New Blog

Hello, friends!

We are happy to announce that we have officially moved the blog over to www.irinabond.com/blog.

We’ve also added a Shop feature here, which is very exciting!

See you on the new blog!

Christmas Gift Guides for Her and for Him

Christmas Gift Guide for Her:

 

Christmas Gift Guide for Him:

 

Whether you need a Christmas gift for your girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband, mom, dad, sister, brother, friend, or anyone else, I hope my Gift Guides help make your gifting easy and memorable this year!

I will be posting more options every few days, so be sure to bookmark/follow and check back often.

 

Happy gifting!

Follow Friday // Pinterest

Hey readers! TGIF, right?

Are you following me on Pinterest? I pin women’s fashion, food, interior decor, events, DIY projects, flowers, vacation spots, color palettes, all baby & maternity (for future reference, hehe), fitness inspiration, makeup, hair, and more!

Check it out here.

Happy pinning!

Wedding Flower Availability Chart

Many brides wonder about floral availability for their bouquets and centerpieces. However, the flowers you want at your wedding may or may not be readily available during the month of your wedding. It’s good to be aware of what kinds of flowers will be available for your big day. Below is a chart including many popular wedding flowers, as well as additional helpful information specific to each flower. Check it out to make sure your planned flowers are accessible during your wedding month.

Happy wedding planning!

10 Cute iPhone 5 Cases for Ladies

I just received my white iPhone 5 on Wednesday, and finding a case to protect it hasn’t been very easy! IPhone 4/4S cases are everywhere, but not so much for the 5. Cell phone accessory companies are seriously missing out on market share, let me tell you!

Below are a few of my favorite picks from Nordstrom.com, which seems to be the only major retailer offering preorder right now. I don’t even see anything on the Apple.com website yet!

1. Case-Mate ‘Monogram’ iPhone 5 Case – Red Letter $38

2. kate spade new york ‘lenticular eyes’ iPhone 5 case – Cream/ Black $40

3. Case-Mate Gingham iPhone 5 Case – Pink $38

4. kate spade new york ‘harrison stripe’ iPhone 5 case $40

5. Case-Mate Gingham iPhone 5 Case – Blue $38

6. Case-Mate ‘Monogram’ iPhone 5 Case – Mint Letter $38

7. kate spade new york ‘la pavillion’ iPhone 5 case $40

8. Case-Mate ‘Monogram Dot’ iPhone 5 Case $38

9. Case-Mate ‘Monogram Diagonal Stripe’ iPhone 5 Case – Blue/Mint $38

10. Case-Mate Gingham iPhone 5 Case – Yellow $38

 

Let me know if you know of any other cute cases that are available for order right now in the comments below!

DIY: Coffee Bean Candle Hurricane Project

Earlier today I posted a picture on Instagram of a very simple project I did this past weekend.  I bought a new bag of awesome Black Cat Intelligentsia coffee beans, but had no use for my old bag (coffee beans should be fresh and ground right before use for best results).

Instead of throwing it out, I decided to use it as filler for 2 hurricanes with candles – one for my living room (pictured) and another for the kitchen.  When the candle warms up, the beans warm up too, creating a light coffee scent with it.  It’s perfect for coffee lovers like my husband and me!

If you end up doing this DIY project, post your picture on my Facebook page. I’d love to see yours.

Also, do you follow me on Instagram? If you’d like to, my username is @irinabond.

 

Event Feature: { O + K } A Sea-Inspired Dana Point Wedding

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I had the pleasure of recently being involved in the planning process and day-of coordinating of one of my friend’s weddings. The location was Cannons Seafood Grill in Dana Point, CA. Suzy Fairchild, the site’s coordinator, and her team were very professional, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. Catering was of course provided by the restaurant, which I got to try; I must say, everything from the appetizers to the main dish was very delicious! The beautiful and completely edible cake was by Donna B’s Bakery in Laguna Niguel, CA, from whom I’ve ordered a few cakes myself in the past. Floral arrangements and the bridal bouquet were provided by Shannon at Cheers Unique Floral & Gifts in Lake Forest, CA. DJ Tempoe of Long Beach, CA, kept the beats going all night long.

