wedding Archives - Popcorn and Pandas

Rainbow Sprinkle Shower

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When my sister first brought up the idea of a rainbow sprinkle shower, my first thought was that I had been planning one…but not until she was going to have her 2nd child hahaha. I thought it would be a cute 2nd child “sprinkle” theme. But after thinking more about it, I thought, “You know what? It’s not every day you get a rainbow sprinkle party thrown in your honor, she hasn’t even had one child yet (lol), and rainbow sprinkles are her JAM…so WHY WAIT??!?!”

This girl is seriously obsessed with everything rainbow sprinkles from ice cream to donuts, so it couldn’t have been a more perfect theme. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law hosted the event at their home and I am SO grateful for all the time, effort, and ideas they put into it and for running with me on this theme! My sis is a lucky gal marrying into such an awesome family!

From the mimosa bar, to the sprinkle cake, the donut tower, blushing bride punch, sprinkle centerpieces, omelette station, confetti balloons, and more…it was a perfect day for a perfect bride, and the weather was phenomenal. And seriously…could she be ANY more gorgeous? I think not.

The photos speak for themselves. <3

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It now feels full circle to post these, because in the past few weeks little sis has tied the knot and also had a kick-ass party to celebrate at my parents house. Feels awesome to finally have her new hubby as my official brother after 13 years.

This week I have lots going on with a Coach Sneak Peek event tonight on the world of health + fitness coaching and I’m looking for some amazing new #bossbabes to join my team. Could it be you? 😉 I’m also prepping for CLEAN WEEK, which is a week to try out one of my challenge group programs – clean food, 4 workouts, super food shake, and my support group. Feel free to email me for details on how to get involved.

Lastly, we are prepping for a CAMPING trip this weekend with some of our good friends. This is the FIRST time we will have ever camped with our boys, so if you have any tips on camping with kiddos or just camping in general since I’m no expert, then please pass them along!!!

Make it a great day everyone!

XO,

Gina

Baltimore BoatHouse Wedding

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I am SO excited to finally share these photos from the wedding we attended at the beginning of the month. My college bestie and roomie, Nichole (otherwise known as Tissy) married the love of her life, Tom, at Canton Waterfront Park. Their story is special, and I am happy to say that I was there when they met in Boston through our mutual friends (and other college bestie/roomie + her hubby who performed the ceremony!). Who knew that at our friend’s apartment and a night out in Boston (and it was one crazy night! LOL!) that years later they would end up as husband + wife. Their ceremony was intimate and incorporated everyone who attended. The whole event captured their personalities, their humor, their style, they favorite foods, and the happiness they have together. They shared their first dance on the altar, and I think it’s pretty clear how much love they have for each other as shown by their giant smiles.

Congratulations Tissy + Tom! Love you both so much, and wishing you a lifetime of smiles just like these! 🙂

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This last photo is my favorite. I just love how happy they look together! What a perfect day and a perfect couple. Hope these photos give you a glimpse into how beautiful it was.

Hope you are all having a great week so far. Nico had his last day of his first year of school on Tuesday. I can’t believe how fast it flew by! Summer is officially here for us and we are heading to a lake house at the Poconos on Saturday for a week to celebrate the holiday! Looking forward to a little R + R coming up as well some adventures swimming and hiking.

Make it a great day everyone!

XO,

Gina

Falling Leaves & Wedding Bells

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I am SO incredibly excited to share these photos from my BFFs wedding last month. I only wish I had MORE that I could have taken, but since I was IN the wedding, I suppose I will let their REAL photographer get all the best shots. But regardless, here is a little sneak peek of the day. It was SUCH a gorgeous fall day. Meg looked absolutely stunning beyond belief. The colors were off the charts unreal…and did I mention they had Italian cookies? Like…the RAINBOW ones?!?!

All cookies aside…it was an amazing day for an amazing couple, and I am so excited for these two to share the rest of their lives together. I have never seen either of them so happy, and I know they are in for a fantastic life long journey together. Their love is apparent and it definitely shines through in these photos as much as it did on their wedding day.

Congratulations Meghan & Patrick! Love you both.

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Wedding Venue: Hunt Valley Golf Club in Hunt Valley, MD / Hair: Creations a la Nikki / Cake: Takes the Cake Catering and Event Planning / DJ: Jacob Jensen / Wedding Dress: The Bridal Boutique / Bridesmaids Dresses: Bill Levkoff in Cranberry / Flowers: Janda Florist

So can we celebrate again??? Such a fun day and night was had by all. Looking forward to seeing this fabulous couple again over the holidays as Mr. & Mrs.! MUAH!

Happy Friday everyone! Spread a little love and laughter this weekend, huh?

We are going to see SANTA tomorrow! Whoo!

