A LITTLE LIFE LATELY {Married + Living Together}

Oh why; hello there! How wonderful it is to see your beautiful faces!  You didn't really think I had forgotten about you, did you? I thought tonight was a good night to have a late night post - and share a little of life lately. I took some time off, no wait - I took ALOT of time off. There has been so many changes in my life - good changes - soul searching and so many things that I want to share with you all. It has been a crazy time away from blogging and social media. Crazy busy, crazy love-filled, crazy, crazy, crazy. Instead of sharing every moment, I chose to focus on what was right in front of me and truly enjoy the moment and be present with my wonderful clients, our new home and my handsome husband who I absolutely adore. We've moved, brought in all our new appliances and some new electronic gadgets as well as a new straight from the showroom floor-vehicle. (I'll introduce our lovely addition to the family: Hemi: a 2014 Dodge Durango - who has been assigned to haul buckets of blooms to and from up-coming events-over on Instagram tomorrow, follow along here) Lots and lots of changes have been happening. Almost overwhelming - but very very much needed. All your emails, texts, calls, tags, kissey faces and comments with your love, encouragement and support over all these changes has overwhelmed this big Greek heart of mine. I just want to hug each and every one of you. For being happy for me, and us, for being supportive, and for understanding that social media is not my first priority. 

 What's on the other side? Is that picture above – of that sexy squad car sitting in our driveway. If anything were to sum up these last weeks away from the computer: it is just that. My popo is home for good. It's been a long time since we've lived together-try 2.5 years- and I really thought it would be tough getting into the swing of things; but it's like we just picked it right back up. Kind of like a bicycle right? I say love is worth it a lot. It has become my mantra, my motto and truly been my motivation for a while. If you are struggling with something, let me tell you; it is worth is. Looking back, I see it very clearly; all the struggles; the heartache; the tears; the missed birthdays and holidays; it was all worth it - love is worth it. 

I have some really great content planned for the end of April and things are really going to get exciting soon - but for now - I bid you farewell - because this Greek has an addiction to her bathtub; and it's singing my name. Oh wait - thats just the popo in the other room; "hey, it's almost bedtime" How annoying, yet loving & satisfying- that he is here and able to know when I've been in the studio too long - oh friends! My popo is home!! 

xoxo

A LITTLE INSTALOVE FRIDAY

Happy Friday all you sweets !!

A little corner of my desk from yesterday. I've been sending lots of Cassandra love to lots of fabulous vendors that I've met recently around my little area. I'm so excited about working with these talented folks. I'm working on my brand lots more this weekend while JD is home. We are hoping to get everything packed that we are not immediately using and with weather permitting organize and de clutter our mess of a garage. In other news - guess what! On visiting Chateau Dattoli yesterday I snapped lots of photos and to give you sweets a little peek into it's beauty.

Hello there Mr. Fireplace!! That chandelier, hangs beautifully in our foyer as you walk in through our front door. Gah! JD and I are exactly 3 weeks away from moving into our new home! We are literally so excited and just chomping at the bit to move. All cabinets have been delivered and are nearly all the way installed. The cabinet for the master bath came and was all busted up, so a new one has been ordered and is being rushed here. But the flooring is all in, minus the carpet. We are beyond thrilled with how it all is coming together. My design on this house is exactly how I thought it would be so far. I love every single square inch of our new abode. But my office .. I am just about to explode with joy and excitement over my very own studio and design space. I just can't wait to show you this amazing space I have designed.

With that, I will leave you; because frankly it's sunny and 50 degrees here in the Land of Lincoln and that foxy lil pom is begging for a walk in the sunshine and I just can't say no to that face. : )

xoxo, Cas

Q's and A's {Ask Cassandra}

It's question and answer time!

