{ When You Wish Upon A Penny }

Yes, you are indeed reading yet another post about my adorable nephew. Deal with it! So my last night in Arizona I sent Little D's mommy and daddy out on a date and took the munchkin with me and the girls to dinner. Not that anyone really cares about all the details, but for the sake of journaling, we met up with the ladies in Mesa for some Costa Vida. My fave! After our delectable pork salads, we moved the fun outdoors and over to the fountain so Little D could play in the water.

I could tell the kid wanted nothing more than to dive head first into the fountain so to distract him, I opened up my purse and pulled out a handful of pennies from my wallet. As I carefully handed him each penny, he would look at me as if to say, "Auntie Aubrey, what should I wish for?" Of course each time I told him to wish that his Auntie would hurry up and find a husband so she could give him some cute cousins to play with. I think he threw 15 pennies into the fountain that night. He really loves his Auntie. We'll see if my...I mean his wishes come true!

{ Hot Baby Mamma }

Have you ever wondered why I have the cutest nephew in the whole-wide-world? Well, wonder no more! Behold, the hot baby mamma I call sister. I just love these pictures of Jacki and Dallen from our afternoon of feeding the ducks at the park in Arizona. Thanks again Mark & Jacki for letting Erin and I crash at your home. We love you!!!

{ A Richard Nixon Wedding }

This past weekend I attended the wedding of a dear friend and her sweetheart at the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda. If you've never been to the venue before, it's a knock-out location for a glamorous celebration. Speaking of glamorous...check out the high-glam flowers the bride had me create for her wedding day. So unique and so her! I wish I had pics of all the boutonnieres and corsages as well, but you'll have to wait along with me for the photographer to share those. Can't wait!

Bridal Bouquet: Vendela roses, ivory spray roses, gold holly berries (individually wired and clustered), and British ivy sprayed gold.

Bridesmaid Bouquets: Amnesia rose, filler (can't remember the name at the moment, but they smell amazing!), gold holly berries (individually wired and clustered), and British ivy sprayed gold.

While working on all the personals, I got a phone call from the bride, asking if I'd like to be her day-of-wedding coordinator. I was honored at the invitation and accepted the incredible responsibility. I got to everything from decorating the reception hall, to putting together some flower arrangements for the cocktail hour, directing vendors, and even sending the wedding party down the aisle. I loved it! Every minute of it! Here are a few beautiful shots I snapped while running around before the wedding. I'm sure I'll be posting many more when I get my hands on them.

{ THE BACHELOR: Girls Camp }

Thank you ABC for another incredibly ridiculous week of The Bachelor! I don't know about all of you, but if I was told to pack up my things because I'd be spending the next month in an RV with one bathroom and 3 other caddy girls, I'd probably say thanks but no thanks. I like a good road trip now and then, and I'm certainly not opposed to campouts, especially when it involves a dune buggy and some sandboarding. But nine girls and one dude? No thank you!

How awkward were some of the evening's one-on-one dates! Let's list a few of my favorite highlights from the night:

• Cellulite butt shots from 3 of the 4 girls. Put it away ladies!

• Ashleigh's pathetic/drunken display of affection. So painful to watch!

• Poor Tenley's awkward lap kiss. Totally his fault though!

• And just for the record...what the heck was that hotel they were staying in? I hope they sued their interior designer. That place was a tragedy!

So to recap my thoughts on the final fab (or in this case, not-so-fab) five as we prepare to go into next week's adventure in San Francisco...Vienna is not a girl but in fact a dude, Corrie doesn't stand a chance, Gia is annoying but I think she might go far, Ali has slowly made her way out of the top spot with her snarky remarks, and Tenley you are my fave. Although, if ABC is as smart as I think they are, when Jake sends Tenley home (which we all know he inevitably will b/c he's stupid), I think they should ask her to be the next Bachelorette. Don't you think it's perfect!

{ My Brown-Eyed Boy }

I'm back in Arizona again. I know, what else is new? I just can't get enough. Today while his Mommy went to a doctor appointment, Little D and I played outside and did boy stuff. We went for a walk, threw rocks, played in the dirt, spit, jumped off things, and then picked Mommy a flower on our way back home. I'm so in love with this little boy and his big brown eyes.

