Motherhood Moments:

1. “Motherhood brings out the love, patience, and faith I didn’t know that existed in me!  The sheer sense of responsibility used to scare me about having kids.  But now I realize they are definitely gifts from God!  There are still hard days when you wrestle with rules and sleep deprivation, but every little hug and kiss makes it all worthwhile… I am simply amazed by God’s wonderful creation and am so thankful for the living miracles I see in my little ones everyday!”  – Margaret (Taipei, Taiwan)

2. “What in my life hasn’t changed now that I’ve become a mom?! It’s great, but nothing is the same. Having a baby has definitely taught me to appreciate the small things in life… like a hot shower, sitting down to enjoy a good meal, and a full night’s sleep.”  – Sara (Royal Oak, Michigan)

3. “It’s the little moments that I love the most about being a mom. Yes, watching Winnie learn to crawl and stand on her own are huge milestones and are amazing, but for me it’s the little moments that have melted my heart. Dancing with her in the living room, twirling her around and watching her face light up… She smiles so big when her daddy joins in and it’s these moments that bring me the most joy. I’m so grateful to have this beautiful little girl and to be reminded every day to take in the little moments, find beauty in the simple things and to know what truly matters in life.”  – Jennifer (Fairfax, Virginia)

4. “In the eyes of my child everyday is a celebration and I am wonderful. She is still at an age that she is my biggest fan, and I cherish every day of that as I know it won’t last forever. She makes me want to be a better daughter to my mother. Amelia looks to me to solve her big problems ‘Mommy, I had an accident…’. I love taking care of her as well as taking the time to teach her. She hasn’t figured out yet that I am only human doing the best I can. The faith she shows me gives me the courage to try harder and the patience to try, try again. She has given my life joy and unconditional love in a way I couldn’t understand before her. Because of her I know that fairies are real, life is magical and chocolate IS a vegetable! Well, maybe not exactly… but, that’s my girl! ; ) “  – Kimberly (Rochester, Michigan)

Mother’s Day is an amazing day to honor moms, but the truth is that for most mothers, every day is “Mother’s Day”, and every day is a special day.

Everyday we come across fabulous finds that we love to share. Right now we are obsessed with brights and these sunglasses are right on trend.

Whether you want to save the splurge and check these out at Target or get the real deal at Burberry, brights are in and summer won’t be the same without them!

Top it off tip: To give your margarita that extra wow factor, don’t forget to rim your glass with a little bit of lime and dip it in fun flavored cocktail crystals. Be sure to check out your local grocer or specialty wine shop for a variety of rimmed flavors.

If you have a mommy love story you would like to share, we would love to hear it! Please send any stories or photos to ideas@somethingfab.com

[Photo credit: Cynthia Rowley | BHLDN ]

Check out our top 5 favorite trends that are sure to take the cake this wedding season:

1. Color-Me-Pretty: Don’t be afraid to explore your colorful side. Tangerine may be the color of the year, but sunshine yellow, hot pink and electric blue follow closely behind. With so many beautiful bright colors to choose from, your wedding is bound to make a bold statement.

2. Style Throwback: While the calendar may say 2012, the runway screams 1950. From sea-foam green and pillbox hats to lace detailing and swing-style dresses, classic trends have resurfaced and are making their way into your bridal lineup.

3. Trendy InterMix: Why choose one bridesmaids’ dress style when mixing it up is way more fun. Play around with different hemlines, fabrics, colors, and even shoes. This intermix of style options creates a distinctive yet cohesive looks. Our trendsetting tip? Try a canary yellow dress with a beautiful teal shoe.

4. Adore Your Adornments: Sashes, broaches and embellished belts are all the rage, and brides will have it easy this season as the details are already in the design. When looking for the perfect bridesmaids’ dress, don’t just think about the color; think about the detailing that will make your girls shine.

