Planning a wedding in Oregon or SW Washington? Check out our sister company's website, bravoportland.com
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
2010-11 So So Feminine Gown Trends
2010-11 look to be fashion forward trend years in gown styling for brides to be. Among the most popular are lace lace and MORE lace. It is being used everywhere from the veil, to the waist accent, bodice, sleeves, necklines, and of course the skirts. Flowing in sync with this ultra-female trend are the accents of sashes and ribbons on the waist lines in contrasting colors. Speaking of waist lines - as our top right couture design by Christian Lacroix features, the empire waist is fashionistas first love for 2010-11. It flatters just about every figure and enhances the femininity of the bodice curves. Think Josephine as the Empress of France as your inspiration. Shoes are stepping brides up a level as well, with the platform edge adorned by jewels and beading to complete your look.
I must admit, I don't really get what all the hype is about. I haven't read the books or seen the movie, but it's clear that Twilight is taking the nation by storm. So for those of you die-hard fans (and you know who you are), this post is for you.
From Nordstrom, comes a full collection of fashion and accessories. And we must admit, they are pretty darn cute. From jewelry to t-shirts to even makeup, Nordstrom is offering a variety of highly fashionable memorabilia from the hit series. And whether you are Team Edward or Team Jacob, you'll be able to express your devotion to the love story that has captured your heart.
He has to consider some of the same things she does - such as length and thickness of his hair. From that point on, well he considers it done for the most part! Men prefer easy care, comfort and contemporary style for some. We thought we would take a look at things like, his cultural style, balding patterns, or even coloration, and super hip styling. A couple of the latest included are the Beckham Buzz cut and from American Idol, Adam Lambert's rock cut. It's all great - and it's all easy - that's the way he wants it!
Join fashion designer Lela Rose on her photo shoot for the Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose collection, her exclusive special occasion line of dyable shoes and accessories for Payless. Renown in the fashion and bridal industries for her wedding and bridesmaid collections, Lela invites you into her studio where she gives Brides-to-Be innovative fashion tips and advice on how to keep cool on the big day!
We thought it was about time to help you bring out that inner animal. Animal print is one of those style statements that has been hanging around for awhile now and shows no signs of becoming endangered soon. Natural - well naturally we love to wear this look whether it's rayon, silk or wool. Starting with some of the major designers, it's time to drop a few names so starting at the top left: Prada, Dior, Marc Jacobs,LaPerla. Row 2: Gucci, Dior,Dolce and Gabbana. Bottom Row: Blumarine, Louis Vuitton, Balmain, and Marc Jacobs
Talk about completing your look - statement necklaces, and bib-necklaces are all the rage. They are big, bold and beautiful. They are the one accessory that can complete a gown, a dress or just a top - to perfection, while framing your face for the perfect picture of fashion . . However, keep in mind, this is one item that will take over the entire outfit if not given room to be seen by itself. By this we mean - carefully chose the gown or dress you wear it with. Keep it simple or tone on tone - and everything will look incredible. With too much pattern or too much color variation, everything could start to look overdone. A bride will set herself apart with the possibilities. This is a strong statement that is beyond fabulous - done correctly.
It is the latest thing in nail wear - Minx Nails. If you can imagine it on your nails - Minx has thought of it before you. Minx is a a solid nail coating with a heat application process vs. liquid process. Minx nails are made of a flexible film that is a green alternative to polish. There are no hazardous chemicals and Minx requires no drying time. They don't chip or smudge and last around 10 - 14 days.Minx is a professional product and is sold only to licensed salons and spas. There is only one nail salon we know of in Seattle that is Minx trained & certified to provide Minx nails at this time: Nailtimein West Seattle. They are also available in many cities, so check your local area. Their number is:(206) 933-8475. Ask for Samantha.
By the looks of the latest wedding gown designs by Vera Wang, one trend seems to making its way to the forefront of fashion: the thick waist band. The thick waist accessory is both feminine and flattering. Check out these gowns from Vera Wang's 2010 collection.
We are lucky indeed to have an Oregon Designer by the name of Sarah Seven available to showcase her talents for you. Everything in her style is vintage inspired, taking you back to a time of pure femininity, yet the way she layers her fabrics, no less her fabric choices are pure and modern. Rarely do you see ruffling so soft and wearable by almost everyone. Her showcase is natural looking, made with natural fabrics such as wool, silk, cotton and for good measure, she uses true vintage fabrics and accessories as well. Now on top of all of that check this out, 5% of all sales are dontated to the following charities: Compassion to feed unsponsored children International Justice Mission (IJM is an organization that works to free the enslaved and to hold the slave owners accountable). In the top left position is a two piece Tea top and Crumpets skirt . The top is made from a recycled bodice with light yellow fabric pleated at bust. High waist skirt with bow is decidedly vintage in appeal, yet exceptionally contemporary in this blended look. To capture each description of all the creations, we would strongly recommend visiting her website: Sarah Seven. Truly refreshing and inspiring!
Red carpet events are always a great place to check out the latest fashion hits (and a few misses). Sunday night was the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, which is always good for some mouth-dropping fashion dos and don'ts. This year, we noticed a popular color trend on the red carpet. Or should we say, "no-color" trend? Check out some of the samples of the most popular colors on the red carpet: Black and White, Silver & Gold. Could this be a sign of fashion heading back toward the most basic of colors? We think so.
Every once in a while we come across some of the most spectacular displays of event design and know it would certainly be a crime not to share them with you. From celebrity event designer, Antony Todd, come some of the most unique and truly inspirational event themes we have seen. What we love most is the variety he offers and how imaginative and creative his ideas are. They translate magnificently from conception to execution. Although these are mostly examples of corporate and social events, there is no reason why you as a bride can't be inspired by some of his awesome expressions. Can you choose a favorite? We can't!
We think you'll love this new concept from Our Story Is A Song. How many couples actually have a song they can call their very own? Sure we've seen the couples on TV and movies sigh at the sound of their love song playing on the radio, but how many of us real couples actually remember the first song we danced to, or the song playing when we shared our first kiss? Chances are, not too many.
So that is why we love this idea from Our Story Is A Song. Our Story is a Song is an amazing way to help make the most significant day of your life stand out and capture memories by telling the REAL story of you as a couple. A song lasts forever and your unique story is such an important part of your life and wedding day.
You’ve put so much thought into making sure that just the right details reflect who you are into everything from the perfect wedding gown to the color of the paper for the guest placement cards to the ice sculpture that will be beautiful for a few hours, then is gone forever. So why would you choose a song for your day that doesn’t hold forever your story-and never melts away?
Here is how it works:
First, fill out the questionnaire in the “Begin Here” section and choose a song template that best describes you and fits your taste.
Accept the copyright legal information if you agree.
Make your $250 prepayment on the billing page.
Next, you will receive a first draft of the lyrics for your approval in 10-14 business days. At this time, you will need to pay the balance of $1,250 to begin the recording process.
Once you have approved the first draft of the lyrics and payed your balance, we will capture your story in song form and final vocals will be recorded to the track.