It seems like the weeks just fly by. My inbox is filling up quickly with sweet gals looking for advice and I can't tell you how happy that makes me. I am overwhelmed by all of your kind words and sweet messages. Today's questions:

"We are having a buffet-style dinner with no assigned seating and would like to give favors to guests. How do I make sure that everyone gets a wedding favor?" -Blaire, KY

I absolutely love that you are doing favors. So many couples lately are thinking favors are over done; and a little outdated. I think favors are a great way to add detail and a little love to each guest. You can place the favors at each seat at the table, arranged with your menus if you are having them. Sometimes, favors are little charms or trinkets and look great tied with a ribbon around the menu. Another great way is to set up a "favor" table with your favors near the exit at your reception location; with a note saying something like, "Thank you so much for being here with us. Please take one for the road." Guests won’t miss them, and can simply pick up a favor on their way out (or in). I have also seen where the favor table is set up before dinner, in front of the dance floor (depending on your floor plan) and as guests come in they take their favor to their tables. Then before the wedding party is announced, staff take down the table. This can also be done in the cocktail area too.

"Who all do I invite to the Rehearsal Dinner?" -J.W., IN

According to the one and only Martha Stewart, and the rules of etiquette, only those who participate in the actual rehearsal for the wedding get the invite. It's increasingly common to include out-of-town guests and close family members in the night-before festivities. It's always a nice gesture to allow dates of your attendees to come as well. It will keep your attendants more relaxed and everyone who hasn't met, will get a chance to chat and get-to-know each other a little better.

"My MOH asked for a bridal shower guest list. Do I invite all the women who will be invited to the wedding or just close family and friends? Also, I will be inviting several people from the East Coast to my West Coast wedding. Do I send them bridal shower invitations, even though I know they won't be able to attend, or will this look like a ploy to get more bridal shower gifts?" - B., IL

You don't have to invite every female who's invited to your wedding (that might get a little crazy and a bit expensive). Your bridal shower guest list should include your family and closest female friends, your fiancé's mom, sister, and other close female friends and family. This can, and often does, get a little sticky. Guest lists can turn into land mines very quickly - always use your best judgment, when deciding "to invite-or-not-to invite." It is a celebration to 'shower' you with love and gifts. So if someone doesn't fit into that 'shower you with love and gifts' - then a tough decision may need to be made. As for distant guests, sending a shower invite is always a nice gesture and; courteous even if you know they can't attend. It shows them that they're important to you and that you would have wanted them there.

Big hugs and thanks to these sweet ladies for their questions! Some Cassandra love will be hitting your mailbox soon! I really cannot tell you how fun this is for me to connect with you all! For last week's questions check here. To send me your question and have it featured send me some sugar at cass@cassandradattoli.com. Hang in there lovelies, Friday is almost here!!

Much love, Cas

Photo by St. Louis' Rachel Ravetta of Ravetta Photography

GRAND SCHEMES & BIG DREAMS {March Goals}

Happy March!

I just had to post these gorge peonies. What a tease! The winter here has been brutal. These remind me of the bounties a harsh winter like this is sure to bring.

I’ve been under the weather these last couple days & my stomach has been all sorts of weird. As much as we want a little baby D, and wish it was so; no sweet friends; sadly that is not the case. I've had some time away from my PC and have been thinking a lot lately about my dreams and the goals that I need to set and keep in order to reach those dreams and goals. So, I want to start sharing my goals every month, and do a big post on my year goals – (this weekend!) to keep me accountable and hopefully to connect with other goal & OCD list oriented peoples.

Birthday Cards & Orders. In case you aren’t aware – I hand make nearly all the birthday cards, I give to friends and family. (yes, I sell them too!) I love it – it’s a hobby that I picked up back in 2009 that truly brings me relaxation and allows me to be creative and have lots of fun. I have 2 family birthdays this month & I want to get them made and ready to mail out. I also have an order that I need to fill for a girl’s first birthday card, with custom envelope & gift bag that I need to design & create. I also need JD to take some photos of all the cards & gifts; so I can post them in my soon to be shop.

Sweet Surprises!!  Sooo.. one of my goals this year is to send more snail mail - as opposite as this is, from one of my other goals: to recycle more and be more Eco-friendly. I want to get my snail-mail surprises all ready to go for my pen-pals, craft swappers and sweet gals. If you are interested, please contact me! I’m looking for some crafty-gal pen-pal craft-swappers to start a little craft group that swaps each month!

