Cozumel Photo Shoot with Mik 'n Drik Photography

When we were on our cruise in May, we made a stop in Cozumel, Mexico. We had been there before and it was something that attracted us to the 2019 itinerary. I love exploring the little island that is full of fun and life. I knew I wanted to try and find a photographer at one of our stops to take some professional pictures of us since we haven't had any officially taken since our wedding. I'm so glad that I found Mik 'n Drik Photography in Cozumel! Oleksandr & Nadine were the sweetest couple to work with. They picked us up right outside the cruise ship terminal and drove us all over the island to some beautiful spots that we could have never found ourselves. They were really easy to talk to and answered our many questions about island life and the cruise industry.

We love the photos they took, and I wanted to share a few here! We're saving some for our Christmas card which I've already designed {Christmas in July I guess!}, but here's a little sneak peek! If you're ever in Cozumel and in need of photographers, definitely reach out to this duo: Mik 'n Drik.


My Lilly Pulitzer is an old pattern from a sale a few years ago, but you can shop the short and long version of my sequin dress below!

Summer 2016 Bucket List

How are we already halfway through June? Christopher graduates from pharmacy school this weekend {cue the Hallelujah Chorus}, and will be on a graduation trip next week before starting his job full time. Then we'll have July 4th followed by Amanda's wedding the next weekend, and summer will be halfway done!

It's feeling like it's all kind of escaping me too quickly; wasn't life supposed to slow down after the wedding? So I thought I'd sit down and come up with a list of things I want to accomplish, some fun and some not so fun, before life gets truly hectic again later in the year.

1. Spend some time at Jekyll Island | Christopher has never been, and I go each year for work trips. It's wonderful! Great beaches and great food, with plenty to explore: new and old! 
2. Clean out {and clean up!} the wedding and Christmas rooms | yes, I have one for both. Although, the Christmas room has become the dumping ground for all of Christopher's things as he moved his stuff in the week before the wedding. I've been working through the wedding room, sorting all of our lovely gifts and finding a home for each of them, while trying to create an office/study space for Dr. PharmD. 
3. Move the curio cabinet in | My grandparents gave me a large curio cabinet for my birthday almost 15 years ago {sounds so funny--15 years?!} that I displayed dolls and mementos in. I've never moved it out of my mom's house because it's giantly heavy, and I also didn't live anywhere that accommodate such a large piece of furniture. Now that we are living in an actual house we have enough room, and so many beautiful wedding gifts and serving pieces to display in it!
4. Host a summer soiree | Another great thing about our house is giant yards to have fun in! I'd love to invite our friends over for a cookout with our new grill and the cornhole boards Christopher made for our wedding...that we forgot to put out on the day of...oops. We'll have to wait for the evenings too cool off a little though...it's in the 100's here this week! 
5. Make at least one new recipe a month | this is kind of a goal for our first year of marriage, too. It's so easy to get into a cooking-rut {we had tacos four times in a week earlier this month}, so I want to be intentional about expanding my cooking skills and filling my monogrammed recipe box from my bridal shower! 
6. Financially plan for a new car | I want a new car. Pretty much anyone around me has heard of my desires for a third row, specifically a 4Runner in white, with tan leather and a sunroof. I've never bought a car myself, and don't want to run out there all willy-nilly and buy the first one I see. I've test driven one and loved it, so I know what I want, but I need to wait for the right one at the right price. I also don't want to put any unnecessary stress on our financial status as a couple by making such a big purchase too soon! Money is one of those things that we agree on 99% of the time, and we enjoy working towards our goals together. We can really focus on our finances once Christopher starts working full time, and I'm excited to do this as a team!
7. Spend more time with family | I've not seen my family since we got married, and that was almost two months ago! I can't believe how time flies. I'm hoping to see them all more, and maybe take a trip to North Georgia to spend a few days with the grands, too. 
8. Plan trips | we had the absolute best time on our honeymoon; I literally think about it every day! While we have a few trips planned in the upcoming months for weddings and things, I really want to plan a few couples trips and maybe even a family vacation for us to go on! Spending time together as a couple, and also as a couple with our families is very important to me. First on the list? A long weekend at Disney to celebrate both of our 25th birthdays in the fall! Then maybe a Christmas family vacation? And something special for our one year anniversary in the spring! Any ideas? 
9. Try new restaurants | Christopher and I love trying new places with amazing food. We've covered a lot of the Savannah staples, but there are some gems out here "in the country" that we've yet to hit.
10. Learn to make fancy cookies | my bestie and I are obsessed with every royal iced sugar cookie we come across. We're constantly tagging each other in those oh-so-soothing Instagram videos of cookies being decorated. She's attempted some on her own, and now I want to try! I love the fancy cookies!

