ENGAGED(!!!) PHOTOS: MEGAN + SAM

I'm in love! With Megan & Sam! Many moons ago Megan & I went to Saint Ursula together. Then we both headed west to Miami University (you remember... the place of a million memories). Well, fast forward a few years & I had the lovely pleasure of spending a morning with Megan & fiance, Sam.

They are the most dreamy couple I know & these are just a few of the hundreds of pictures that show it. I loved traipsing through another fall day with true love to capture a few precious moments. 

So here's their story: Megan & Sam met their senior year of high school. She was watching a soccer game with friends & somehow against the odds ended up wearing his jersey. But Sam didn't ask for Megan's name that day. That's where fate jumped in. Several months later, Megan accompanied a friend to a graduation party in Harrison. Lo & behold, it was Sam's. Five years later: we're taking their engagement photos.

Oh they just take my breath away! This is the sweetest couple in the entire world, I swear. Sometimes, scouting ahead for the perfect lighting, I would turn 'round to say something & spot Sam stealing a kiss. I absolutely loved getting to know these two.

& don't you just adore Megan's Burberry shawl?! She said she got it at Steinmart (score!). If any of you see it there.. I probably wear a medium... & I like really love it. Like, so much.

I could've posted about a million more photos (at very least, 50) but I'll save those for the lovebirds. Megan & Sam, thank you for letting me be a part of this special time in your life. You are the sweetest.

& darling Magical Simplicity readers, I hope you enjoyed a peek of this dreamy photo shoot! Now, back to our super-fall week! xoxo. p.s. our mega gorgeous Pride & Prejudice-esque photo location is a secret gem in Indian Hill: Rheinstrom Park [map]. 

FALL IN LOVE: RACHEL + CASEY PHOTOS

This weekend I had the most magical request from two of my loveliest friends. Rachel & Casey recently got engaged & were looking for someone to photograph their save the date pictures. As you know, I love love & so happily obliged.  

Now, I've never taken photos for anyone before (except for my blogging partner in crime, Cincin-Natalie, from time to time) but guys it was so fun. I'm serious. So. Fun. The leaves were stunning & it definitely helps that I was third wheelin' with two of my great friends. I think you could hear our laughter through the entire forest. 

I'm just so flattered that these lovebirds asked me to play a small role in this special time of their life. Thanks you two. You're just plain awesome.

& to all of you lovely Magical Simplicity Readers, I've missed you! I've been traveling a lot, but I'm back now for a solid two weeks :) I hope you are all having the most magical fall! xoxo, & thanks for reading. 

HOW TO: BRIDAL SHOWER GIFTS

My friends are starting to get married. Isn't that fun?! It started off with just a few acquaintances. I'd see it in my newsfeed, stalk the pictures on Facebook, throw a "like" here & there, but now I'm actually getting invited to the weddings... & the bridal showers.

I've been to a few showers before, but always for my cousins. So for you "my friends are getting married & I don't know how to do Bridal Showers alone" newbies like me, I thought I'd write down a few steps for the Bridal Shower... just in case you need them J

1. The RSVP: Don't forget to RSVP. I almost did. That would just be rude.

2. Shopping: Usually I follow my mom, sister, or cool coworker (Is there anything Katie Hayden can't do?) around the store like a lost puppy while they expertly maneuver through aisles & registries. Sometimes, I even let them do the shopping alone & throw in my monetary share later. But good news! I have seen the other side! & it's not that scary J. My friend was registered at Pottery Barn, which, lucky for me, is right across from J.Crew & Madewell at Kenwood Mall (hellllllo, new white cotton pants). I just asked for her registry at the checkout counter, wandered around aimlessly until a nice lady nametagged Marion offered to help me, & Voila! The rest is antique silver salt & pepper shakers + pewter napkin ring history!

3. Wrapping: Like most things in my life, I waited til the last minute for this. But if my many cousins' showers & weddings taught me one thing, it's to never underestimate the power of cellophane. It's a little known fact that everything looks better when you can sneak a peek through polka-dots.

4. The Card: I totally forgot the card. BUT I did have these amazing golden clothespins. Perfect. They remind me of the bride (sparkly & fun!) & also dressed up the fact that I forgot a card. Note: even if you don't think you have a reason to own golden clothespins, invest.

