here's to you!

And I can't even imagine life without you. Here's to our black and white affair.

dedicated to all of you

A girl can't possibly getting married without a pack of amazing females to surround her with love. Here's to all of you who have upheld me with your words and incredible acts of generosity. Here's to expecting great things for your wedding day too!

these streets

These Washington, DC streets will soon become the streets of New York and Los Angeles; Milano, Paris and Rio de Janiero; St. Barts, St. Tropaz and Turks and Caicos. They will soon become Tokyo, Hong Kong, Mumbia and Casablanca. They will have no end.

favor

Favor comes with a substantial pricetag. How do you navigate these waters without Supreme wisdom? You cannot downplay yourself forever - for it will cost you mightily as well. This must be the reason Paul speaks of having an appropriate view of yourself.

i am not enough

I've reached the point my life where it's impossible to get where I'm going by myself. It's a humbling realization but one for which I'm ever so grateful.

iconic range

icon

Something about this particular moment in my life has led me to recall how much I was shaped by this specific woman. Around 1997, I began noting her classic style and poise, and I followed suit in my own personal branding. She was an incredible example to me of the power of having a simple, clear style. She's the reason I wear black. She made the 30-year-old bride standard sexiness. Now that I'm her age when she got married I'm accuately aware of just how pulled together she really was.

I thank Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

undercover

There's something to be said about restraint. I love and admire those who let themselves leak out slowly, in time, with grace. Don't worry. You're still seen even if it feels like no one notices you. They do. Gaining access to the inner workings of a palace guarded by a patroling army is far more sensational than gaining access to a newspaper stand. Never doubt that, my love. You are a palace.

Beautiful girls all over the world
I could be chasing but my time would be wasted
They got nothing on you baby
Nothing on you baby
They might say hi and I might say hey
But you shouldn't worry about what they say
Cos they got nothing on you baby
Nothing on you baby

LA intrigue

I'm experiencing vintage LA intrigue. It may be part of my contrast thought. Los Angeles is the perfect counterpart to New York City, obviously. Who knows where the road will lead. I have my old Hollywood side prepared for the ride.

hey you...

...nice watch.

contrasts

I love contrasts. I love varying degrees and variations of contrasts; high end and low end, city and country, black and white, straight and curly, simple and opulant, domestic and international. Contrasts give strength to a subject and has an enormous impact on the eye. Sometimes contrasts aren't comfortable because they require the presence of something and an absence of something else. They are always in competition. But I love this juxtaposition; a meeting place of opposing worlds. Is there anything more interesting?

All throughout life, the story of contrasts is much more interesting than the story of similarities. They are far more rare. They are a treasure. Stories of redemption are no exception. All around me are women filled with stories of redemptive contrasts. My encouragement to them is that their story is full of beauty because of its highs and lows, darkness and light, being lost and then being found. As every artist knows, varying degrees of light, texture and color make a masterpiece.

design influence

Two sources of design inspiration revealed themselves to me this weekend. I've been set free to believe that black painted walls are completely permissible. Not only permissible, they are mandatory. Not only mandatory, they are warm, inviting and absolutely gorgeous. Night Hotel in New York City and the bedroom masterpiece of Ms. Elizabeth Senna serve as two exquisite examples of how to use the depth and impact of black walls. The question now becomes whether or not I can apply my inspiration by May 1st.

speaking of closeness

Speaking of closeness... How is it possible to be getting married and simultaneously growing closer and closer to my best friend(s). Only a God like ours could orchestrate a reality this divine. LS, thank you so much for hearing my heart this week.

closer

Where there was once caution there is now full trust. Fresh love is incredible in its exhilaration and intensity. I remember those days well. But this is the better stage by far, in my mind. Every time I see him is more precious than the previous time. Imagining the future together, dreaming about people and cities and music and fashion and worship and calling and talent and industries, creates a closeness that cannot be explained.

access

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Psalm 24

I read this chapter this morning. It calmed my heart and eased my mind. We have full access. Do you hear me? Full access to every opportunity, resource, name, face, dollar, building, contract, business relationship, partnership, friendship, connection we can imagine. We have access because what He has we have also. There's nothing that can't be provided, amended or reserved.

thinking

Weighed down by thoughts today. Thoughts of friendship, love, life, work, and just how to live out who I am. I'm pushing off feelings of inadequacy, insecurity and fear of change. Trading it all for the Joy of the Lord.

food for the soul

Do you have a friend that just feeds your very life with the richness of words and the strenth of an army? Who isn't afraid to reach down into the deepest parts of your world and draw elements out that have been laying dormant for years? Who gives you the permission to invade your dreams without a second thought and without inhibition? Who actually demands that you do so to the point where you're convinced that if you didn't give away what you have that it would be a crime against humanity? I do and I love her for these reasons. She makes me feel completely safe and completely unconfortable at the same time.

For the record, if you feel the need to tell me what you think of me, please do! My love language is words of affirmation, and on the whole, I really think that women just need to hear the thoughts of other women about their amazingness. I'll gladly pelt you with exhortations all day long if that's what you need, because it's what I need.

hot shower

Amazing, amazing shower this weekend, ladies. I'm overwhelmed by all of you! Everything from the black vases with white flowers to the gourmet "white" themed food and dessert to the haute couture toilet paper wedding dresses to the incredible gifts to the Q&A with Rico videotaped, it was all so generous and so lavish. Sharing this season with all of you is a gift all wrapped up in and of itself.

Love

He is our greatest reward, our point of reference and our primary focus. We can love all things, endure all things and hope for all things because of Jesus. He is the ultimate Lover and His is the ultimate Love story. That He would bear such a load as to weigh His innocence down with our infirmities, selfishness, cruelty and dismissal of His gifts; that He would separate Himself from His Father in order to tear the veil that kept us from entering in is too much to comprehend.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53

30 days to Mrs. Allen

The invitations are out and the news is spreading quickly. We are 30 days away from liftoff. This weekend is the second shower. Andrea is coming to town. I can't wait for her to get to know my amazing friends and for them to get to know her. I'm excited about so many things. Supernatural presence is what I'm craving the most on May 1st. I want attendees to walk away having felt the tangible goodness of Jesus. His goodness and His glory. He has planned this wedding from beginning to end. He has given His opinion about every choice. He is leading the processional.

triumph

I heard the news the other day that one of my adolecent friends died from drug and alcohol related abuse. My friend was a witty and gentle person. This week I'm especially reminded of how strong satan's desire is to steal, kill and destroy us. He won the battle with my friend, but Jesus has already triumphed over him - and all of our shortcomings and tendencies to live apart from Him. He has given us access to the most abundant life we could imagine. He has brought us into His inner dwelling with nothing separating us from all that He is.