What's on your summer bucket list? 

Bachelorette Decoration Details

I wanted to share a few of the little crafty details from my bachelorette last weekend! Months ago, after we decided on a beach destination, Kirstie my Maid of Honor, spotted these white drink sand spikes at a Walker Boutique close-out sale. They were blank, and her sister has a vinyl cutter, so we decided to make  monogrammed sand spikes for all the girls as my thank you gift to them! I glittered little wine bottles with Mod Podge, and included striped paper straws. 

Aren't they just precious in my "M" galvanized bucket? We did three different beachy colors for the monograms: pink, teal, and yellow. I think they turned out so cute! 

The girls got my fabulous bachelorette sash from JG Creations by Jenna Green on Esty. Check her shop out here!

Kirstie also did the vinyl for our tank top cover ups. All the girls got pink tanks with white monograms in the top corner, while I wore a white one with my new monogram in a fabulous gold glitter. I'm obsessed with it! 

Kirstie made koozies for everyone too, using her vinyl cutter. While it takes a little more time, I've been in awe of how cost effective it makes all these items! On one side of the koozie it says "Piper's Bachelorette" and on the other it says "Where my beaches at?"

Niki, my matron of honor and soon to be sister-in-law, found these cute decorations at TJ Maxx! I love getting unique paper products and party supplies from the Teej.  

On Saturday night, everyone picked a "nautical name tag" to wear out! I loved how "punny" they were. This was another cool cutter project! I'm so thankful to have such creative friends that are so willing to work hard to make this the best time of my life. I can't believe that trip is already a week behind us, and I've got three weeks left until the wedding. Time flies when you're having fun!

Bachelorette Day Two

Bachelorette day two consisted of plenty of beaching, shopping, and spending time together. Kirstie, my maid of honor, made everyone the cutest monogrammed tanks to use as cover ups, and we got some really cute group pictures on the beach.

Saturday night consisted of another pink party, with the beautiful ladies all in pink dresses, while I wore a cream/gold Mudpie dress. We went to dinner at The Crab Trap on Fernandina, and it was so delicious. We were all really tired from all the fun on Friday night, and since many girls had to leave early Sunday morning, we decided to just head home after our late dinner.

That's really my favorite thing about this group of girls: easy-going, and everyone just wants to hang out and talk! Sunday morning came way too soon, but we packed up, grabbed some donuts, and headed home. Last weekend was exactly what I needed. It was the perfect mix of fun and relaxation, and I feel like I can handle the next 22 days!

Bachelorette Day One

Last Thursday after work, I headed down south to Amelia Island with a few of my girlfriends for my bachelorette weekend. We met some other girls {and my mom!} at the beautiful house that was our home for three days late that evening. After getting settled in, and doing an emergency CVS run for more wine and popcorn, the fun began.

We were worried all week about the weather being questionable, but it ended up being great! Friday morning we got up and headed to the beach just across the street where we snacked and enjoyed my world famous PipeStars in the sand while waiting on the rest of the group to arrive.

The other girls all arrived around dinner, which was fiesta themed, and cooked by my awesome MOHs! After dinner, the girls threw me a lingerie party which was so fun. They made me put on every piece I opened, as I opened it, layering them on top of each other. Let me tell you, that stuff isn't as breathable as it looks!

After the shower, we took some photo booth pictures at the house before walking a block down to a bar we saw hosting karaoke on Friday night. At the bar, we encountered babies, grandpas, and another bachelorette group! It was a lot of fun. I of course sang Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" like always!

After they literally kicked us out {who closes at 11 p.m.?! at a beach?! with people buying drinks?!}, we went to downtown Fernandina Beach and wandered through The Frog {or turtle? I was really bad with my animals last weekend} and The Palace, the oldest saloon in Florida. Half of the group didn't make it quite that far, and headed home to sleep and rest up for Beach Day Two! 