5. The Bow-quet: Of course you can never forget the Bridal Shower Bow-Quet. (The bride uses this at her Rehearsal in place of real flowers). (Here's a tutorial in case you don't know what I'm talking about.) You'll want to include ribbons or some unique feature to your gift wrapping that will make a fun little flair on the bow-quet. Like golden clothes pins.

6. Arrival: Voila. Drop that gift off at the door & grab yourself a mimosa. You deserve it.

A KISS.

There is so much magic behind a kiss: the warmth, the love, the wave of emotion that spreads from your lips through your entire body and resonates warmly at the heart. I've never really considered it before, but perhaps a kiss is the world's most magical simplicity.

Mashable caught a few truly great ones this year.
The top 10 kisses of 2012, It will warm your heart. 

A year in lists

A few days ago I started a list. A list of the things that 2011 brought to my life. Some of the list was sad- with broken hearts and the loss of a beloved uncle. Much of it was happy- finding love, internships, two beach vacations, new friends, and old friends, lots of novels, and most importantly for this setting- the start of Magical Simplicity.
This year I began a new outlook on life: finding little moments of magic every single day. So I thought I might just thank you, for being a big part of my list. On the side of my blog there has always been a list of your favorite posts (determined by the number of views) but I thought you may like a list of mine. Happy new year loves, I have a feeling this is going to be the most magical year yet.

             

novemberness

fall flowers and fall florals. a lucky girl to have these on my table.

fixing a broken heart.

Isn't it interesting how a broken heart doesn't heal? How years later, it might still hurt?
But then someone comes and picks it up. And he looks at you like you're the only girl in the world. And your smile lights up his sky. And he treats you right and spoils you rotten. And then, one day, you forget that your heart was ever broken in the first place.

my Love.

I woke up today, made myself a pot of coffee and prepared for- what I thought would be- an extension of my bad week.
-
And then I got a call. 
From my very best friend. 
Who asked me to come outside. 
And handed me these flowers. 
-
"Because youre smart. youre beautiful and you're special." and "I wanted to brighten your day." 
Bad days cant exist, when friends like her are in this world.

september breeze.

fell in love last night.. creamy chicken and mushroom fettucini was quite the success. im getting the hang of this learning to cook thing.

but i woke from my perfect evening this morning to a breeze that screams fall is here. labor day marked the end of summer and this is my obligatory "fall" post.

so far, its been the best fall of my twenty one years. hello september, im actually glad to see you.

a memory.

i once had a very great love. it was very long ago. sometimes it makes me smile. sometimes it makes me sad. but all in all, it makes a memory grand.

dream a little dream of you.

I have four best friends: four best friends whom I would travel the world to see, give my life to save, or stay up late to laugh, talk, or cry with.

I have four best friends. They've been there for me when times are hard; Have been there to celebrate happiness; Have made my life one of the happiest in the world.

& for my four best friends I have one dream. I dream for them to be truly happy, to keep the sparkle that lives in their eyes, to keep the smile that lights up the sky.

I was born into a family with four best friends. How very lucky am I.

Colleen, Katie, (Annie), Claire, Jack

the great intricacies.

i heard this weekend at my cousin's wedding that great trees are only as strong as their root system. that sequoias can only survive together- because their roots intertwine to make an intricate web of strength.

and so, i think, it is with people as well. two are always better than one. and many are often better than few. and so it also is with the intricacies of life. every event happens for a reason. so that we can understand.

and so it also is with fate. if everything happens for a reason, then every person you smile to in the hallway or surrender your parking spot to at the mall-you indeed have an effect on their life. and you become part of the great webbed intricacies of their life.

congratulations molly and jamie. im so happy for you.

love.

amor. liebe. amore. gra. ljubav. cariad. dragoste. pag-ibig. l'amour.
it is said in so many ways. but its meaning is always the same. at first its when your heart beats so fast that your face turns red. its the butterflies that float around your stomach. its the smile that you cant hide. its the sparkle in your eyes. but even better is the silent ease that you feel with them. the confidence that you feel in their caring for you. the "i would do anything to make you happy." it can sneak up and suprise us. it envelops us in total. it can be for a person. for a thing. for a passion. love. its such a lot of meaning to put in such a small word. four letters- but so much more. i am lucky to have so much of it everyday. but especially this normal wednesday noon.