You will then receive both male and female versions in 3 different keys to fit different vocal ranges, and the tracks without vocals in both keys (that’s a total of nine audio tracks for your purchase). A lead music sheet will be included in all keys as well. All songs will be extended so you will have lots of extra time, if you need it for the wedding service, the wedding video or the reception.
This has to be one of the most unique ideas we've ever heard of. Kudos to Our Story for such a novel idea!
We think you'll love this great little gadget called the Canditto. Finally, here is a new alternative to disposable cameras. Simply plug your Canditto into an electrical outlet and you're ready to start collecting all the photos your guests have taken. All your guests need to do is insert their digital cameras' memory cards, and it will automatically and instantly copy the photos they’ve taken in the last 8 hours. At the end of your celebration, remove the two identical thumb drives. Keep one for yourself and keep the other as a backup, or an instant gift to your new in-laws.
You can rent a Canditto online for $450, which we admit is high in price. But the convenience of being able to collect your friends pictures is certainly a bonus. These pictures will hold you over while you wait on the professional images from your photographer. And every bride knows just how fun it is to remember all the fabulous details while honeymooning with your new spouse.
The greatest part about a tented wedding is the endless possibility for wedding themes. Often times, when you select a venue, it will have its own unique personality and it can be difficult to merge your style with the decor and colors of your reception or ceremony site. By having a tent wedding, you can basically start from scratch with theme and colors and you are not confounded by the structure and style of an existing space.
If you have a specific theme and color palette in mind for your wedding, but can't seem to find the right space to fit your vision, talk with your local tent rental company of the types of tents available to you. You will be surprised to discover all the options available to you, from open spaces to fully enclosed formal tents, the possibilities are endless.
Here are a few of our most favorite "tent wedding" finds. We hope you enjoy!
Scenario: You've dreamed of the perfect outdoor summer wedding, checked the farmer's almanac and settled on a foolproof August day. But, now with the wedding just days away, the looming weather forecast is calling for rain. Despite the "rain is goodluck" theory, you are devastated and fear your beautiful outdoor wedding could be ruined. So what is the remedy?
Brides today are opting to make the most out of bad weather by incorporating colorful, theme-appropriate umbrellas into their wedding day decor and photography. Truly beautiful umbrella and parasols are available to buy or rent for the day, and as you can see from the photos below, they can actually add to the ambiance of the wedding.
So plan ahead, order your umbrellas in advance, in even if the sun does shine on your wedding day, use the umbrellas as fun wedding decor or in your wedding photography.
Every now and again, we go on the hunt for the best wedding and lifestyle blogs. We've conveniently added some of our favorites in our "Good Reads" section. Here are a few recent additions we think you need to check out...
1. Lotus Haus -The complete lifestyle blog for all things girlie! From weddings to fashion to home decor inspirational ideas, this blog has it all.
2. Coco & Kelley - You'll fall in love with the ideas and color boards created by blogger Cassandra LaValle. Based out of Seattle, Cassandra calls herself "obsessed with style, presentation and design."
3. Poppytalk - If you are the do-it-yourself kind of bride, then you'll love the ideas and creativity of Poppytalk.
4. Karen Tran - If you love all things pretty, then you will absolutely fall for the ideas and design expertise presented by Karen Tran. Based in San Diego, Karen presents floral centerpieces that truly wow and inspire. We dare you not to fall in love.
One fashion that still has yet to come back with resounding popularity is hats. This small pictorial is just a pin drop view of the amazing embellishments of hats for women in the 1950s. Hats were always the completing touch to any wardrobe, until the early to mid-60s when flowers seemed to replace them. We now wear baseball caps, and sun blocking hats and other forms of accessories in our hair, bur not the high end fashion hats. We decided to take a peak back to some of those amazing and fabulous hats, from designers such as Frans Molenaar Couture and Jacques Fath.
Now here's a color that is about as positive as they come. It's a fresh, clean, upbeat addition to just about any environment and what could be more ideal than say at a wedding. The theme itself is one that allows you to use your imagination in a far reaching approach to many items and options from favors to drinks, to even the cake. We tried to include a few of those above. The hot hot, SUPER hot peacock inspired wedding look fits right in this color range.
You can spice it up with many shades of yellow or cool it down with fabulous retro- trendy teal blue. Want something more conservative or say even high-brow - add impeccable shades of grey or browns. Did you ever think of Apple green as a base color? Better start now.... it sure can be. Most of all have fun and send us your pictures. We would love to see your apple green wedding.
Extravagance comes naturally to some brides, especially when budget is not a factor. Here are our top 5 most extravagant wedding themes that made our hearts go pitter-pat.
Extravagant Theme No. 1 :: Versailles Wedding Theme Designed by San Deigo florist Karan Tran, over 300 fresh peonies were used to create just one tabletop!
Extravagant Theme No. 2 :: Green With Envy Wildflower Linen's over-the-top garden wedding features a custom floral tent made of green orchids.
Extravagant Theme No. 3 :: Asian Art Weddings held at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco are always extravagant, but this particular wedding with a $500,000+ wedding budget takes the cake. Featured at Platinum Weddings.
Extravagant Theme No. 4 :: Modern Glitz This year at the Special Event conference, event designers presented their most extravagant themes and designs. This Modern Glitz wedding theme, may look like a minimalist's dream, but the rich fabrics and use of light make this wedding just the right amount of over-the-top-ness.
Extravagant Theme No. 5 :: Over The Horizon There is nothing like a warm summer afternoon and a wedding overlooking the beach. With the natural beauty of the outdoors selecting the right wedding decor to complement and not distract is crucial. We love this wedding ceremony design by Karen Tran.
First impressions always matter, and when your wedding invitation arrives in the mailbox of your wedding guest, you want to "wow" them from the start. Wedding invitations are incredibly important in sending a message to your guests about what type of wedding yours will be. The more formal the script the more likely your guests will understand how to prepare for your event, and will select formal attire to wear to your wedding. If you choose a more fun style font for your invitation, your guests will get the message that your event is a carefree party and may dress more casually.
Whatever your theme or style, work with your invitation designer or manufacturer to select a font that fits your theme. Here are some of our most recent favorites. These are all available at Veer.com.
We say "Bring it On" . . . and while you're at it do it in a big bold way and why not add the biggest look of all bangs. One of the greatest options we have as women is how individual our style can be in just about every way from the shoes we wear to the hair we flair. What makes you - you? It's all good. We had to throw in a true Icon of hair fashion to start our inspiration board. In the top left corner is a classic new do from the Master, Vidal Sasson - the absolute King of Cuts. It doesn't matter the color or the length, it matters what you feel and look good in. Thank you to Killerstrands blog for some of the above pixs. You also might want to check out a site called Hair Comes The Bride. We will feature them in a later article.
