Bradley-To-Be

{my new adventure}

2011-02-22T18:57:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends,
So, its been quite a while since I've posted on here but I'm sure you can all understand why. After 12 months of planning, our wedding has come & gone. Everyone keeps asking me if I'm sad its over but how could I be? I'm married & to the most amazing man. But, I did fall in love with planning weddings & events...just another great thing that came about while planning. During school I found that a lot of interior designs actually plan weddings because the design process is almost identical (especially to residential design). They both start with a client & a concept. They both require the coordination of vendors and attention to detail. Most importantly, they both require a designer who works hard to make something, important to them, perfect. Anyways, I've decided to venture into the world of planning events, as well as interior design. I've started a new blog/website http://www.jaebeedesigns.blogspot.com/ (soon to be http://www.jaebeedesigns.com/ but the Google shopping cart is being dumb) so I'll mostly be posting on there. I would love if you would all follow. I'll try to update this blog as well, but who knows with me! Also, as I'm working on building my portfolio so I'll be doing small events/day-of wedding coordination for close to free so tell your friends. And lastly, I'm thankful to have an amazing husband who is always so supportive of my crazy goals, without him I have no idea if I could even be pursuing my dreams, especially from home.

Thanks for your support!
Peace & Love,
Jillian

Our Casa!

2010-08-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

Ian had a few days in a row off early last week so we decided to do some projects around the house...yay! I also raided the new store Hobby Lobby and bought TONS of stuff for the house! :) So here is the house with some new stuff around...

This is a little niche right to the left when walk in the door. We bought this mirror before we even had a house, thanks to a sale at CostPlus, so that has been there since we moved in. But we added the candles and arrangement earlier this year. Ian bought me the bird from Lowe's because I loved him :).

This is the view when you first walk into our house. My office is currently in our future pool table room to the left, dining room straight ahead, living room through that opening, stairs on the right, and our powder bath is tucked under the stairs also on the right. That beautiful green wall is a new addition, as well as that super cute clock in the dining room! See that cute little table in the bottom right of the picture?

Thats my super cute foyer table that I found at the Pasadena Flea market when I went earlier this month with Alison. It was only 40 bucks! I bought it for the wedding but I love that I can use it in the house until then and after too! Those three little wrought iron things used to be in the powder bath but I decided to move them out (you'll see why) to above the table. We eventually want to replace the drywall stair railings with wood or wrought iron ones to make it more open.

And this is my office...blah! I love love love my desk but right when you walk in our house? I'd rather have a pool table (and two cute lil armchairs with a lil table in between tucked underneath the windows)! So, we're creating a loft upstairs for my office so that the clutter is kinda tucked away and not in our entertaining space!

This is probably my favorite room! I love my dining room! The table is from CostPlus and our chairs were all on sale at Z Gallerie! Notice the new green wall and we replaced our wood blinds with white ones because we didn't need anymore wood tones in our house...and the tone just didn't look good with any colors we liked for the accent wall. LOVE!

This is our living room...sorry the picture quality seems kinda icky. The couches are hand-me-downs, 50 dolla coffee table (not a fan, Ian loves it), Target rug that Ian bought me, hand-me-down Pier 1 pillows, Target side table & clearance lamp, new Hobby Lobby stuff above the couch, and clearance RC Willey recliner for Ian. After we painted that wall it all came together...I'm finally loving it! Except for this...

Our entertainment "niche" seriously needs some lovin! We have plans to put custom cabinets in this niche to create our entertainment center but it has to wait a lil bit but we can't wait until that day!

This is our breakfast nook with a table that my parents got us for Christmas and a love orchid that they got us for our 7 year anniversary!

This is our kitchen...we're not a fan of the cabinets so we want to stain them darker eventually! We also still need to get a stainless steel microwave...lol. We also want to do a tumbled travertine backsplash eventually too.

Pantry on the right, laundry on the left, and garage straight ahead. That lil hook thingy was the first thing we bought once we owned our house...its from PierOne, and definitely handy!

This is probably tied with the dining room for favorite room...lol (whose favorite room is a bathroom?) I striped the walls all by myself and for zero dollars and it turned out FAB!

Well thats the downstairs...still have some work to do upstairs so I'll share that later! :) Less than 100 days till the wedding!

