Spectacular Weekend at The Breakers

The weekend I just spent at The Breakers in Palm Beach was pretty epic.  Every scheduled event for the wedding celebration was top notch.  The only downside was that the weather was about 15 degrees cooler than normal so the Friday rehearsal dinner and the Sunday brunch were both moved inside that were originally scheduled to be outside overlooking the ocean.  This also, of course, changes a girl's outfit decisions.  I gave up 'frivolous spending' for Lent and so I recycled all my outfits for the weekend.   Kinda boring, but surprised I actually stuck to it for a big weekend like this one.

Hello Palm Beach!

...and hello Breakers!

Our amazing view from our room; overlooking a courtyard and onto the Atlantic Ocean.

 I felt like Kansas, the Sunflower state, made its way to me in Palm Beach...Sunflower brand toiletries!  

A television in the bathroom mirror?  I could get used to watching E! and Bravo while primping to go out.  Everett was entertained with BET for the moment though.

Breakfast room service is a must with an early-rising 8-month-old, a late night out, and a husband swimming in the lap pool.

Everett loved the 80 degree pool temperatures, but not getting out into 65 degree temps. Bundle that baby up!

On to the wedding....

The ceremony was held in the Gold Room.  The details in every room and hallway at The Breakers is just immaculate and this ceiling is a good example of what you will see all throughout the hotel.

These arched paintings went all the way around the room.

Another ceiling where cocktail hour was held.

The reception ballroom -- another gorgeous ceiling.

The wedding cake was very important to the bride and flown in from New York.  All those flowers are edible and made of sugar.  It was a work of art.

Every guest received their first course on this ice sculpture - pretty amazing.

With my sister-in-law and partner-in-crime, Katie.

 Prepping it up in Palm Beach.

I thought an early morning walk and hot coffee would perk me up after last night, however, I still felt like a slug and wanted to lay down and nap on the pool lounge chairs, but was afraid I might get escorted out looking like a drunkie still passed out from the night before.

With Matt's family after our wedding brunch send-off.  This was supposed to be held outdoors and I had a cute dress all ready to go but then had change it up because of the 60 degree temps - annoying!

These vintage Palm Beach Life magazine covers were framed on the wall across from our room.  I thought 1) love this idea and 2) I wonder if every cover is just of Palm Beach-ers socializing in different settings?  If so, how and when can I get into this lifestyle as soon as possible?  Marrying an old, rich guy is not an option as I am already married.  Any other ideas send my way.

Refresh Wednesday

Wednesdays are quickly becoming my favorite day of the week.  It's a day for just Everett and me to piddle around the house working on projects.  Monday and Tuesday I work at my internship, which I enjoy immensely.  I have learned so much in a short amount of time and the experience has confirmed my decision on pursuing my advanced degree in Speech-Language Pathology.  It feels rewarding to work with our caseload of children improving their communication skills.  Mondays and Thursdays are typically when I have on-line class.  

Thus, Wednesdays are a day with no obligations and I can regroup, catch up, and not have to look at the clock.  The babes and me spend a lot of time in our backyard (picture above) on a large quilt playing with toys and reading stories.  The locally-owned garden shop, Apenberry's, is also a frequent Wednesday outing for us.

The past couple weeks I have started growing flowers from seeds.  I have never done this before and always just bought a couple 20-packs of flowers from the garden store to plant in our landscape.  However, our new house has a lot more land to scape so I figure by growing my flowers from seeds I will save a few hundred dollars when all is said and done.  I even went super cheap with the Wal-Mart brand, Jiffy, and not the line carried at Lowes and Target, Burbee.  Plus, it's kind of fun to see the progress!  I feel like a 7th-grade science fair kid.

 Sprouts after about 10 days gradually exposing them to full sunlight.

Bring the plants in at night.  This is after cutting back all plants except the strongest one.

And here's my little helper...

Images via me

Dilemmas, Dilemmas

Our kitchen is brand spanking new so I'm working with what is in the house for now.  We may do a complete overhaul someday, but for now it's in perfect condition and there's no sense in ripping out all new cabinets just because I would rather have black or charcoal on the bottom and glass-front white on the top.  However, we can install some lighting to give the area our own touch and some character.