Donyale Luna: Born Peggy Anne Freeman, Luna grew up in Detroit. The following year, photographer David McCabe spotted the lithesome beauty on the street, and it wasn't long before she was pursuing modeling in New York City. Her arrival in 1964 had magazine editors and designers competing to book the singular-looking teen. "They were looking for a new kind of model, a girl who is beautiful like you've never seen before." With her spellbinding features, ultramarine contact lenses, and seemingly endless limbs (she was 6' 2"), she certainly fit the bill. As much a child of the sixties as the face of it, Luna spent her off-hours partying at Andy Warhol's Factory and canoodling with the likes of Rolling Stones rocker Brian Jones and sometime paramour Klaus Kinski. Her nightlife pursuits took their toll on both her career and her health, but not before her beauty was immortalized in Fellini's Satyricon, The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, and several of Warhol's films, as well as in the pages of Paris Match, Harper's Bazaar, and Vogue. Yes the Super Model has been with us for some time now. Between her incredible looks, and clothing/accessories, time between 1960 and 2009 seems to have vanished. Check out those leopard prints, the heavy accessories, and makeup features.
We think you'll love these memory block tiles hand crafted by Sid Dicken's.
Memory Blocks are hand crafted plaster, 6" x 8" x 1 1/4", finished to a porcelain-like quality, cracked to create an aged look and feel.
Sid Dickens' work is produced by a group of 30 young emerging artists in a studio space in Vancouver, Canada. Each Memory Block is hand poured hydrostone plaster, all tiles are hand painted (the Iron Series requires 3 coats), silver and gold leafing is done by hand, and finally the Memory Blocks are hand stained. We consider each Memory Block a piece of art, there are over 5 people that do work on each one of them. There are many copies on the market, which have the look of being mass produced, as most of them are. The hours of work that go into creating each Memory Block make them each an individual collectible treasure.
There are so many to choose from we can't possibly pick a favorite. So I guess that mean's we'll just have to collect them all, right?
The more things change, sometimes the more they remain the same. In the evolution of change in style, everyone is pretty much aware of the repeat and return to a previous time with a few twists. It seems we have made a solid return to "mid-century" in many areas, such as furniture, architecture and lighting. We need to add another area to that - womens fashion AND our special note on this blog, womens shoes. You can see how obvious it is with the styles shown above. The time span between the two is just about 57 years. Wow! There has been a world of change in that many years, or has there? Look familiar?
Did you think plaid was out of style? Think again.
There is plaid and then there is "Tartan" plaid. Tartan is recognized by the world over as the fabric of the Scottish kilt. Tartan is a material that can be woven from many colors and was originally a sort of uniform for distinguishing the many clans in the Highlands and islands of Scotland and can be traced as far back as the middle of the 5th Century to Ireland, where the Scots originated.
The very first form of tartan is nothing like its modern day counterpart, being a type of shirt that ended just above the knee, known as léine in Irish Gaelic. It is generally accepted that it was made of linen, and although the earliest references to this garment describe it as light-colored, it may have been of a darker yellow shade which led to the English describing it as a saffron shirt.
Today thanks to Prada, Chanel, and many many more designers - we use this tartan as a fun, trendy addition to any wardrobe. The runways have been full of it this season and don't forget the accessories like the plaid socks, shoes, belts and even purses. Have fun - throw out all the rules and let the inner tartan come out in you!
Just because you are on a budget, doesn't mean you have to give up on having a completely awesome theme for your wedding. For a mid-afternoon wedding consider a candy buffet. Mmmmm....candy! Set up a bar with all your favorites and choose the candy that fits your color scheme and personality. All you need are clear glass jars and a trip to your local candy stores and you'll have a plethora of choices, colors, tastes and varieties that will have your guests on a sugar rush in no time at all.
If your wedding is in the fall, consider caramel covered apples, candy corn and sweets in shades of orange and yellow. If you are planning a winter wedding, pick up candy canes, cinnamon sticks, and red and white candies. If your wedding is in the spring, take advantage of the pastel candies that come out around Easter. And if you are planning a summer shindig, add a sno-cone bar with flavored ice as a special treat that is as tasty as it is thirst quenching.
Above all, be creative and be sure to brush your teeth after such an indulgence. Sweet dreams.
The boutonniere can sometimes appear to be the afterthought in floral considerations for the wedding and we say that's a BIG mistake. We've put together some of our favorite boutonnieres to show off how bold and striking this little sprig of color and texture can make to a great suit or tux. This is what we call real flower power! This simple, yet artistic accessory on a man gives him just the right amount of softness without losing any masculinity. There will be tons of photos of the two of you, so make sure you account for even the smallest of details.
In the winter edition of New York Magazine, some fabulous ideas for wedding boutonnieres were showcased and we just had to share them with you. The only trouble is, we can't pick our favorite. Can you?
Click here to view the details on the designers of each arrangement and also the prices.
For Christmas this year I received one of the best gifts I've ever been given....Rain Boots. I have been a Seattleite my whole life, and yes, yes, everyone knows it rains here practically more than the rain forest itself. But for my whole life, I have never owned a pair rain boots. If you are from Seattle or know someone who is, you know that Seattleites have just learned to deal with the rain. We hardly ever use umbrellas and most of us have given up on straightening our hair because the second we step outside our perfectly styled hair frizzes and frays like we never styled it at all.
But I have to tell you. These rain boots are fabulous! I can trounce around in the puddles and the hem of my pants never get wet. Why have I never had these before???? Especially when rain boots are so cute. Check out some of our favorite designs below.
After our post on Monday about a new trend toward trashing the gown, a local bride, Jolene Jang, sent us her "trashed" portraits. (Although from the looks of these images, they are anything but). Thanks Jolene for sharing!
We came across a website that truly fascinates us. In fact, we just can't look away. Check out Trash The Dress for yourself and you'll see what we mean. Brides all over the place are jumping in (and we do mean literally) to destroy their wedding dress in the name of art. From a pile of mud to the ocean to the underbelly of a car, brides are getting dirty and taking their wedding dress with them. Here are just a few samples from the site, but be sure to check it out for yourself to see many more examples of brides trashing their dress.
Okay so now that the holidays are officially over its time to look in the mirror and figure out a way to shed the extra pounds the extra pieces of pumpkin pie have left behind. But until that time comes, we have a trick on how to look slim and trim with a little help from the hottest fashion accessory for this year...
...the new and improved wide belt. And what designers are showing it on their runways now? We're pretty sure you are going to see it everywhere, so here are a few to start off:
Top Left: Red belt: E. Wais, Grey: Ferragamo, Braided: D&G Lower Row: Black belted coat: D&G, Bronze belt: E Wais, Bottom Row:Louis Vuitton, Plaid Jacket - heavy belting: Rocawear Far Bottom Right: Christian Dior
It goes without saying, but we're going to say it anyway...floral designers are geniuses. Day after day we continue to see some of the most spectacular arrangements in floral design, and they just seem to get better and better. Here is a collection of some of our favorites over the last year.