{yay!}

2010-06-18T21:59:00.000-07:00

So, one of my best friends Heather just started a blog and I was super jealous that people could comment on her posts...I was determined to figure it out then and there (aka 2 minutes ago). And I am pleased to announce that I indeed did, so comments are now possible on my page! Also exciting is that I got the job with Beyer Brown, so I will be doing a lot of work on Jen's linen line (Jennifer Adams Home) and I am SO excited!! I was originally going to be going to Vancouver/Bellingham on Wednesday but I have never left the country (except for Mexico) so I don't have a passport...so the trip has been postponed until next month! I can't wait to go and learn about my new perfect job!! I'm also still doing plans for my dad...which started out fast and then slowed down but I'm sure it'll pick back up soon! So many exciting opportunities are coming way and I can't wait to tackle them all ! PS: We also ordered our save-the-dates which cost us 34 bucks for 100...I would have to say we totally scored! They shipped today and I can't wait to see them!!! eeek! :)

Peace and love!

{engagement pics and bridesmaids dresses}

2010-06-13T19:25:00.000-07:00

soooo...we have 2 things to check off our wedding to-do list! We finally got to see our engagement pictures which turned out so great! You can see a few on our photog's blog...www.chelseanicoleblog.com! Also, earlier this week I had 5 of my 6 bridesmaids together and we picked out a dress! I had seen it on Anthropologie's website and loved it! Then, when we went to Anthro to try it on it was on clearance for 50% off! SO stoked! Mo and Alison have to get their's taken in because even the XS was too big...lol but can't beat the 50 dollar price tag! :) Lately, I have been torn between sharing all the fun stuff I'm planning for the wedding and keeping it a surprise...I think holding it all back will be worth it in the end! Next up is sending out save-the-dates and ordering the cake! :)

{what an amazing week}

2010-05-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that a week ago today I was preparing for my college graduation...it went by so fast! The Wednesday before I went out to eat with my amazing friends and it got pretty emotional, I've been so excited to move back home with Ian but I'm really going to miss seeing them every week. Definitely bitter sweet! I feel like my speech at graduation was a success! Here are a couple of pictures of my amazing friends minus Ana D.

My gown was so huge on me so you won't be seeing any of those photos! That night we ate at my fav. Italian food restaurant Felipi's...mmm! The next day we moved me out of my apartment, went to lunch at my fav. Mexican food restaurant Fred's...double mmm! Then my sisters, my mom, and I went to Here Comes the Bride to try on this wedding dress I've been loving...well turns out they didn't have it! But they were having a trunk show for Tara Keely which is designed by Lazaro and I found the most amazing dress and Tara Keely rep was seriously the BEST! I got all kinds of perks for buying from the trunk show...10% off, free $300 belt, and the dress was straight off the runway and was absolutely perfect. I'll just say there were lots and lots of tears...it was just perfect. That night, we BBQ'ed and made smores and celebrated! It was such a great weekend! Oh, and yesterday Ian and I took our engagement photos...we're almost to the 6 month mark so we're getting ready to send out save-the-dates! Can't wait to see the photos, I know they'll be amazing because our photog is so talented!

I'm also starting to draw plans for my dad and I have another job opportunity that may work out and I hope it does because it's perfect! I'll be working from home which is ideal for me so I can spend time with Ian when he is off. Anywho, everything has been amazing and I can't wait to truly start my life with Ian and Simone! :)

{Almost Done!!}

2010-04-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

Just three more weeks until I am a college graduate! Well, two weeks of school and then a week between my last class and the actual ceremony. I had a minor breakdown last night because I'm just very overwhelmed. My senior project is kicking my booty right now, literally spend at least 10 hours a day on it all weekend. The presentation is on Wednesday and Ian is coming into town on Tuesday to support me...he is the best. Today marks 4 months since Ian proposed and we're almost 7 months until the big day! I can't believe how quickly time is flying...holy moly! The graduation is at the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art and I'm sure it'll be amazing...oh and I was chosen by my classmates to give a speech so that is freaking me out too! Then the following weekend we're having a little family party at my parents to celebrate because not everyone can come down here for the actual graduation! :) We have a lot going on this year and can't wait to experience it all with Ian!

Peace and Love!

{whoa!}

2010-03-17T22:13:00.000-07:00

Soooo...I was grabbing breakfast yesterday and I was astonished at what I saw on my fridge! A few Christmas' ago Danielle gave me an Office calendar with 365 hilarious quotes from the show. Well, about a year ago my calendar ran out and I decided to keep my fav. quote..."Last weekend I outran a black pepper snake...I am fast. To give you a reference point, I'm somewhere between a snake and a mongoose. And a panther." - Dwight. Guess what date that quote was printed on?? December 4th!! And I kept it...almost a year before we set the date for our wedding...it was meant to be! Just blows my mind! :)

Peace, Love, & Happiness!!

