was really good, I'd ask for a sweet new ride with colored rims.

What's on your wish list?

thanksgiving.

I'll probably kick myself for saying this years down the road, but I can't wait to host my own Thanksgiving dinner. I love the six-hour trek home to Virginia — either to Todd's house or mine — but I look forward to having everyone come to me. I like to think I'll go all out, Martha Stewart-style, with fancy place settings and floral arrangements. Or maybe I'll just carry on the family tradition of keeping it simple with endless turkey, taters, green bean casserole, giblet gravy, and pies. Who's hungry? 

 

via. 

barn wedding.

Today I pitched a few stories to a Virginia wedding magazine, and they accepted all of them! I have three to work on in the next few months, and I think I'll start with one about barn weddings. I just love the contrast of a glamorous, sparkling reception inside a weathered, rustic barn in the middle of nowhere. If I ever have reason to host a big ol' party again, I'm gonna do it in a barn.

Images via Pinterest.

What do you say? Would you get married in a barn or would you rather leave them to the horses?

alleys and entryways.

Yesterday I had an interview with an artist downtown, and I was actually happy when he was late — it gave me a chance to take a little stroll around the French Quarter. Fall in Charleston is fickle — some days are 80 degrees, some days are freezing. But yesterday was just right with light breezes and crunchy, colorful leaves on the sidewalk.

sparkle deficiency.

I'm currently wallowing in a vitamin D-deficient funk. The weather here is at its prime, but most days I'm stuck in the office until its nearly dark outside. When I get home, all I want to do is make dinner and curl up on the couch with a magazine. I'm excited for Thanksgiving to come and go, which means it's acceptable to break out the sparkley lights and start officially celebrating the holidays. Visions of sequined cocktail dresses, champagne, and Christmas trees are dancing in my head, so please forgive me if I jump the gun.

Images via Pinterest.

Other possible cures for the funk: Pancakes for dinner, Friendsgiving celebrations, bike rides, painting. How do you get yourself out of a funk?

day at the races.

On Sunday, we're taking a little office-wide field trip to the Charleston Cup steeplechase. Our publisher has rented an RV and lined up catering for all of us. I'm so excited for a relaxing day in the country with nothing to do but eat, drink, and watch some horses run around a track. Now all I need is a good hat.

day at the races. by ericajackson

take me there: big sur.

This time last year we were on our honeymoon, exploring coastal California. I'd give anything to go back to Big Sur right this second. Although we just took a day to drive through, I'd want to spend awhile at the Post Ranch Inn. You can stay in a treehouse. Enough said.

fireplace.

The fireplace is one of the coolest features of our house — it's what everyone comments on when they walk in (see it here). (It's also a little annoying — it really only allows one set-up in our living room.) It's currently non-working, so I've been trying to figure out what I want to use the space for. Here's some inspiration I found on Pinterest.

 

wedding: one year later.

It's shocking to me that Todd and I were married a year ago today. It's so fun to look back at the pictures, because our wedding really was perfect for us. Sure, there were a few hiccups — including a near-hair disaster, frigid temperatures, and a car break-in during the ceremony — but it was still an incredible day that we'll cherish forever. Here are just a few of my favorite details from the day:

1. Our accordion player, Jesse, played vintage and French-inspired tunes before and after the ceremony.
2. Anne at Stems created the most incredible arrangements despite our tight budget.
3. We had colorful bottles of soda in vintage crates for guests while we were doing photos post-ceremony. 
4. Todd and I walked through the park and down the aisle together.
5. We were married by Todd's dad under the oaks in front of the gazebo in Hampton Park.
6. We saved money by using an iPod playlist at the reception. It didn't take long for the dance party to get crazy.
7. Sweeteeth chocolates were placed in an old tackle box for favors.
8. Rather than spend big bucks on a signature cocktail, we just printed a sign with our favorite drinks — whiskey ginger for me, kalimotxo for Todd. 
9. The cakes were delicious — especially the funfetti flavor — and I made the cake-topper myself. The other food? I couldn't tell you. We didn't have time to eat, but our friends still talk about how good it was.
10. Entering the reception at Fish...
11. And departing in perfect Charleston style, via pedicab.

anthro love.

Anthropologie is one of my favorite stores to browse, but their catalog, with its exotic settings and beautiful photography, is pretty lovely as well. I wanted so many things in the holiday catalog, but since I don't have thousands of dollars to drop, I thought I'd just share on here. You know, in case anyone wants to buy me a $600 birthday present.

 USB typewriter.

A.P.C. Quilt

iVictrola — for your iPod! (I wanted to invent this. Glad someone took care of it for me.)

ornaments.

wedding invites.

A year ago today I was most likely freaking out about my upcoming wedding — obsessively making lists, taking care of last-minute details, and prepping for the onslaught of out-of-town guests. It was an incredibly stressful, crazy time, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. In fact, I'd do it all over again if I could. I think Mariah Carey might be on to something. Here are some invites I've been eying over on Pinterest.