1. Helen S. Cho; Pink cymbidium orchid blooms, folded aspidestra 2. Helen S. Cho; Black calla lilies, green cymbidium orchid blooms, leucadendron 'Jester', green hypericum berries, eryngium, black baccara roses, variegated pittosporum, variegated aspidestra, curly willow. 3. Helen S. Cho; Hydrangea, roses, lilies 4. Ovando; Thistle, black viburnum berries, and echeveria succulent 5. VSF Flowers in NY; Blue thistle, zebrina foliage, and Italian oregano 6. Christopher Flowers; orchids and rose buds 7. Raquet Corvino in NY; Antique hydrangeas and tuberoses 8. Aria Style; white peonies and red berries
Louis Vuitton has just inked a new ad campaign with someone just about everyone knows - Madonna. She is seen here in one of the billboard/magazine layouts soon to be see soon in some of the world's key fashion avenues and magazines. Tell us what you think of the new campaign!
No one is better equipped to show us how to visualize the British fashion movement than Alexander McQueen. His name is synonymous with everything country so if you are looking for one of those great trends sweeping in next year - look no further than Alexander McQueen for inspiration.
Left side: Alexander McQueen shows once again his style for Britannia, with a full sweater dress.
Top Middle: Chanel defined the British Crown in this buckle pin.
Top Right: Alexander McQueen will be designing a capsule collection for Target under their new fashion initiative called Designer Collaborations. The collection has a muted color palette of black, white, gray and tan with accents of cobalt blue and bright pink similar to the colors on the outfit in the photo.
Middle Small photo: three evening gowns with the golden hews of royalty.
Middle Bottom: Alexander McQueen was inspired in a recent trip to India and has similar collection pieces coming out in his couture line for Fall 2009.
Bottom Right: Chanel flag evening bag encrusted with crystals
Winelovers will love this berry and vine inspired wedding board. The colors of deep purples and sage greens are perfect for just about any time of year, but especially work with the Fall. Hope you enjoy!
In honor of the Seattle Goodwill's Glitter Sale, happening this weekend, as we blogged about last week, we've put together this glitzed inspiration board for those of you that like a little sparkle. Hope you enjoy!
Theme: Puttin' On The Glitz Colors: Lavender, Plum, Silver, Gold
If you love style, and goodness gracious we know you do, then you are absolutely going to love the website, Polyvore.com. Polyvore allows users like you and me, to upload style sets, showing how to create outfits and complete designer looks. Then it even tells you where you can go to create the look for yourself.
But don't take our word for it, visit Polyvore for yourself and search through thousands of style sets. And if this is something you really love, be sure reserve your copy of the 2009 Wedding Resource Guide, available January of 2009, where banquetevent.com will present the latest color and styles boards for the 2009 wedding season.
Monday we blogged about vintage inspirations, so what better wedding theme to carry out your love of vintage couture than a celebration of the Great Gatsby?We must admit, we are pretty darned tickled with the way this inspiration board turned out. This theme is one of our favorites, and we hope you like it too. Theme: The Great Gatsby Colors: Emerald Green, Black, White & Gold
In this election year, you can't help but feel extra patriotic as our country comes together to elect a new president. In honor of this historic occasion, we've collected some of our favorite patriotic-inspired wedding designs and trends and presented theme here just for you! Hope you enjoy.
Theme: A Patriot's Wedding Colors: Good Ol' Red, White & Blue Click image below to enlarge.
Not every woman has dreamed about her wedding since she was a little girl. Many woman, don't even give it much thought until the time actually arrives and the wedding planning must begin. To kick your creative juices in gear, we'll be starting our "Get Inspired!" series, where we'll present colors schemes, themes and ideas in an inspiration board. We hope this helps trigger some of your own great ideas. Check back weekly for a new inspiration board.
Today's blog is from our guest writer, Mallor Kohlmeyer. Thanks for the tips Mallory.
The most important day of your life is coming and I’m here to warn you about every photographer’s facial frustration: caked-up makeup! Your wedding day is one you’ll want to remember forever, without having to cringe at photos full of foundation creases, eye shadow smudges and harsh blush lines. One small purchase at the cosmetics counter can lead to one massive mistake on the big day. Remember, this is your day, and when the cameraman is snapping away like paparazzi on the red carpet, you’ll want to look like you.
What better way to capture that naturally flawless, fabulous face than with the help of ecoTOOLS, an all-natural, environmentally friendly line of makeup brushes? Below are some great tips on how to look and feel absolutely exceptional by incorporating ecoTOOLS into your makeup routine. Taking care of yourself and the environment never looked better.
We all know that planning a wedding can be stressful, but the last thing you want is for that stress to show up on your skin! You can wipe your worries away with the help of the ecoTOOLS Bamboo Loofah Brush ($4.99). This brush is combined with an incredible exfoliating sponge to give you a glow like Rebecca Romijn. By diminishing dry skin and creating a smooth, polished finish, the Bamboo Loofah Brush will leave you feeling fresh, rejuvenated, and ready to take on your big day.
The ecoTOOLS Blush Brush ($6.99) is expertly-tapered to apply your blush evenly along your cheekbones. To re-create Kate Beckinsale’s effortless definition, sweep the brush lightly across your cheekbones to gradually highlight your natural features. The slight contrast will make a glamorous difference that will keep you glowing morning, noon and wedding night.
Using the ecoTOOLS Angled Eyeliner Brush ($3.99) with ultra flat angled bristles, you can create Rihanna-worthy, beautifully shadowed eyes. After applying your base eye shadow, use the Angled Eyeliner Brush to blend in the color. Start at your lash line then blend up and outward on your lid. Your sheer radiance will have your guests envious and your husband-to-be awestruck as you make your way down the aisle.
Fan favorites of ecoTOOLS include Kate Hudson, Courtney Cox-Arquette and Alicia Silverstone. ecoTOOLS products can be found at select Walgreens, Kmart, and Ulta stores or online at www.eco-tools.com.
Planning a fall wedding can be an incredibly gratifying process. That same feeling you get from a crisp, cool fall day and the warmth you feel when you put on your wool coat and scarf and drink a cup of hot apple cider can easily be transferred to create the same good feelings for your fall wedding.
We've put together some of our favorite fall styles, flavors and colors and displayed them here for you. Can't you just taste the cider now?
A great favor idea for your fall wedding is to roast nuts like chestnuts, walnuts and hazelnuts. Check out a great recipe below. Also, incorporate foods and flavors unique to the season like apples, cinnamon, figs, nutmeg and other spices. Just the smell of these flavors will lift the spirits of your guests.
When it comes to style, go with gold accents. Not only does gold represent a regal sophistication, but it also complements most skin tones and adds color to your white gown without taking away from its simplicity. And no matter what palate you choose for the rest of your theme, gold will blend nicely.
Top: Wedding gown with gold accents by Amsale Bottom Left: Bridesmaid gown by Jim Hjelm Bottom Right: Photo source Project Wedding
When it comes to the rest of the details for your wedding, carry the theme throughout your design. A simple leaf motive can be used in many different ways and is also a cost-effective decoration. For your bridal bouquets, simply bring the theme together by using the same colors.