{did that really happen?}

2010-03-08T22:37:00.000-08:00

So, long story short...while Ian was visiting me in San Diego his truck was stolen. Then, Ian and I found it 2 hours later...with no stereo, wallet, keys, and iPod. Fun stuff....yeah, not really. But through all that bullsh*t (pardon my language, but no other word describes it as well) Ian kept frighteningly calm because he knew I would freak out if he did. He was so right...I was on the verge of a meltdown during those 2 hours without Dakota Fanning (his truck's name). The only good part of the day? Ian said, "Well, at least they didn't take my Transworld magazine...now that would have been f*cked up."...I love him. Later in the evening we strolled through Old Town to find a doorbell for our casa...we found it literally in the last place we could stop. Needless to say, the weekend wasn't the most fabulous ever but we still managed to take Simone to Dog Beach and visit with Jordan, Raelene, and the cutest nephew ever, Reagan. But last weekend when I was home Ian and I did some yardwork and devised our plan of attack for the walkway we want to add to our front yard. We're both really excited about! Oh...and I'm going home on Thursday with Katherine because I feel like my weekend with Ian and baby just wasn't good enough and why not? Might as well go now before school takes over my life! And guess what?? Just under 9 months till the big day! And just over 2 months till graduation! WHOOO!

Peace, love, and happiness! :)

{Hola Blogging World}

2010-02-24T19:19:00.000-08:00

So, I'm jumping on the personal blog bandwagon. I write every Friday for my boss' blog but I want something more personal to Ian, Simone, and I. I also have so much going on with school, work, and planning that I sometimes need somewhere to vent or just chit chat. Any of my friends or family members, especially my mom, can tell you that if they get me on the phone I just talk & talk & talk...now I can write instead! So here's what's going on...

{school}
My senior project class is starting pretty slowly...they'll hit us with a lot of work in a week or so. I've decided to do a retail space that refurbishes vintage/used clothing and its going on Melrose Ave in LA...of course! I'm so excited to use crazy and eclectic colors, furniture, and lighting...I doubt I'll ever get the chance to make such bold decisions again, so I'm going for it! Bright pink, yellow, turquoise, grey, chrystal chandeliers, zebra print, metal, metallic wallpaper...so excited! I've also started working on my portfolio and I'm really excited the direction its going! I'm using an Amy Butler fabric as the cover and the transition pages. Today, I scanned in the fabric and spent 2 hours photoshopping it for just a single divider page...but it looks badass so it was definitely worth it! Only 2 months and 18 days till graduation! :)

{work}
I'm currently heading a project at work of a 1000 square foot commercial space in Cardiff for a pair of best friends who have shared a work space for years. Its coming along and will probably be ready early/mid April! I feel so lucky to have found my boss Jen on craigslist...I love my job! Can't wait to start taking on more projects once I graduate!

{wedding}
Oi vey! So, I planned on not worrying about the wedding until after graduation...yeah, not really workin out! I read a few wedding blogs everyday and I just get so excited...too many cute ideas out there! Just this past weekend I fell in love with a dress...but I haven't seen it in person and its a little bit over my budget. I have a great feeling about it though...I think it could be "the one." I've also been going back and forth on photographers! They're SOO expensive... but I want nothing less than amazing photos so I guess you have to pay for that. Ian has been so amazing with all the wedding planning. I took him and my dad over to the venue about a month ago...we had breakfast and chit-chatted with our coordinater Judy...who I love, love, love! I'm really excited about the venue...couldn't be more perfect! I'm also planning on doing the flowers myself so if you have any tips send them my way! I'm so excited to be Jillian Bradley! Just 9 months and 9 days to go!

{ian and simone}
I'm going home tomorrow and I'm so excited to see Ian and Simone! Joshua and Katie have been out of town so baby (aka Simone) has been going to see her grandma Tami while Ian is at work! We're so lucky that she is willing to babysit our love child and give her baths and loves! Ian and I are getting the first time home buyer's tax credit so we're hoping to get a few projects around the house done...project numbero uno is installing wood floor on the second story and taking down a wall to create my loft/office! We still have a long list of to-do's but we'll tackle them when we can. I love having a place of our own...I can't wait to move home for good!

So I have lots of stuff going on but hopefully I'll have time to update everyone every week or so...

Peace and Love,
Jillian Bradley-To-Be :)