{ Aquarium of the Pacific }

Went to the Aquarium of the Pacific with the wardies this weekend. Got to hang out with these fine ladies. Even touched some stingrays, baby sharks, and a few stinky fish. Good times.

{ photo credit: Mike Cunningham }

{ Design By Aubrey }

It's official!!! My new floral blog is finally up and running. After steady encouragement from friends and family I have decided to run with this whole floral biz and see where it takes me.

I want to give a special shout out to my girl Shannon Crawford for the beautifully designed logo and background you're about to see. She and I met at LDS Business College where we studied Interior Design together and she is one talented gal. So without further adeiu, click on the Design By Aubrey logo to visit my new blog!

{ Happy FOREVER After! }

I don't remember having that much fun at a wedding in a while! It definitely makes all the difference when you're surrounded with the people you love. Congratulations Erin and Warren!



And here's a little look at the man behind all the amazing photos you see here. In case you didn't know, he's the talent behind most all of the incredible flower photos you've seen featured on my blog. When it's your turn to get married, I hope you'll hire him and his crazy rapping ways!

{THE BACHELOR: "Don't Tease Me" }

This show really is just one big tease! I must confess I'm quite disappointed with the content of Monday night's Episode 3 of The Bachelor. I've been preparing all week for the big "Pregnancy Surprise" from Tenley and it's evident that the producers edited this scene out of her emotional confession to hide their dirty tracks. Check THIS video out. Straight from abc.com folks! Notice Jake's red flannel shirt, Tenley's sequin top, and the rooftop setting! So the what the heck? I think it was all one BIG FAT SCAM by the editing team to pump up ratings.

So how'd they do it? My guess: Tenley tried to punk Jake before her emotional meltdown with a "baby bomb." Two seconds after, she proclaims "Kidding!" Just a theory. I could be wrong and she could totally be preggers. I actually might drop by the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Huntington Beach tomorrow and find out for myself. Turns out she works in the Admissions Office. Don't ask me how I know these things people, I just do.

On another note, how about that little tease, Elizabeth. I am seriously so disappointed in her. What a waste of a pretty face. I think she got what she deserved in the end though. No kiss, and a long ride to the airport to think about her bad behavior. Maybe next time she'll think twice before reading aloud her "naked" letters and awkward forehead makeouts.

And as for you, Miss Michelle. My gosh! Do women like you really exist? I mean, really, WOW girlfriend! If you're not a paid actor, hired by ABC to boost ratings (which I pray you are), I recommend you sell that horrible coconut joke of yours and use the money to buy a straight jacket and admit yourself to the nearest insane asylum!

There's so much more I could comment on right now but I'll just leave you with this: Vienna the polish sausage needs to cool it with the 'coon eyes, Mother Ella is sweet as can be but not the one for Jake, Kathryn (the Carrie Underwood look-a-like) is beginning to grow on me, and I hope team Ali goes all the way!!!

{ A Walk Down Main Street }

It's only Monday and I'm going through Arizona withdrawals again. I seriously miss my little man. (I'm pretty sure my sister secretly hates it when I call her son "mine"). I just can't help myself!

For my last day in Arizona while Dallen's daddy was at work, the three of us decided to do a little exploring down Main Street in Mesa. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Sweet Cakes, did some window shopping at the most adorable home store, and let Dallen have some playtime in between.



I can't wait to get back to the desert next week and kiss those sweet little cheeks. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention I'm going back to Arizona next week? Lucky for me, I have a roommate heading out that way for a 3 day business trip and she's letting me come as a stow away. See you next week little buddy!

{ Girls Night Out }

My last night in Arizona was spent with the ladies! We're all incredibly indecisive so picking a place to eat took some time. We finally all agreed on mexican food at Gecko's Grill. Deeeelicious! If you ever get the chance to go, get the Mango Chicken Quesadilla. You won't regret it!

After dinner we all fought the idea (all but Alisha!) of joining some friends for a bonfire...AZ style of course. Allow me to explain. I'm from California, right? Well, when I think of bonfires, I think of sand, sunsets, and s'mores. Boy was I in for a surprise. We drove out to what felt like the middle of nowhere, ditched our car on the side of the road, and hopped in this big beast you see featured here. This is where it got good.