The funny thing about trends, is that if you take a look back in history, you are almost sure to find similar styles that women wore decades ago. Each trend repeats itself, while each generation adds its own personal touches and additions to make the style even better than it was before. In our next series of blogs, we'd like to show you how bridal styles have evolved into what they are today, beginning with the 1920's.
1920's Bridal Style: Cap Veils were in high demand in the twenties, fitting over the forehead and then falling gracefully at the back. Often made from silk tulle, starched and pleated, they became more and more elaborate, some using the finest Lyon and Brussels lace. These were decorated with embroidery floss, satin ribbon or metallic gimp. (Photo source)
Today's Interpretation of the 1920's:Claire Pettibone, a bridal designer from Los Angeles, creates silhouettes inspired by fashions from Paris in the 1920's. Her gowns are often formed from Victorian laces, and the idealized icon of feminine style from the era. Claire Pettibone also creates a stunning 1920's inspired lingerie line, as seen on the bottom right.
We're seeing them everywhere: simple and elegant vintage hair clips to complete your beautiful bridal look. In fact, more and more, we are seeing antique-style hair accessories used in place of traditional veils or tiaras. The look is indeed elegant and allows you to show of your hair style that you spent good money for.
We suggest rummaging through your grandmother's jewelry box to find a vintage brooch or antique hair pin that you can use as your "Something Old" and instead of sticking it on your blouse stick it in your hair. Even if you are a traditional gal and hate the idea of ditching your veil, bring the two together by adding the decorative jewelry piece to the clip of the veil. Then when you are at the reception, just remove the veil portion of the clip, but keep the jeweled hair accessory in.
If you just have an antique piece available to you, don't fret. We found some incredible antique-looking pieces available Noaki Jewelry. Noaki Jewelry hunts for imperfections, scattered objects on the sand and surprises of tucked-away bazaars -- the heirloom pin, the smooth pebble, the whorled piece of driftwood. The end results are these beautiful and unique works of art that look like they came from and older era. Check out some of our favs below, but be sure to check out their entire collection on their Etsy store.
This year in the 2009 Wedding Resource Guide presented by banquetevent.com and due out in late fall, all the upcoming 2009 wedding trends will be presented for you, and in full, radiant color. We can't give away everything in our blog just yet, but here is a taste of some of the inspirations you'll find in the Wedding Resource Guide.
We love when two unexpected color combinations come together and absolutely dazzle us. That is exactly more of what we expect to see in the upcoming 2009 wedding season. Say goodbye to sweet and mild pastels and hello to bold, vibrant colors.
Seen below, we've paired a bright aqua with a venetian red, and as you can see, the results are spectacular.
Top Left: Custom monogrammed table runner from LSeabol's etsy.com shop Top Right: Blue diamond and titanium ring from ShadeJewelry Bottom: Tiffany inspired wedding invitation from Alamodebride
If you are anything like us and you love drama, then you are sure to love these crystal wedding decorations from Cristalier. Cristalier sells decorative crystals in a variety of colors for you to add to just about anything to give it that extra flair. From Feng Shui to Shabby Chic, Tuscan to French Country, crystal prisms are setting the stage in wedding design. Even home trends have moved crystal beads from chandelier replacement crystals to hanging crystals in every room of the house. Their crystal beads, ornaments and prisms are perfect for arts & crafts, sun- catchers and even look great on a bobeche.
Cristalier also offers an inspiration design center on their website with hundreds of ideas and themes on how you can use their crystals in your wedding designs.
Our favorite way to use crystals is to create crystal wedding trees, as seen below. Depending on the color and atmosphere you can turn a simple branch into a dazzling display of romantic elegance.
This week we featured a variety of different rhinestone crowns to use as a cake topper. After that post, we got a hot tip from one of our readers about Paris Tiaras. Paris Tiaras carries an entire line of "cake jewelry" featuring crests, pendants, pins, tiaras and crowns...all for your cake!
Paris cake jewelry has been used by many celebrities in their own weddings, including most recently Holly Marie Combs from the CW show "Charmed."
Paris Tiaras is the brainchild of Debra Moreland. Debra Moreland's claim to fame is designing metal millinery an cultivating this look into its own art form. Of course Ms. Moreland's designs are not just for cakes. She also has a beautiful line of bridal accessories including jewelry and hair combs, pins, crowns and tiaras.
One of our favorite places to shop around is Etsy.com. Etsy offers so many beautifully hand-crafted designs we could literally spend hours at a time just surfing around. Etsy is the perfect place to find those simple details for your wedding that will truly add a unique charm to your design and mood especially when it comes to bridal accessories.
We recently did a vast search for the handmade garters and boy did we find some beauties. From classic and traditional to couture and frisky, the garters are all unique and stylish.
Each of these below garters come from Designs By Peterene and she literally has hundreds to choose from. Most of her garters are made-to-order so customization is not a problem.
We think you'll love these elegant and regal cake toppers from Decorating Studio. Each cake topper is designed in a circular shape to sit perfectly on top of your tiered cake. These toppers are made from silver plated metal with rhinestone accents.
Wedding cake jewelry is the newest thing in wedding cake decoration. These beautiful rhinestone and jeweled wedding cake crown toppers will make your wedding cake unique and beautiful. These toppers work best for evening weddings surrounded by twinkling lights and candles to make them sparkle even more. The cake toppers are also an excellent keepsake for you to store and treasure. They also help dress up a simple cake without paying a ton for extra decorations and designs made from the cake designer.
The toppers range in price from $24-$122. Also, check out the Decorating Studio for other decorative items including beads, fabrics, embellishments, and more.
Have you heard about Pandora? It's the best new way to listen to music while you work. All you do is go to www.pandora.com, enter your favorite artist and a playlist will begin starting with a song from the artist of your choice. Then the next songs that play will be customized to predict the kind of music you like to listen to. Once a song begins to play, you can give it the "thumbs up" or the "thumbs down" and the more you rate music, the more Pandora knows what you like. Think of Pandora as a TiVo for music.
Pandora came from the Music Genome Project. Since they started back in 2000, they have been hard at work on the Music Genome Project. It's the most comprehensive analysis of music ever undertaken. Together their team of fifty musician-analysts have been listening to music, one song at a time, studying and collecting literally hundreds of musical details on every song. It takes 20-30 minutes per song to capture all of the little details that give each recording its magical sound - melody, harmony, instrumentation, rhythm, vocals, lyrics ... and more - close to 400 attributes! Pandora continues this work every day to keep up with the incredible flow of great new music coming from studios, stadiums and garages around the country.
The best part about Pandora, is its all free and you can make as many playlists as you'd like.
You can also download Pandora to select phones available through AT&T and Sprint including the apple iPhone.
Pandora is a great way to be introduced to new music in a genre that you like, and who knows....you may even find a great song for your wedding! Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
With schools starting in just a couple weeks, days getting just a tad bit shorter, and temperatures starting to fall, that means only one thing....Fall is just around the corner. For many of you, Fall is your favorite time of year anyway, with the beautiful changing leaves and the golden glow in the sky. And for many brides, Fall is the perfect choice for their wedding date.