XO,

Gina

{37} Lately…

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Lately I’ve been…

reading Prayers for the Advent wreath and my new Advent calendar which was gifted to me last year.

writing I honestly wish I could say Christmas cards, but alas I am behind this year…it might be one of those “Happy New Year” card years…hopefully I can get my act together!

listening To the podcast, “Happier” by Gretchen Rubin. I loved her book “The Happiness Project” and someone recently suggested I check out her podcast. I am HOOKED!

thinking About Christmas lists and gifts. And that it’s also about time I start shopping. Eeep! What are your favorite places to shop for the holidays?

smelling Christmas cookie candles and the beautiful smell of pine from my Christmas tree. ‘Tis the season!

watching Recently watched the movie Pans Labyrinth. Weird. Just weird.

wishing You all a Happy Holiday season!!!

hoping For clear roads, clear skies, and safe travels on our road trip tomorrow.

wearing This stunning new dress from ASOS. Looking forward to wearing it for the first time at a wedding this weekend. May also be the perfect Christmas Eve dress. Since this one is out of stock, here is another beauty.

loving That the Holly station is back on Sirius/XM Radio. It’s gonna be a jolly ol’ car ride tomorrow! (My Jewish husband hates me right now…)

wanting More days in December! I have so many fun holiday traditions I want to partake in from parties to light shows, train shows, a visit to Santa, and more. It doesn’t seem like there is enough time to enjoy it all!

needing To start packing yet again. I don’t mind the traveling and the driving so much as I mind all the packing!

feeling Snuggly. Christmas jammies anyone?

craving Cookies! Here are some healthier holiday cookie options for you this year.

clicking On one of my favorite websites to shop for sweet gifts and deals.

HAPPY THURSDAY!

What have you been up to lately?

XO,

Gina

Discala Gala

A few weeks ago, we were fortunate enough to spend good times with great friends at the Discala Wedding watching the beautiful couple, Nick and Alie, tie the knot. The outdoor ceremony was just gorgeous with the sun going down, we enjoyed the amazing food, and danced the night away. Yes, even me with my prego belly. Congratulations to the happy couple! Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness together!

What a night to remember!!!

This past weekend we celebrated my son’s 2nd Birthday about a month early (because my due date is 2 days after his REAL birthday), and we had a blast. I will be sharing photos from the event soon, so stay tuned. I hit 36 weeks of my pregnancy on Monday, and we are headed to the doc today for our check up to see how things are going. Cue the psycho nesting mode right about now as we need to get this house organized and ready STAT.

Hope you are all having a great week!

XO,

GIna

Meant to Be

We attended the wedding of this beautiful couple in Upstate NY/Bronx a few weeks ago. I went to high school with the groom, Marcin, and we continued along similar paths heading to the University of Maryland for college, and eventually New York City in our early 20s. It was so nice to have a friendly face from home when we (my now husband and I) first moved to the Big Apple. We didn’t know how long we would stay, but it’s crazy to think we all just came upon our 8th anniversary here. I was so honored Marcin and his fiancé (and now wife), Dana, asked me to be a part of their ceremony by doing a reading at the church. I couldn’t have been happier to support this couple as they spoke their vows on that beautiful day. Not only have I remained close with Marcin and his family throughout the years, but it’s been a blessing getting to know Dana as well as Dana’s incredible family. To see two amazing families unite is truly a wonderful thing. Marcin and Dana make each other so exceptionally happy and you can just tell from these photos how much they light up when they are around each other. From day one, I could tell these two had a strong bond, and I know they will continue to be blessed and happy together for many many years to come. Congratulations Marcin and Dee…you are truly meant to be!

These photos bring me back! What a great day and night it was…and you can truly see the love!

Hope you are all having a great week. I have been playing a lot of catch up…both with work and with home life (laundry, grocery shopping, etc. – you know all the fun stuff). We got back on Monday from a trip to the Finger Lakes for the 4th of July holiday. We spent some time on Seneca Lake, in the Ithaca area near Cayuga lake, and exploring around the outdoors. I have a lot more to share from our trip, so stay tuned to the next couple posts to view our adventures!

Make it a great one!

XO,

Gina

Tying the Knot in Tucson

Tucson. Beautiful Tucson. The boys and I flew out to Arizona back in November to celebrate the wedding of my pen pal (yes you heard that right), Angela to her sweetheart, Leon. We visited them in May 2013 while I was pregnant, back before they were even engaged, and we had the most amazing time out there exploring and meeting her family. We were so happy to return as a family of three and celebrate their wonderful union together.

It was a magical night in the Tucson desert. The sunset was absolutely unreal out there. The flowers were stunning of course, as Angela and her sister are both floral designers. I loved the artistic touches Angela included, especially the four wedding dresses she pulled from the parents and grandparents of her and Leon. These dresses were hung from trees that lined her walk down the aisle. Sigh.

Aside from the beautiful decor and scenery, the wedding was full of fantastic people. Coming from across the country, we didn’t know many of the guests but both Angela and Leon’s family and friends were so completely welcoming and friendly. They were also lots of fun, and we joined them on the dance floor for much of the night. Kids were able to run around in the outdoor space, and I think our little Nico actually learned how to really walk here.

