Friday Five {giveaway winner!}

{1}

This pillow has been creeping up in my dreams lately.  I can't decide whether to buy it or not!  

He's only $35 on One Kings Lane (a steal since it's usually $60).

I really like the masculinity of it.  Brandon doesn't stand a chance with our home ...it will be more feminine than he would probably prefer.  This pillow thrown into the mix would bring more "Brandon" into our future dwelling.  (sorry B, the pillow is your only hope) Whatcha think?

{2}

How fab is this room?  I mean, it makes me drool.  

{3}

this quote

{4}

Around lunch time, we are heading south to Beaufort!  We're super excited to head back home to our main stomping grounds.  This time, we're in town for the first weekend of the Beaufort Water Festival.  Good times, lots of sunshine, boat drinks, great friends, and plenty of catchy tunes are sure to be the theme for the weekend.  

{5}

Time to announce the winner of the Wild About Jewelry giveaway!

I've calculated all of your entries and am so happy to say that the winner of this lovely piece 

is.....

Jane {In the Pink and Green}

Please email me at stylemeswanky@gmail.com with your shipping information!

Happy Weekend, loves!

Xo-M

it was a bloggy birthday

On Sunday, this little ol' blog turned two years old.  

As some of you know, she used to be "My Two Cents ...before I spend it" and she's now, of course, "Style Me Swanky." This blog started on a lazy summer night and has grown into something I never saw coming.  To sit here and write posts for all of you for two years --correction: to sit here and write posts for myself for two years makes me very proud.  I'm not getting ahead of myself here... this blog is nothing to write home about, but it's something I've been dedicated to for two years.  One reader, then another, then another ...you've all made this worth while.  Without you, Style Me Swanky wouldn't exist.  I remember my first reader, Politics and Pearls.  When I saw her name pop up on my "Followers" list, I was so excited and thought to myself, "She wants to see what I have to say!"  Little by little, I've gotten to know so many of you and it may sound silly, but I really do love every one of you!  (Except for that one reader that left a rude comment on my wearing white before Memorial Day.  Yeah, there's no love there, but that's neither here nor there!)

Speaking of comments.  That's the way we bloggers communicate.  At least, that's where it begins.  

My life has changed so much in the past two years...   I graduated from college, started my big girl job, got engaged, moved twice, learned how to balance planning a wedding, working, keeping my head above water financially, keeping my relationships strong, and then, I lost my sweet grandmother.  I'm not going to get too deep here (might be a little late for that), but my Memie's passing was a change unlike any I've ever dealt with in my life.  I don't mean for this post to have a gloomy cloud over its head and I know there are many more terrible things that happen to people each and every day.  The moral of this story is that I was in a very dark place, but all of you truly helped me find happiness again.  There have been many ups and downs throughout the past two years and I've just loved sharing it with you.  Whether I'm reading other blogs or writing about fashion, home decor, or whatever...point is, it has been a therapeutic outlet and just plain ol' FUN.  Reading your sweet comments always brings me joy.  I read everything you all write, and although I'm not the best, ok- pretty terrible, at responding to you all, I so appreciate everything that you guys say.   I'm sure you all can relate when I say that it's a pretty risky thing to plaster your life all over a webpage, but y'all have made it a fun, positive experience.

So here's to another year of Style Me Swanky!  Here's to another year of creating friendships.  Here's to another year of reading your blogs and learning about people from all over the world.  

Here's to you! 

Xo-M  

p.s. I found that photo on Pinterest and I'm pretty sure it's the exact photo I used on my "first birthday" post, but I don't mind.  At least you know I really like it.  

p.p.s.  Did you know that today is the last day to enter my  Wild About Jewelry giveaway?  What are you waiting for? ;)

Wedding Wednesday {Bridesmaid Dresses!}

Hello pretties!

It's no secret that I've been dreaming of my wedding since I was a little girl.  Ok, not dreaming ...planning.  Never once was it in the plans to have bright bridesmaid dresses.  Years and years ago, I wanted their dresses to be black.  Imagine a 10 year old girl wanting black bridesmaid dresses ...why not bright yellow or pink?  I meant business.
I continued wanting the black dresses until about two years ago, when Brandon and I started thinking more seriously about getting married and spending our lives together.  At that time, I was set on champagne dresses.  So soft and romantic.  That is, until about two weeks before my appointment with my bridesmaids at Bella Bridesmaid.  Suddenly, I wanted BLUSH!  Now that's soft and romantic.
I've really never been a pink lover.  Of course I'm very feminine and girly, it's just that I've never been wild about the color.  But blush is neutral and definitely not too pink.  I think it has the perfect mix of class, sophistication, and femininity.
What do you think?  

Now for the dress...

I thought I wanted all of my gals to have different dresses, but same color.  Again, suddenly before our bridesmaid dress appointment, I changed my mind.  (I do that a lot.)  I then realized, after talking with Brandon and some others, that our wedding is going to be very formal and each girl having the same dress sticks with that trend. 

I have always been sold on silk chiffon.  I mean, you have seen "My Best Friend's Girl," right?

(Kate Hudson.  That chiffon gown.  Come on, people.)

Are you still with me?

What does blush + silk chiffon equal?

One word... Amsale. 

When my bridesmaids and I went to our appointment at Bella Bridesmaid, I walked straight to the Amsale rack with Allison, the stylist/sales person extraordinaire.  She pulled three dresses and picked some of my girls to try them on.  Without any ounce of doubt, we all unanimously picked the winner.

It seriously took us ten minutes from the time we entered the store to the time she began to take measurements. Who knew we were so decisive??

Finding THE dresses, as in my dress and my bridesmaid's dress, was so much easier than I could've ever expected.  I mean, when you got it, you got it ...and I've got some gorgeous bridesmaids that would look awesome in paper bags.  Thankfully, they preferred an Amsale silk chiffon dress instead.  ;)

Xo-M

beat the heat

images via pinterest, duh

Y'all.

It's hot.

It's actually cooler today than it has been, at least we're in the 90s and not in the 100s like it's been the past couple of weeks.  It makes me really happy to have a desk job.  Although I can't lie and say I'd rather be at a desk than at the beach with my chair at the water's edge.  I'd have a fresh squeezed lemonade in my hand, a big floppy hat on my head, and my new book, Southern Charm, in front of my nose.  

How do you beat the heat?

Xo-M

weekend

 I went home to visit my parents this weekend.  We had a great time spending time together, eating, shopping, and watching Say Yes to the Dress (it was on so much this weekend -that and Bride Wars and Father of the Bride!).  Here are some photos from the weekend!

We went to dinner in Savannah.  On the way there, we passed this truck.  Pretty interesting cargo, huh?

 Dinner at Pearl's Saltwater Grille was AMAZING!

Travel makeup items.

Great find at TJ Maxx!  I'm going to replace the two end chairs on my dining room table with these.  The end table/ottoman (far left) will find it's way into the living room somewhere.

Mom's wedding dress preservation box...

 I had to try it on!  What I look like in it is no secret, so I'll share :)

We are thinking of ways to incorporate part of her dress into my wedding.  Brandon's mom wore a hat in her wedding, too.  It was definitely the trend!  Mom's is a bit bent out of shape, though. 

 

Took the country roads back to Charleston!

Xo-M