Two Weddings..Fabulous

Today is all about doubles. The feature wedding is in fact two weddings! That's right the bride & groom had two big days (lucky in love for sure!) This feature is doubley special because it is A- in honor of Memorial Day...and B- the lovely couple are in fact very good friends of mine.

Here's the fabulous & fierce story behind Mandi & Patrick's wedding(s):

Most of this will be pictures, because Mandi loves herself some pictures, and honestly, I think their wedding pictures just say so much about them. There 1st wedding, in my opinion, was soo them! They married on the beach on base at sunrise.

It was a simple ceremony with just their maid of honor and best man there while they said there vows....oh & of course the Marines in the background doing P.T. for the morning.

Mandi & Patrick really had the simple beach wedding down pat. It was casual and all about them!

First kiss as a married couple with a beautiful view of the ocean in the background. How perfect!!

And no, I don't think I've ever seem a wedding picture as heartfelt as this one. I dare you to try to find one. Can you just feel the love?!?

The newlyweds had their second wedding when they returned home to good ole Michigan over the winter. They had a reception with their friends and family. Mandi ditched the white dress, opting for the dress she wore to the Marine Ball, and Patrick wore his dress blues.

  

How sweet of a wedding gift is that...a monogram ice sculpture!! Hands down sweetest present without a doubt!

Now let's get into all the perfect details...and let me tell ya, there sure were a lot!

The tablescapes look nothing short of amazing. Did you notice the orchid at every setting? To die for! The candy bar...before sweet bars were "in". Yep, Mandi was a trendsetting bride and made it look oh so easy. The little details of both weddings are definitely what made both days so special. Fun fact, after their intimate beach wedding, the newlyweds enjoyed their first meal as a married couple....pizza!

The best aspect of Mandi & Patrick's wedding(s) is that they stayed true to who they are. So many times couples get caught up in making everyone else happy or turning their wedding into something "big" when that's not really what they like. Remember your wedding day..or days...is/are about you and your fiance. Keep it real, keep it heartfelt, keep it love-filled....and as always, if you can have 2 days go for it!
Shabina Says So <3

Shabina loves Shrimp

True Story: I've always hated seafood..with a passion. The smell of tuna makes me gag. No joke. But shrimp, for some reason, has softened my heart, and makes my palette perk up. I'm officially obsessed with all things shrimp. Luckily, I stumbled upon Gimme Some Oven where Ali had an awesome recipe for shrimp & gnocchi! This recipe rocks for 4 major reasons:
1-Pasta=Love
2-Only uses 4 ingredients!
3-Takes 15 minutes...yes seriously
4-The most obvious...it has shrimp!!! :)

Gnocchi with Shrimp, Asparagus & Pesto
Shopping List:

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 lb. asparagus, tough ends removed, and cut into 2″ pieces
• 1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 (16 oz.) package vacuum-packed gnocchi
• 1/4 cup pesto
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• (optional garnishes: parmesan and toasted pine nuts) 

Let's get cooking!
Throw olive oil in a skillet, turn it up to medium heat, add asparagus & saute for 3 mins. Add shrimp, season with lots & lots of fresh ground pepper and some salt. Saute till the shrimp is good & cooked [a.k.a. pink & not translucent] Take off heat.

Meanwhile, boil 2 qts of water, add gnocchi to pan, letting it cook for 3-4 mins. When it's done the gnochi will rise to the surface (good tip!) Then all you have to do is put the gnocchi is a large bowl and stir in the rest of the ingredients till its fully coated!


Check that out... a real, true, honest to God, 4 ingredients 15 minutes meal!! Ain't that something?! 
Shrimp is love...Shabina Says So<3

Craft Hope

Thursdays are being transformed...into Thoughtful Thursdays, because Shabina says so!  There are some people that go out of their way to make the sun shine a little bit brighter, and I think those people deserve some love. Which leads me to the Craft Hope Book. The wonderful ladies over at Craft Hope have been making everything from scarves to sock monkeys, which are given to whatever charity they have teamed up with for the project.

In the past they have teamed up with Firefighters Burn Institute in California. For that project, 227 monkeys were made by some really fabulous, dedicated readers of the site. I so love the fact that someone thought to make up a website where they can use crafts to help charities!! And more so than that, I love that there are so many people out there that get involved with these projects and help bring comfort to children that are suffering. What a wonderful world we live in!


So if you love getting your sew on, like giving to fabulous charities, or just like collecting books...then definitely head over to Barnes & Nobles and buy yourself a copy!! Cause Shabina Says So<3

Hangovers Are Cool

Kella MacPhee has done the impossible, she's made hangovers cool. In an Oct. 2008 shoot (yes I know, I'm wayy behind) with the newlyweds Monika & Jonathan, Kella took "Omg did they really just do that?!" to a whole new level. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll let them speak for themselves...

                                          Do you now see why I'm like in awe of Kella?! Talk about not doing your  average shoot! Monika is definitely a badass bride. I think every Jersey girl should do this. Gives new meaning to "mermaid dress"  (yes corny, but bare with me it was kinda funny)

And if these shoot didn't rock enough, here's what makes it even better: See those stands in the background? Obviously they're closed up in this picture...buuuuut, the one to the right used to be my Papa Tabe's stand where he met my Momma Dukes. Awww a Seaside Heights love story :) Oh and of course this picture rocks on it's own merits. 

                                                       Happily (Hungover) Ever After....

Kella MacPhee & Hangover rocks because...
Shabina Says So<3

Shabina Says So..

Welcome to the official guide to all things fabulous..on the web. I have a love for all things fabulous and fierce. Bright flowers, yummy looking cupcakes, and funky shaped furniture make me all sortsa happy & giddy. This blog is going to be jammed pack with a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a lotta bit of awesomeness. Prepare yourself for tons of fabulous inspiring pictures that I hope will tickle your fancy as much as they tickle mine

<3 Shabina