5. Individual Glam: Every girl has a different style and body type – why not let their dresses reflect their personality? Try giving your bridesmaids an option within three styles, such as off the shoulder, strapless and v-neck; your bridesmaids will thank you knowing that they will be comfortable and confident in the dress that best suits their figure.

However you choose to mix-and-match, bridesmaids are sure to stand out at any “I Do” celebration.

[photo credit: Nina Ricci ]

Start by chopping some fresh asparagus, boil and drain in ice water.

Slice heirloom tomatoes in small quarters.

Prepare grated fresh lime…

Chop, mince and slice fresh garlic, basil and green onions…

Mix all ingredients listed below and add olive oil and balsamic.

Slice a french baquette and brush a small amount of olive oil on the bread.  Place in the oven for about five minutes (400 degrees) until lightly toasted.

Spoon asparagus mixture on each toasted baquette and sprinkle with gorgonzola cheese

Are you hungry yet?

Here is the official how to…

• 1/2 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 3 cups of water
• 2 cups of chopped heirloom tomatoes
• 1/4 cup minced fresh basil
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of aged balsamic vinegar
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lime peel
• 1/4 teaspoon sea-salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 12 slices French baguette, toasted
• 1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add the asparagus; cover and boil for 2-4 minutes. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry.

In a bowl, combine the asparagus, tomatoes, basil, onions, lime juice, oil, balsamic, garlic, lime peel, salt and pepper. Using a slotted spoon, spoon asparagus mixture onto toasted baguette slices. Sprinkle with gorgonzola cheese and enjoy!

Thank you e-trender for this tasty D.I.Y.

Click here to view an electronic copy of this issue.

Below You’ll Find Suzi’s Top 5 Tips To Consider When Looking for a Venue:

1.  Initially – Be Brief
Your first contact with a venue should be in regards to cost and seating capacity.  If these two items don’t work, there is no reason to explore further.  Your time is precious and your list long – make it easy on yourself to narrow down your search.

2.  Don’t be scared of a Venue Fee
Remember that Venues price themselves to be competitive. An all inclusive hotel- when you get down to the final numbers – might be relatively the same cost as a Venue where all items are brought in.

3.  Have a Connection
You are going to be working with your vendors for a year or more.  Make sure that you feel comfortable that you can ask them questions and that they take the time to explain them in a way that makes you feel secure. Strive for rapport.

4.  Exclusive Vendors Should Not be a Deterrent
You want the best teams working together on your wedding or special event. If a venue has exclusive vendors, it means they have earned the right to be in that space, time and time again.

5.  Early End Times are a Blessing in Disguise
Often times venues require an end time of 11pm.  Moving locations later in the evening (hotel bar, or hotel suite fully stocked) will allow the guests who should go home do so, and the guests who should stay, continue your evening with you.

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With our Creative Crushes we love to ask what gets their creative juices flowing. See the inspiration board below to get a glimpse of what Suzi is loving this month:

Cheers to all the lovers!

1. Picnic basket: Check out outdoor posh for all your picnic and outdoor gear. With pages to choose from, this basket was our favorite. The classic blue gingham is the perfect picnic pattern.

2. Picnic blanket: We are loving Calypso‘s pink pom-pom throw. This flirty throw won’t only look great on the grass, but on your couch as well. Who doesn’t love a dual-purpose purchase?

3. Picnic outfit: J Crew knows how to do it right. Shirt dresses are all the rage – the panama hat and cherry-red striped flats create the perfect outfit for the perfect picnic.

4. Wine: What’s a picnic without a great bottle of wine? One of our top red wine picks is The Scribbler. This Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz wine comes from Australia’s most celebrated wine region, the Barossa. Picnic friendly feature – This bottle has a screw top so there’s no need to worry about packing a cork-screw.  Pick up this tasty bottle at your local Whole Foods.

5. Sunglasses: For a sunny day at the park, everyone needs a great pair of sunglasses! We love these aviator Ray-Bans, they are the perfect compliment to the shirt dress.