Night One Outfit featuring The Disappearing Veil

Oh heyyyy

Bathing Beauty

Between bachelorette planning, and plotting the best honeymoon cruise there ever was, I've bought a ton of new bathing suits. I may have even gone a little overboard...get it? 

I just couldn't help myself! Target has a ton of new cuties this year, and many that I can mix and match. I also love a good one piece, and I've scooped up two--one from Target, and a Trina Turk from last summer that was an eBay NWT steal! 

At the end of last summer, I picked up a beautiful floral caftan cover-up from Talbots. I really loved it because it was much more dress than cover-up, and was wonderful to wear into beach side restaurants. They don't have anything similar this season, but Target does! 

Top Left | Top Right 
Bottom Left | Bottom Right 

Hot Pink Ruffle

Trina Turk, similar

I've been a long time lover of the one piece, especially ones that have a little extra oomph! Both of these have somewhat of a plunging neckline, but they do keep you securely protected which is important.

I really loved the hot pink ruffle bikini top, and multi color Triangl inspired suit. And I totally think the cheetah print top will work with some hot pink bottoms, even if Christopher finds that combination a little questionable! What do you think?

Check back in this week for a bachelorette weekend recap!

Weekend Recap: Easter 2016

Have you ever been glad that it's Monday? I hate to say it, but I really am. Not that Easter with my family wasn't wonderful, but let's just say the weekend didn't end on the highest note...

Friday was a great chill day for me. The office was closed, so I slept in, cleaned the house, had lunch with friends, and worked on thank you notes from last Saturday's shower. You can read about how to be an excellent thank you note writer on my friend Wendy's blog, here. I had hoped to get them out sooner, but got them in the mail within a week of the event. I try to do them as soon as possible, otherwise my to-do list just gets longer and longer!

On Saturday, Christopher and I went to one of our pre-marital counseling sessions {in Georgia you get a discount on your marriage license if you go!}, ran errands, then headed to South Carolina for Easter with my family.

We had a wonderful church service at First Baptist on Sunday morning. It was great to see our friends and those who won't be able to make it to our wedding next month one more time before we're a married couple! My mother had made lunch reservations at Victor's in the new Hotel Florence, which was fab! Brunch was delicious, and I love the aesthetic of the space--it should definitely be a stop on your list if you ever make it through Flo-town.

Lunch is unfortunately where my current stresses began: I got a call saying my bank account had been compromised for a couple hundred dollars. Of course this would happen on the week I have to pay for the wedding venue. Luckily, we caught it before a second attempt last night for another large sum. While I know this will be resolved with the bank, it is unfortunately one of those stresses that is just hanging out in the back of my mind constantly.

It was rainy all weekend, and we had to drive home in the rain and spring break traffic. Yuck. I almost had a very bad accident, too--when I was finally able to skid to a stop to avoid someone who had blatantly pulled out in front of me, Christopher couldn't even see the front of their car, it was that close to mine. I was extremely thankful when we finally made it home safe and sound.

Although silly, this morning's frustrations stem from social media. This is a huge part of my job, and my life. I love connecting with friends and family through pictures and stories online. The recent algorithm changes in both Facebook and now Instagram are driving me nuts. I now have to login to a separate website to fully access my blog and our business' Facebook page. Obnoxious! Now, Instagram, otherwise known in my book as the most perfect of all social media outlets, is changing their feed from chronological to show you pictures they "think" you will like. Well Insta, I only follow accounts that I "know" I will like, so I don't need you picking out things all willy-nilly!

Follow me on Instagram @piperellice and be
sure to click the little three dots and "Turn on notifications"
to keep seeing my feed!

I was glad to get to work this morning, finding comfort in my routine and a big cup of coffee. I've already been to the bank to begin the fraud resolution process, and I'm just hoping that it doesn't take the full 10 business days to get this squared away. In the midst of my stress, although minor in the grand scheme of things, I'm reminded of the love and sacrifice Jesus made for us every time I drive by the churches in town that have their Easter decorations standing strong. I'm claiming his peace to make it through the day, and the week.

Follow me on Snapchat @piperellice to see all of our
upcoming beach bash shenanigans! 

On another note, my bachelorette weekend is here! A few of us are leaving Thursday night after work to head to Amelia Island for a long weekend with the girls. I'm super excited, but fingers crossed that the weather forecast changes and the rain stays far away!