This intimate wedding reception featured expansive harbor and ocean views, a custom photobooth with props and instant photos, large balloons with frill, a dancefloor, and “message in a bottle” favors. Based on the guests’ and bride and groom’s reactions, this wedding was a great success!

If you or someone you know is looking for help with planning and/or day-of coordinating for an event in the Orange County area, please have them contact me by email or one of my social media outlets. The ultimate compliment is referring your friend!

“Stalk” Me on Currently Obsessed!

Have you heard about CurrentlyObsessed.me?

CurrentlyObsessed.me allows you to STALK^℠ your favorite style bloggers and their obsessions. In real time, get unprecedented insight into what top tier fashion, beauty & lifestyle bloggers around the globe are obsessed with, writing about and buying. Members can STALK^℠ their favorite style bloggers and save their own obsessions. Join all of your favorite style bloggers as they expose the products they love.

See my current favorite clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories, makeup, nail polish, and more on CurrentlyObsessed.me!

Special Announcement: Etsy Shop Open for Handwriting Services

Hello, friends!

I finally took the plunge and opened up my own Etsy shop! I’ve spent a while thinking what I could bring to the website, since I’ve bought a few things there myself.

Handwritten correspondence is a rare occurrence in this day and age, so sending off your wedding or other special event invitations with a hand-addressed name and address will make your guests feel ultra-special.

So far I have only one listing for handwritten invitation addressing, but I will offer name/place card writing, in addition.

Some available handwriting styles, ranging from traditional to more modern.

From the listing description:

A beautifully addressed envelope sets the tone for your celebration – delight your guests with a charming invitation they can’t wait to open!

-Wedding Invitations
-Baby Shower Invitations
-Bridal Shower Invitations
-Birthday Invitations
-Anniversary Party Invitations

This listing is for pricing and descriptions of my calligraphy services. PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PARTICULAR LISTING. Instead, please private message me, so that I can set up a reserved listing for you.

Pricing
-Outer Envelope (name and address): $2.00
-Inner Envelope (name only): $0.50

What I Provide
-Black Pen
-Penmanship

What You Provide
-Paper Materials
-Names and Addresses
 in Word or Excel file

Steps
1. Let me know in a private message:
-Number of envelopes to be addressed
-Whether you want outer or inner envelopes addressed
-Which handwriting style number you want
-When you can get me the envelopes
-When you need them returned
-Anything other special requests

2. I will create a reserved listing for the total amount with the details of your order. Shipping charges vary based on size and number of invitations to be addressed and will be paid by the buyer.

3. Email me your guest list at irinabondgirl [at] gmail.com in either a Word or Excel file. List guest addresses *exactly* as you want me to write them, including salutations. If you want abbreviations spelled out, please do so in your document.

For Example:

Captain and Mrs. Samuel McLaughlin (Outer) Samuel and Ginnifer (Inner)
326 North Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California 90210

*Note whether you want the addresses centered, staggered, or justified left.
*Also let me know if you want zip codes justified to the right of the state, spread out across the bottom, or centered at the bottom.
If you have don’t state your preference, I will do what I feel looks best on each envelope.

4. Mail your envelopes to me (I will private message you my address).
Please be sure to include 10% extra envelopes for any possible errors. Any extras will be sent back to you.

5. Once completed and payment has been received, I will mail your completed envelopes back to you. Unless notified otherwise, I will ship to the address listed with your Paypal account.

I make every effort to address your envelopes correctly. However, if an error is made on my part, I will redo and ship at no additional charge. If it is an error on your part or if you have any last minute additions, original prices will be charged.

I request a 2 week turnaround time-frame. Message me if you need them faster with your specific circumstances.

I look forward to getting to know you and helping you create a “wow” first impression for your celebration.

100 Things to Do This Summer Checklist

Put this fun checklist on your refrigerator to inspire you to have more fun this summer!