When decorating for a Fall wedding, we really encourage you to search outside the box and find accent pieces that can help dress up a room, table or entryway. For an abundance of Fall decorative items check out Ballard Designs. Ballard Designs carries stunning furniture and other home accent pieces and their new additions for Fall are no exception. We especially love the white pumpkins that would be perfect sitting on your guestbook table.
Also, now through September 15 everything is 25% off since Ballard Designs is celebrating their 25th anniversary. Take advantage of this offer and also be sure to check out their many items to complete your home in the form of tableware, linens, art, and other various accent pieces.
We have done a couple of posts about song choices for your wedding and we recently got a request from one of our devoted readers to compile a list of the best "Father-Daughter" dance songs. Now, as you know, it is not our style to just give you list of typical wedding dance songs that anyone could find with the simple search on the internet. Rather, we like to do our homework and find the best possible options for you that you have probably never thought of before.
So while we were searching for the best "Father-Daughter" dance songs out there, we were surprised to find that our inspiration came from a very unlikely source, a Nickelodeon produced album for children called Sleepytime Lullabies.
There is something sweet and endearing about the idea of playing a familiar, but updated version of an old lullaby for your "Father-Daughter" dance that gives us the warm fuzzies. After all, your father has been with you since you were an itty-bitty-little-thing and in his eyes, you never really grew out of that stage, so playing a sweet lullaby for your shining moment just seems fitting. Call us sappy, idealistic, or just plain nuts, but don't discount us until you give the tunes on this album a try. To listen to little snippets, click here.
Now most of the songs on this album are merely acoustical, which means you may have to do your homework to find versions with words, but to help you get started we've already compiled a list of our favorites for your listening pleasure...
1. One Magic Kiss by Brandi Carlile One Magic Kiss is the only song on this album featuring a vocal. Brandi Carlile is definitely an up-and-coming artist. You may have heard her recent hit "The Story" played on Grey's Anatomy and even a recent GM commercial played during the Olympics. (By the way, this particular song would also make a great slide-show song). This sweet tune is a modern take on a gentle lullaby that will melt even the coldest of hearts.
2. Sweet Baby James by James Taylor We haven't forgotten about the "Mother-Son" dance either. This song was written by James Taylor when his nephew was born, although you may be surprised that it was written for a baby at all from the lyrics. But the story told in the lyrics will make you smile as you remember how quickly time passes.
3. You Are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker "You're everything I hoped for, you're everything I need..." What a beautiful way to describe just how a father feels about his beloved daughter. Most people think of this song as a love song, but forget that a love song can be about many different types of relationships including that of a father and daughter.
4. Moon River by Louis Armstrong Audrey Hepburn sang this song at the end of the famous movie Breakfast At Tiffany's just as she begins to let herself fall madly, and hopelessly in love with her perfect match. And how fitting than to dance a sort of "farewell" love song to the first man in your life as you begin your new journey as "two drifters off to see the world" just like the song says?
5. Dream A Little Dream Of Me by The Mamas & The Papas While every father is happy to see his daughter so happy, there still comes a pang of heartbreak as he releases her to the protection and care of another man. All he can hope for is that she remembers where she came from and how much he loves her. Dream A Little Dream Of Me shares in these sentiments.
We recently came across these great gift ideas that we wanted to share with you. The idea behind these charming "house blessings" is to provide little reminders that the gift-giver wishes love, laughter, encouragement and growth into the life of the receiver. Each house blessing charm comes with a card message and a blessing. These House Blessings come from Dogeared Jewels & Gifts.
Below, is the Bride and Groom House Blessing. The included card reads: Make a wish together and hang this blessing in your home! Fill each room with laughter, love, creation, encouragement, and new memories!
If you like the Bride and Groom House Blessing, check out the many other options for just about every occasion and special person in your life. We also think these would make excellent bridal party gifts. Click here to see all of the options:
There are some things that we come across that just crack us up and this is definitely one of them. Meet zeralights, the creators of fiber optic fashion accessories. That's right, just like their website says, zeralights brings sparkle to fashion accessories.
Zeralights is the creative inspiration of Barbara Sears Nelson, a Colorado native who currently lives in Denver. After multitude attempts, the day finally dawned allowing her to market her own creations combining sparkle design with products made from Luminex fiber optic fabric.
Now, while the actual fashion accessories are a bit "out there" we do however like the options zeralights offers for events. Check out the below table and chair linens and wine glass accessory.
Brides have been wearing white for a long time. But who exactly determined white would be the only color for wedding gowns? Some women feel uncomfortable in white. Remember the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding? When the bride looked at herself in the mirror she declared that she looked like a snow beast. In the last few years, we've noticed a trend in wedding gown designers adding touches of color to their designs. Yet, one color we never saw was black. That is, until now.
It is a common known fact that European fashions are typically ahead of U.S. fashions, and the styles we see on French and Italian runways are good indications of what we'll see in U.S. fashion and bridal magazines shortly thereafter. One common trend we are noticing is how European designers are integrating black and white together to make truly fabulous and yet ultra feminine gowns.
Below are some samples from Max Chaoul. If you are not familiar with this French designer, we urge you to get acquainted. His designs are incredibly inspired and different from what you'll typically see, but they are also romantic and whimsical.
Below is another example of an all black gown by French designer Creations Bochet.
Finally, French designer Cymbeline offers gowns with black accents from the most dramatic to the most subtle.
How do you feel about this new trend? Would you consider wearing a black wedding dress? Weigh in below.
We're big fans of handcrafted jewelry. There is just something wonderful about wearing a necklace, earrings, or ring that was skillfully crafted with care by a talented jewelry artist. We recently found a website called Elsewares, where hundreds of handcrafted jewelry pieces are available at reasonable rates for purchase.
We found the following pieces to particularly intriguing and are thrilled to share them with you.
Below are just a sample of available pieces handcrafted by Jade Gedeon's line We Dream In Colour. Jade Gedeon's influences range around the world. Owing much to her family's nomadic lifestyle, Jade enjoyed extensive exposure to a myriad of nations and cultures growing up. Born in the United States, raised in Trinidad and now living and working in Essex Massachusetts, she had most recently made her home in Australia. A graduate of the Pratt Institute, she decided to put her art background to work in 2002, and has been making wonderful jewelry ever since. Jade Gedeon's line ranges from $22-$95.
Anne Kiel lives in Austin, Texas and creates jewelry out of her home studio. She developed an interest in jewelry design after taking art history and metal arts classes as well as traveling in Europe and West Africa. She enjoys incorporating mixed-media into her design which is evident in her current "Curios" collection of vintage inspired illustrations and photographs set in sterling silver. Prices range from $80-$83.
New York City based GK Designs creates custom sterling silver jewelry. The personal messages adorning her designs make them even more beautiful and unique. Prices range from $60-65.
