Goodbye, rhinovirus.

I'm finally recovering from the nasty cold that swallowed me whole in the middle of the month. It's nice to be getting back to normal after living in a fog of cold medicine for two weeks. I feel like dancing.

(Photo by gingerlillytea)

Real Wedding: Jen and Jeff

Okay, I have a slightly embarrassing confession to make: I frequently find myself browsing through wedding photos of couples I don't even know. I'm not quite sure how this happens. I mean, I'll log onto the Internet for some legitimate, productive purpose (like to check my email or work on a homework assignment), but fifteen minutes later I'll be scrolling through pages and pages of wedding stuff, all warmhearted and misty-eyed. Let's get one thing straight, though. I'm not one of those, um, ambitious types who has every detail of her future wedding planned out by the time she's twelve. Nope. I'll get married when I'm good and ready, thank you very much. I just adore weddings and all the warm fuzzies that come with them, and I think a good photographer is one of the most important elements of a wedding. There's something so refreshing about seeing photos of two people who truly love one another.

Anyway, the point of all of this: I've decided to start a new regular feature here at Sunny Side Up to showcase some of my favorite real weddings. To start things off, here's Jen and Jeff's wedding, photographed by the adorable Heather and Grayson of Jagger Photography. (The pretty photo in my last post came from this gorgeous Illinois affair.) I must warn you, this is a bit long (there are so many beautiful photos), but it's definitely worth a gander.

(Photos by Jagger Photography)

P.S. I love engagement and portrait sessions, too. You can expect to see some of my favorites here as well (in new separate features) starting very soon.

Wedding updates!

So, remember the upcoming wedding that has our family all abuzz? It's officially in the works and slated for mid-October! Ladies and gents, I am delighted to announce that I am going to be Dawn's maid of honor. I can't even tell you how truly honored and grateful I am to be her right-hand gal on one of the most important days of her life. She is going to make such a beautiful bride!

(Photo by Jagger Photography)

Inspired interiors

I've always said that my dream home would be filled with lots of bright and juicy (yet tastefully chosen) color, but the muted tones of these lovely interiors just might make me change my perspective.

(Photos by Anne Naumann)

Picture Perfect

(Aimee Ketsdever)

Good Eats: Spiced Chocolate Bisque

Now that the weather is cooler, I am officially on the lookout for some new hot beverage recipes to try. Aran's Spiced Chocolate Bisque is definitely on my list of possibilities. Thicker than traditional hot chocolate, this decadent little confection can be served either warm or chilled, and it works well as a custard for dipping. Aran recommends serving this rich bisque with cinnamon sugar churros (pictured below). You can view both recipes here.

(Photos courtesy and copyright of Aran Goyoaga)

P.S. Cannelle et Vanille is one of the most amazing food blogs out there. In addition to being an accomplished chef, Aran is a brilliant food stylist and photographer. Check out her portfolio here.

Color My World: Wintery whites

I absolutely adore Martha Stewart Weddings. Every issue is brimming with original ideas, useful advice, and pretty photography--there is inspiration at every turn. I especially love the "Perfect Palette" feature, which showcases creative ways to incorporate different color combinations into a wedding. The white-on-white palette featured in the current issue evokes feelings of wintery purity, calling to mind visions of dazzling snow-covered landscapes. A range of textures keeps the different white elements from blending into one another, and the result is anything but monotonous.

(Photos by Raymond Hom for Martha Stewart Weddings)

A new beginning

I have the most exciting news. My brother is engaged! He proposed to his high school sweetheart, Dawn, on Christmas Eve, surprising her with the most breathtaking diamond ring (which my mom and I had helped him pick out). Needless to say, I was about to burst when the big moment arrived, and of course we all cried. I'm so, so happy for Reid and his beautiful fiance. They're perfect for one another!

I'm sorry I don't have any photos of the happy couple to share with you. Instead, I'm leaving you with several photos from one of the loveliest engagement sessions I've ever seen. (These photos were taken by the incredibly talented Jill Thomas.) Coincidentally, this bride-to-be is also named Dawn. Isn't she gorgeous?

(Photos by Jill Thomas)

P.S. Now that we've all been bitten by the wedding bug, you can expect more wedding-related posts in the near future.

Happy New Year!

Hello, hello. I've finally reentered the blogging world after a month-long hiatus. My apologies--December is always hectic, and this year (well, technically last year) I seemed to be even more disorganized than usual. I have so much to blog about, but that will come later. For now I'm simply extending heartfelt wishes for the new year--may yours be filled with lots of warmth, love, and happiness.

(Photo via Once Wed)