My Favorite YouTube Workouts

Last week, I shared two of my favorite low carb recipes {you can check them out here}. As someone who basically hates to exercise, it's really hard for me to get motivated. A few weeks ago, I realized that I would be on the beach in a bikini at the end of the month for my bachelorette and wanted to tone it up a bit! So I thought I'd share a few of my favorite workout videos that I watch on YouTube at home on my Fire TV. 

In high school, I found this Prevention Fitness Systems belly, butt and thighs video. For some reason, I loved it. It's quick and pretty high energy, and I don't find Chris Freytag to be annoying like some video instructors can be. It's kind of old school, but it's an oldie but goodie for me!

I've recently discovered a love for the kettle bell, and love that it's a hard workout I can do at home. There are quite a few different kettle bell workouts, but this one is quick and easy to knock out in less than half an hour. Be sure to keep your pets away when doing the kettle bell...both of my pups are curious, and have come close to getting knocked in the head once or twice!

My family has something my brother refers to as "The Densmore Pooch." We all have it. It's the worst. And it doesn't help that crunches are also the worst. I really like this lower ab routine because it targets "the pooch" in short, minute-long bursts so I don't get bored or too miserable. Ten minutes for abs is about all I can take. It's also a great routine if all you have is ten minutes, or want to tack it on to the end of a longer video. 

I'm not really a yoga fan, but with the added stress of wedding planning really taking it's toll lately {bad dreams, back aches, etc.}, I thought I would focus on incorporating some yoga into my routine to help de-stress over the next few weeks. The Tone It Up girls are total goals, and their bikini body series is great. I like the specific toning movements included in this yoga-focused video, and it's a great "rest day" option. 

What are your favorite YouTube workouts? Share in the links below to keep me going! And don't forget to register for my spring giveaway...winner to be announced tomorrow at noon! 

Invited to Party

My MOH knows whats up. My amazing bridesmaids, too. They've worked tirelessly to plan two fabulous events to celebrate our friendship and my upcoming marriage: a bridal shower in March and a bachelorette weekend the first weekend in April. 

Kirstie {my maid of honor}, worked to design some amazing party invitations for these events! She loved a few designs on a variety of sites, but ended up designing and printing everything through Vistaprint, which is actually where I got my Save the Date magnets and my wedding suite. We've both been so very pleased with the products we've received, and wanted to share them with you! {I'll be sharing a detailed post about my wedding suite in a few weeks.}

First up: the bachelorette invitation. I think that having a printed bachelorette invitation is extremely helpful when there is a large group of girls coming in from all different directions at varying times. By including the address on the front, it reduces the number of "Where is this place again?" texts in the GroupMe. 

Kirstie thoughtfully included a 'what to pack' list on the back for each day that we're there. It also gives everyone a basic idea of the weekend's schedule and what they can expect. I'm all about 'planned spontaneity' where I don't know exactly what is going on, but I know enough to still feel somewhat in control of my life! 

The girls are also planning a little lingerie shower one night, and Kirstie included these simple but oh so cute enclosure cards with all the details...even an event hashtag! It reads: Cotton pj's are all she's got, Let's shower Piper with something hot! 

Next up: the bridal shower invitation. This shower is going to be hosted by my wonderful bridesmaids here in Statesboro at the Phi Mu house. It was recently remodeled a few years ago, and is so beautiful inside; it's the perfect place to throw a pink party! The main invitation actually features two of my engagement pictures, which is such a thoughtful and personalized touch. 

Gold confetti business cards include monogram information for myself, my groom, and for us as a couple. While some local stores may keep this information on file if you register there, big chain stores do not. A monogram is an always welcomed touch in my opinion, and an informative enclosure helps the guests avoid guessing. 

A recipe card and a sweet poem round out the set. Christopher and I both love to be in the kitchen, and I am so looking forward to gathering beloved recipes from families and friends. The poem reads: Piper and Christopher will soon say "I do." They have love, but they need to eat, too! Cooking, baking, and stocking the bar; let's help boost their culinary repertoire. "Whisk the egg yolks, bake one hour..." Please bring your favorite recipe to Piper's bridal shower!

On the back is the registry and RSVP information. I have been so impressed with not only the amazing designs, but also the quality products from Vistaprint throughout the wedding planning process. And I'm also blown away by my wonderful 'maids and all their thoughtfulness and attention to details that have been so meaningful to me! There's no one I'd rather celebrate this time of my life with than these dolls!