Put Together my MTH 2014 Goals. I have been not-withit this year and haven’t really wrote down my 2014 goals. How can I focus this year, without my lists & goals actually written down. I need to carve time this month, to focus; write down my goals and share them with you all. So you can keep me accountable.

Blogging. I want to blog at least 15 times this month. I want good quality content, that will help you plan a party, but hopefully also inspire you. I have lots of good stuff planned out to post up here, and I think all you sweet `peeps are just gonna love. I want my little blog to be a place I would want to stop by on a daily basis and read; I mean if I didn’t want to read it, why the hell would anyone else want to?

Schedule & Editorial Calendar. Things are picking up around my neck of the woods – and I really need to watch my calendar and scheduling. I need to keep my schedule with me – and consult it before I make commitments. So far this month I have done a good job at this. I also need to spend some time and create an updated blog editorial calendar & stick to it.

Connections. I want to connect with more good people; more talented, creative and inspiring industry professionals. Just the other day, I met a fabulous lady that is talented, creative and so much fun to chat with. We have plans to connect soon and hopefully start a really great collaboration and have fun together.  I want more of that - no wait scratch that - I want ALOT more of that this month!

Clearing the Clutter and Packing the Good Stuff!  Yupp- just that; lots of packing and clearing the junk for the new house. It’s been a lot easier packing this time. I just ask myself “Cassie Mae; do you really want to bring that into your brand new house? And that usually seals the deal. Donate & Trash has been filling up quite quickly.

Home Building Timeline & How I’ve Organized all the Projects. Lots of gals have contacted me on how I’ve kept the projects at the new house organized and what I am using to make decisions. I want to get that up on here and share that.

Branding & Launch Party. I have lots of homework to do still on my new brand as well as figuring out when to launch it. I’d like to combine my launch party with our house-warming party. I’d hate for people to make 2 trips or attend 2 parties for us … I think I’m over-thinking this. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on this?

Moving!! My most important goal and most looked-forward to goal!! YAY!! We are moving at the end of the month!! {Happy Dance!!}

I think that pretty much sums it up. I’d really like to know what you lovelies would like to see here on my blog. I’m thinking about doing some revamping on my content – and I’d love to hear what you my sweet readers would like to see on here?

I'd love to hear your goals too, sharing is accountability.

xoxo, Cas

Photography above by the amazing Kate Murphy Photography

A LITTLE INSTALOVE FRIDAY

Happy Friday!

If you lovelies are anything like me you love a good dose of confetti, pretty, and sparkle.  Add a dose pretty and happy snail mail and I'm as giddy as a school girl. Today's Instalove is a little peek into my new brand and a little Cassandra love that is going out to all my wonderful 2014 clients, as "happy-to-have you" gifts. I just cannot wait for my couples to get these and hopefully love them as much as I do. Those forks!! I am just smitten with these. I have looked for a long time for forks that I love and these, these hit the nail right on the head! Kerrie at Woodenhive does such an incredible job with these – and having them personalized for couples, in my little opinion makes them so very special.

I don't know about you, but my pretty packaging makes me super happy. That striped ribbon and all that happy confetti – gah! I think putting these together might be one of my favorite things to do. I am planning a little marketing outreach to vendors here in the area as well as you loves afar that I adore. To send some Cassandra Love your way, to connect with you and hopefully give you lots of info about me and my little boutique business. These little boxes of pretty have completely inspired me. I love these so much, I want to send a box to myself and you betcha, I'll be placing an order of forks for JD and I; like ASAP.

Be sure to visit Kerrie on Instagram and check out their amazing silverware line here. Kerrie is offering a 15% discount off her beautiful goodies, until March 21, 2014, with coupon code BlogOffer 15. Happy silverware shopping sweets!

Wishing you all a happy, happy Friday!

xoxo, Cas

 This post was not sponsored in any way by Woodenhive.