It was a beautiful night, and I am so happy for Angela and Leon. Thanks for letting us be a part of your celebration. Love you both!

Beautiful, huh?

Fast forward to present day: Yesterday marked the first Day of P90X for me. As you can probably imagine, I am in an incredible amount of pain! But no pain, no gain right? Day 2 (today) I woke up early to do plyometrics. I was actually enjoying the workout, but started to feel sick and queasy about half way in. Now, I know I’m not pregnant, so I guess this is a sign I am out of shape! I started having flashbacks of high school basketball tryouts where there were trashcans lined up around the gym “just in case.” Yikes. I decided to listen to my body, and stop the workout at the moment. It’s only Day 2, and I have a long journey. I do plan on completing the second half of the workout later today when I have a bit more energy. Oh the curveballs!

Other than that, we have SNOW today up in the Big Apple! Unfortunately, since Nico and I have been sick, I think we will be enjoying the snow through the window today, but at least it’s pretty!

Hope you are all having a great week and a great start to the new year!

XO,

Gina

Only in Fairytales

Woweee! I am so excited to finally share these photos from my cousin’s wedding! I can’t believe they have already been married for over a month. This couple couldn’t be more perfect for each other. Melissa and John are two of the sweetest, kindest people I know, and they would do anything for anybody. I am so happy they found each other and that we were lucky enough to be included in their celebration. Their ceremony was held at their local parish in the Bronx, where my cousin Melissa is a teacher. All of her students were in attendance which was adorable. The reception took place at The Venetian in New Jersey, and it was the most breathtaking venue I have ever seen. Melissa and John really thought of everything, and every detail was planned out right down to the personalized champagne glasses for Grandma and Grandpa. This wedding was certainly the kind that you only dream of in fairytales.

Not only was it a dream-like wedding, it was also a party! The music was pumping all night long, the guests were given light sabers, and the venue boasted the largest dance floor I have ever laid eyes on. The Viennese dessert table was introduced with a fire show, and the bridal party made their entrance down a long flight of elegant stairs. The WOW factor was through the roof, and the night just kept getting better and better as it went along.

Congratulations Melissa & John! I wish you and wonderful life together full of happiness and love!

XO,

Gina

Rockin’ Wedding Weekend

Hey friends! Well, I wasn’t planning on being completely M.I.A. last week over here, but as it turns out our beach house in the OBX lacked wifi. I’m sure I could have scooted over to a coffee shop of sorts, but instead I decided to enjoy the free time I had with family, and tried to relax as much as possible. As much as you are able to with an (almost) one year old child in tow and thirty family members to catch up with. Nico was a hit with the family and he made sure to show them all of his latest “tricks.” What a little charmer he is. The exception to this charm is that our dinner dates with the little guy might be put on pause for awhile. The scene that entailed was definitely anything but. Breakfast dates, however, are still a go. We had a lovely one on the Nags Head Pier watching the waves crash onto the shore. Nico loved the beach as usual, and we took him up to Jockey’s Ridge to check out the famous sand dunes. Overall, it was a really nice get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Onto these photos of this beautiful wedding from earlier this summer. Our dear friends Joe and Colette look ravishing and totally in love. They were smiling from ear to ear the entire day. The magic took place in Rock Hall, Maryland (beautiful and totally under the radar), and it also marked our first full weekend away from the little guy. He was in good hands with his aunt/godmother, and we actually got to sleep in for once, which was kind of amazing. We had a lovely weekend with friends, and looking back at these photos makes me want to plan another weekend with this crew soon.

Missing my vacation already, but a small part of me is glad to be home in Brooklyn.

Hope you all have a great week!

XO,

Gina

A Formal Affair

The Notes clan took our first family trip down to Maryland two weekends ago to celebrate the nuptials of our dear friends, Teri and Charlie. It was a beautiful weekend to celebrate a beautiful couple. The bride looked absolutely stunning, and she carried the most unique and amazing bouquet I have ever seen! Made completely of brooches, many of them were passed down from her family members to add to this masterpiece. The best part is that she can save this bouquet forever in it’s original form. I could see it making a beautiful decorative piece for their future dining or living room. Her lace dress was exquisite, and her cathedral veil was perfect considering their wedding was held at the Baltimore Cathedral. Teri and I have been friends since high school, and I was lucky enough to be chosen as a bridesmaid to stand up with her on her special day. My only regret with these photos is that I was unable to capture anything from the ceremony, since I was in the wedding. Typically, if I’m in the bridal party, my husband will play second shooter to capture photos of the ceremony, but he was on baby duty and was unable to play photographer. I am looking forward to seeing their professional photos, because that cathedral was just phenomenal. During the reception, our little one stayed with my mother-in-law at the hotel, and we are very thankful to have had our first adult night out since having a baby. It was also great to catch up with so many of my best friends all at once. Congrats to Teri and Charlie! Wishing you both lots of love and happiness for many many years to come.

Hope you are all having a great week so far!

XO,

Gina