Melissa Borrell has been designing and fabricating jewelry since 1996. She studied art at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University in Boston and Paris and has a graduate degree in Jewelry and Metals from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). She currently is based in Houston, TX and works constantly at questioning the boundaries of what jewelry can be.
One of our most popular posts of all time was back in April when we presented a peacock theme for your wedding. Since then, we've seen a huge increase in the amount of peacock inspired items for your home and everyday lifestyle. We can't complain. We love the use of peacock feathers as accent pieces, and the combination of peacock inspired colors look good on just about everyone.
Here are just a taste of our fabulous finds...
Top Left: Peacock hand towels from Horchow.com (Source: Team Sugar) Top Right: Thomas Paul Pillows in Scarlet (Source: Team Sugar) Bottom Left: Elsewares Peacock Coasters (Source: Team Sugar) Bottom Right: Peacock Tea Towels from Wrapables (Source: Team Sugar)
If wearing actual peacock prints just aren't for you, you can still create the same look with your color choices. Think teal, magenta and deep purples. The colors are feminine and look fabulous paired with a dark pair of jeans.
We think you'll love the couture designs for bridal accessories by Leah C. Couture Millinery out of New York. Designer Leah Chalfen brings her unique brand of sophisticated, American whimsy to classic millinery techniques. Stylish women from across the globe: hip-hopping "honeys" and haute couture patrons, debutantes and grande dames, covet her timeless designs.
Seeking to restore the prominence of the headpiece as an American accessory, Leah has modified the scale of headwear, focusing specifically on feather creations. Leah's designs are beautifully bold and distinctly elegant. They are statement pieces created for the woman with an established, well-honed sense of style who uses every occasion to express it.
Above and beyond bridal accessories, Leah C. Couture Millinery also creates stylish hats and other high fashion accessories and has been featured in countless fashion magazines across the globe. Leah C. Couture's designs are edgy, yet elegant and that is exactly why we love them.
No other color signifies a wedding more than white. Brides have been wearing white and ivory gowns for hundreds of years. The purity and simplicity of white creates an elegant and formal setting, making it an excellent option for a monochromatic color scheme.
You may think that an all-white wedding is boring or lifeless, but think again. Check out some of our favorite examples of white touches that symbolize grace and elegance.
Top Left:Leah C. Couture Millinery bridal hat Bottom Right: 10k White Gold Cultured Feshwater Pearl Drop Earrings, available at Overstock.com Top Right: bareMinerals Glimmer in Opal by Bare Escentuals available at Sephora Bottom Left: Oscar de la Renta bridal shoe, featured on Brides
We recently discovered a fabulous jewelry boutique in Seattle, WA, that we know you'll love. Let us introduce you to Fancy. Fancy is owned and operated by Sally Brock, who has been designing jewelry since she was 13. Everything available for purchase on this site is handmade in the U. S. of A. by one lady with two hands. The best part about Fancy, is you can customize your wedding bands or choose from a collection of unique, handcrafted designs.
If you are all about customization, here are some things they want you to consider before contacting them...
1) Your ring size. 2) What metal you'd like (Platinum, 18k gold, 14k gold, 14k white gold, 10k white gold, Sterling Silver). 3) Options or which designs on the Fancy site float your boat. 4) Height of your ring- you can say 'same as Swiss Ring' or be as detailed as "7.4 mm exact and 1.5 mm thick please"- it's up to you. 5) What kinda rocks you'd like incorporated in the design, if any. 6) And what inscription you'd like to add to the inside, or outside of your ring. We've got upper case & lower case stamps- and can even work with custom artwork.
Check out Fancy's website for online purchasing, fun ideas and inspiration.
Last week, Southcenter Mall introduced three new and one made-over stores. Get our take on what's hot and what's not.
Forever XXI One of the fastest growing retailers specializing in teen and young adult fashions, is a familiar name to Westfield Southcenter shoppers. The new flagship Forever XXI occupies two floors, covering 26,500 square feet, and features a variety of clothes from designer collections to casual; creative designs and accessories for the style conscious and trend-savvy shopper. Some of the clothes are made better than others so you'll need to weed through the piles and piles of options. It's a little crowded now since it just opened, but the visuals are great and we definitely like the prices. Our grade: B+
Gilly Hicks Gilly Hicks is a newly launched subsidiary brand of Abercrombie & Fitch that focuses on intimates and loungewear such as bras, panties, boxers, boxer briefs, t-shirts, sweatshirts, pajama pants, summery tank tops, and swimsuits, as well as personal care products. The lifestyle brand is new to the west coast and will appeal to younger consumers inside the store’s approximate 10,000 square foot space. Good luck finding anything though, the room is super dark and finding the right look can be little tricky especially when you can't see yourself in the mirror. Our grade: C+ until they turn the lights on.
PINK A stand alone retail concept and collection from Victoria’s Secret, makes its debut in the Seattle area at Westfield Southcenter featuring a lineup of loungewear, sleepwear, intimate apparel and accessories such as bags, bedding, and flip-flops. Geared toward the 18-22 year old female with a fun, fresh and free-spirited approach, PINK has attracted a loyal following since its initial launch in 2004. The clothes are fun and flirty but don't necessarily fit everyone as well as the mannequins or the models. Our grade: B
Love Culture Another new retail name to the Puget Sound, showcases a unique style on women’s clothing, jeans, blouses, jewelry, accessories and shoes. You'll see alot of the same clothes as at Forever XXI, but since its smaller it has less clothes, which means finding the right size may be a little tricky. Our grade: B
We think you'll love the DIY website creator, Wetpaint. Wetpaint lets you build a rich, online community around whatever-it-is that you’re really into. Utilizing the best features of wikis, blogs, forums and social networks, Wetpaint mixes everything you need so you can create, collect, and organize content on your own social website. The best part is you can create a completely advanced and sophisticated website and it's all FREE. What better way to chronicle your nuptials than to build a community around your pre-wedding planning?
If you don't feel like building your own website, you can also join a pre-existing site that is already created by another bride-to-be. Just use the search box up in the top right-hand corner and see who’s already started a page around any particular topic you would like to get involved in. Wetpaint is a great way to connect with other brides and share ideas and experiences.
Click the video below to learn more about Wetpaint...
Lingerie can be a tricky thing. Just walk into any intimate apparel shop and browse the racks. Finding something cute and comfortable is often an impossible task. That is why we like the babydolls by Betsy Johnson. Betsy definitely knows how to create feminine apparel that emphasizes a woman's fun and flirty side while still giving her something she can actually wear and feel comfortable in.
You can buy Betsy Johnson intimates directly from a Betsy store or online. Nordstrom also carries the Betsy brand and a great tip for finding the best Betsy deals is to head to your nearest Nordstrom Rack. The Rack carries the previous season's intimates for almost half the price. Who cares if it came from last season? You're wearing it in the privacy of your own home and trust us, there is no way your groom-to-be will mind if you got it on sale! He'll just be glad you got it at all.