I purchased these globe pendants last week at West Elm and think they would look cool over the bar area.  In the store they were half off so I couldn't resist.  Plus, I can always return if I change my mind.  I will have to have an electrician run wires to install and I'll also want a separate light switch with a dimmer for them.

I totally wish I could put these Hicks pendants over the bar,  but 1) they are a buttload more expensive and 2) I don't think I'd like the antique brass right next to our stainless steel refrigerator.    Gorgeous though, right?

Although this kitchen has theirs right next to the stainless steel appliances and it looks totally hot.  Maaatt, can we spend 10 times my pendant budget, please?? 

Digging these brass pendants by Robert Abbey and Mary McDonald too.

I'm also considering these globe pendants just because I know the husb doesn't want anything that will obstruct the view since he is on the taller side. 

So now the next decision is to pick a chandelier to go over our kitchen table that is only 10 feet away.  Thus, they will need to coordinate somewhat.  Our table is polished steel with studs around the edge of the tabletop, very tough.  Our leather chairs soften the look though.

If I had an unlimited budget I would totally glam it up with this spikey number

Loving this disc chandelier too.

Not as glam, but the Sputnik chandelier is still pretty funky and a statement piece.

This Eclipse chandelier is a choice from West Elm we could very well go with.  It will provide great lighting, but it seems a little safe.

I like this Firefly pendant from CB2 if I'm going simple.  Plus the price is fantastic.

Any thoughts?  Let me know!

Images:

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What I Will & Won't Miss at Corona Street

As we close up shop on Corona Street I'm mostly thinking about all the things we won't miss about this house.  It has been a great house for us the past four years for the most part.  Decent rent for a house with a pool in South Tampa and the homeowners allowed us to keep Porter, which pretty much locked us in.  Not many people will rent to a Rottweiler.

I think it's wise for people to begin their adulthood in a "starter home".  It definitely helps one to appreciate getting a nicer home later in life.  I'm living proof.  I'm so happy with our new house!  I'm sure problems will arise, but right now everything is an upgrade and I couldn't be more excited about our lake house.

What I won't miss:

Water pressure

The water pressure pretty much became nonexistent toward the end of living here.  We would have said something to the homeowners normally, but since we were moving shortly we just let it go and bitched about it the last two weeks.

Fish pond

Like/hate relationship with the fish pond.  At times it could be pretty disgusting; murky, smelly, down right gross.  What I hated most about it is the tadpoles which later turned into frogs (see next item).  However, I did enjoy seeing Fanta (the big orange fish) and the other 3 (never got named) every day.

Frogs (please don't be a the lake house!)
See fish pond picture.  I didn't take any pics of frogs, because I would try to sprint past them as fast as I could.  Some years were worse than other years.  Thankfully last summer wasn't that bad.

Ice trays

We got one of those fancy refrigerators that has an ice maker!  Movin' on up!

1-person kitchen

 Super small kitchen at this house.  And ugly.

Sidewalk

For anyone who wears heels, which I did everyday this is the Most. Annoying. Sidewalk. Ever.  I pretty much had to walk on tiptoes if I was in stilettos to make sure I didn't step between the bricks and ruin the heel.  

Bathroom shuffle

There was a skinny space between the vanity and the tub so the husb and I ended up having to the side shuffle at least once a day to let the other one by.  So glad that's over.  

Front window

Normally I would probably like a window like this, but not with Porter.  He's the most obnoxious dog at barking at any biker, delivery person, dog walker, roller bladder, motorcycle driver, and large truck.  So a large window at the front of the hose is pretty damn annoying with a territorial dog.

Parking under pine trees
Horrible for our cars.  In the hot summer months sap just oozes and drips down on our vehicles.  Not good for the paint at all.  Not to mention all the freaking pine needles constantly dropping on the cars getting stuck in the windshield wipers.

Here is what I will miss at the new house:

Pool

No pool at the new house.  Even though this pool is straight out of 1988 with the weird shape and five different colors of tile I did really enjoy lounging here reading fashion mags.

Natural lighting

This house does have good natural lighting, which I'm a major fan of.


That about does it.  We are leaving a lot of memories at Corona.  Matt proposed to me in this house and we brought our first baby home to this house.  I never thought we would live there for four year that's for sure.

Onward and upward!

Images via me