I spent the next 5 minutes clinging to Andria and Alisha, fearing for my life as we barreled over towering mountains of dirt and then through an obstacle course of huge dips and ditches. It was awful! When we finally reached our destination, we were greeted by 23 guys, all under the age of 23. Awesome! And that's when the explosions commenced.

Have you ever heard of a Sobe bomb? Well, apparently they're pretty famous in those parts. You fill a Sobe bottle full of gasoline, drop it in the fire, and when it gets hot enough, a Hollywood-size explosion ensues, leaving a huge black ring of smoke in the sky. Kinda freaky, kinda cool, probably totally illegal. I'm just glad I lived to tell the tale! Thanks girls for a fun night out, AZ style!

{ All My Single Ladies }

There's only four things that could ever take me away from my little D while I'm Arizona and they are (L to R): Andria, Alisha, Candace, and Karen (not pictured, but there in spirit!) I love these girls. And they love me! It's a perfect love affair!

Tuesday night we met up with half of Arizona at the local Cafe Rio where I engorged myself with barbacoa pork and we caught up on all the latest gossip in our lives. Come to find out, we're all newly single! I guess I shouldn't end that sentence with an exclamation point. Maybe a question mark would've been more fitting. I mean seriously, four amazingly awesome single girls. What is wrong with these boys?

After the gab session we convinced Alisha that the American Idol premier was far more important that sleep. And I think I can honestly say, she was sooo glad she stayed up with us to witness the most incredibly awesome audition in American Idol history. I think I better include the video on my blog. It was that good. "Holllaaa!!!" Gosh, I love these girls!

{ Playdate With Dallen }

I just spent the last week in paradise. That's right, paradise! Anywhere my little nephew Dallen is, is paradise to me! I never knew I could love someone so much! I mean, look at him. That sweet little face just kills me! Here are a few pics from our playdate with the McMullin twins. I think it's safe to say, Little D loves his Auntie A.

{ The Bachelor: "Come To Papa..." }

...I'm sure were the words used to lure Ms. Rozlyn Papa for the first "staffer scandal" in Bachelor history. And I kinda liked her and her oversized tatas. Too bad! This is Primetime at its finest people!

Monday night's second episode of The Bachelor was filled with one too many drunken sobs stories, female instigated first kisses, awkward letters, and emotional basketcases. A few of my favorite highlights from the evening include but are not limited to:

• Jeffrey Osborne serenade on the way to "gorgeous?" Palm Springs

• Rozyln's crotch shot, curtain shimmy, and disgraceful dismissal

• Michelle's looney tune antics all night long

• Vienna's hair, dress, makeup, all of it...I think she's the lezzy

• The virgin Elizabeth's naked soul letter (My fave!)

And on a more serious note: Go Team Ali!!! I totally agree with Captain Boring when he said "We have natural chemistry and a strong connection. I think she's perfect for me." Best of luck to you both in weeks to come!

{ Five Guys & A Baby }

Greetings from Arizona! I ditched Huntington this week to spend some time smooching this little cutie. Tonight he took me on a date to my favorite hamburger joint, Five Guys. He must really love me!

{ Real Simple Weddings 2010 }

Look what hit newsstands this week...and will be there all year long: Real Simple Weddings 2010!!! Months ago friend and photographer Rachel Thurston submitted some of her gorgeous photographs from Lisa & Rodney's citrus wedding in August, and as most of you already know, I had the pleasure of designing her awesome centerpieces, bouquets, and personals, and my talented friend Shauna Lewis was the mastermind behind the rest. Just look at how gorgeous everything turned out! Be sure to grab yourself a copy today.

:: Adventures At D-Land ::

What could be more fun than spending an entire day with your nephew at Disneyland? I submit there is nothing. The little half pint may have hated 90% of the rides we took him on, but at least he had a great time hanging out with the ones who love him best at the happiest place on earth! Enjoy a few pics from our fun-filled day. And no, it was not ash Wednesday. The poor kid had a big 'ole bruise smack dab in the middle of his forehead. I just love my little tough guy!