Choosing The Right Seasonal Cocktail For Your Wedding
For your wedding, one of the best ways to save on money all the while adding style and sophistication to your event is to choose one coordinated cocktail to serve rather than providing an open bar. We still recommend serving wine with the meal, but a festive well-chosen cocktail can set the mood for your entire wedding. Plus, it also controls the amount of alcohol people are drinking, by limiting one or two cocktails per person.
Here are some of our picks for the best cocktails year-round...
IN SUMMER
Starlet Cocktails
Ice cubesSugar 1 1/4 cups orange juice 3/4 cup peach schnapps 3/4 cup vodka
Directions: 1. Wet the rims of 6 champagne flutes and dip them in sugar. Fill a pitcher with ice cubes and add the orange juice, schnapps and vodka. Stir until chilled, then pour into the sugared flutes.
IN FALL
Ginger Punch
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Orange Ginger vodka, chilled Juice of 1 lime, plus 2 lime wedges for garnish 1/2 cup ginger beer, chilled
Directions: 1. In a small pitcher, combine the Orange Ginger Vodka and lime juice. Pour into 2 rocks glasses filled with ice and top with the ginger beer. Garnish each with a lime wedge.
IN WINTER
Pumpkin Pie Martinis Ice cubes 2 ounces (1/4 cup) vanilla vodka 2 ounces (1/4 cup) crème de cacao 1/4 cup heavy cream1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice Whipped cream, for garnish
Directions: 1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add the vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, heavy cream and pumpkin pie spice and shake well. 2. Dip the rims of 2 martini glasses into a bowl of whipped cream. Strain the cocktail into the glasses
IN SPRING
Mint Julep
1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar 5 fresh mint leaves, plus 1 mint sprig for garnish 1/2 cup bourbon (4 ounces) Crushed ice
Directions: 1. Add the sugar, the mint leaves and a few drops of the bourbon to a chilled glass. Muddle or crush the mint with a spoon to create a thick paste. Add a handful of crushed ice to the glass. Place a straw so that it reaches the mint paste at the bottom of the glass. Pour the remaining bourbon over the ice. Add more crushed ice, making a mound that reaches to the top of the glass and leaving about 1 inch of the straw peeking above the rim. Garnish with a mint sprig.
Complete The Look Without The Help Of A Mini-Makeup Artist
Do you ever wish you could carry around a little makeup artist in your back pocket and pull her out whenever you need a fresh new, evening or everyday look? Well we may not have a little mini-makeup artist for you, but we may have the next best thing. Available now at Sephora.com are video tutorials to help you complete a look. Currently the videos focus on eye makeup. Some are outrageous, yes, but others present simple how-tos to make applying your own makeup a little more simple. Plus, they provide you with the products they used so you can start with the same tools the artists are using.
While browsing the online store of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) we came across a unique find that we'd like to share with you. Take a look at the below silver diamondless ring designed by Alissia Melka-Teichroew. There are no diamonds in Alissia Melka-Teichroew's rings, simply a thought-provoking silhouette imitating the conventional Tiffany setting. Wearers create their own traditions, meanings, and stories. The Diamondless ring retails for $125 and is made of sterling silver. But, if silver just isn't your thing, the same style is also available in acrylic.
We realize it feels like summer just arrived, but to retailers, fall is just around the corner and home decor items for the new season are popping up in window storefronts all the time. An extremely evident trend is the use of patterns in serving and dining ware and home furnishings. Patterns liven a room, especially in spaces that otherwise hold clean and simple lines, muted tones and other solid furniture pieces. A brightly colored patterned chair or ottoman brings distinction and style to any room. The key to using patterned furniture; however, is to only choose one strong accent piece per room. Accent pieces make the best choices for patterned designs because they can be easy moved, altered or even removed if you ever feel yourself tiring of the piece. But, in most cases, as long as you only choose one pattern accent piece per room, you will never tire of its placement in your space.
If buying a patterned chair or larger piece of furniture scares you a little, try added patterned accent pillows to your existing chairs and sofas. That way you can complete the look without being committed to a particular color or style.
See some great patterned accent pieces for your home below.
Top Left: Aqua Surya Table Runner from Plum Party Top Right: Chartruese Surya Placemats-Pack Of 4 from Plum Party Bottom Left: kate spade "Gwinnett Lane Crème" Collection available at Macys Bottom Center: kate spade "Bonita Street" Vase Collection available at Macys Bottom Right: Luna Cloth Table Cover - 60" X 60" from Plum Party
Top Left: Brooks Slipcovered Chair from Pottery Barn Top Right: Pattern pillow covers from Pottery Barn Left Center: Calandria Chair, Mod Garden from Anthropologie Center Top: Peacock Plumes Frame, Medium from Anthropologie Center Bottom: Far Afield Dinnerware from Anthropologie Center Right: Spotty Salad Servers from Anthropologie Bottom Center: Flares And Fountains Fabric Letters from Anthropologie Bottom Left: Antwerp Chair, Bloom from Anthropologie Large Bottom Right: Jacoby Bench, Papillon from Anthropologie Small Bottom Right: Mamello Chaise, Martine Toile from Anthropologie
Some Dream Of Prince Charming, Some Dream Of Cakes
We've been in the wedding business a long time, but there is something about cake designers that seem to surprise and delight us all the time. In the last decade or so, bakers have transformed into artists by creating designs so intricate and imaginative that they no longer look edible. But that is exactly what they are.
We recently found a cake designer out of San Francisco that truly amazed us. I Dream Of Cake, started by artist Shinmin Li, understands the personality of icing and the relationship between ingredients allowing her to create masterpiece after masterpiece. Their studio is truly set up like an art gallery, and why ever not? After all, each design is sculpted, painted, molded, and shaped into a true work of art. Just check out some of her delicious creations below.
A new show is coming to the TLC network where choreographers from the FOX dance show, So You Think You Can Dance, work with brides and grooms to prepare a dance routine for their wedding reception. Choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha, who are also a couple in real life, teach the betrothed to dance the night away. Look for Rock The Reception to premier July 15 on TLC. Check your local listings for times.
Think you have what it takes to showcase your moves in front of your wedding guests? Find out how to be on the show below.
2010-11 look to be fashion forward trend years in gown styling for brides to be. Among the most popular are lace lace and MORE lace. It is being used everywhere from the veil, to the waist accent, bodice, sleeves, necklines, and of course the skirts. Flowing in sync with this ultra-female trend are the accents of sashes and ribbons on the waist lines in contrasting colors. Speaking of waist lines - as our top right couture design by Christian Lacroix features, the empire waist is fashionistas first love for 2010-11. It flatters just about every figure and enhances the femininity of the bodice curves. Think Josephine as the Empress of France as your inspiration. Shoes are stepping brides up a level as well, with the platform edge adorned by jewels and beading to complete your look.
Stumble It! |
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You will then receive both male and female versions in 3 different keys to fit different vocal ranges, and the tracks without vocals in both keys (that’s a total of nine audio tracks for your purchase). A lead music sheet will be included in all keys as well. All songs will be extended so you will have lots of extra time, if you need it for the wedding service, the wedding video or the reception.
