Archives – July, 2011
courtesy of angrytrainerfitness.com
With just under a dozen weddings rounding out the remainder of my 2011 calendar (you heard me), I’m constantly surrounded by all kinds of bridal chit chat. And while the majority is light hearted conversations of flowers and colors and cakes and candy, there is another level – a not so pleasant level – that lurks in the background like a slow, rolling thunder…
My mother-in-law is crazy! Our florist is the devil! My mom’s driving me crazy! Our caterer’s are out to get me! You’re crazy! I want to throw things at our DJ! I’m crazy! (insert your maniacal nonsense here.)
You all know what I’m talking about. But the biggest and most frequent “AHH!” to horns waggle its way into conversation… I’M NEVER GOING TO FIT INTO MY DRESS!!!
That’s right ladies… the inevitable fear of being too fat for the dress is an age old tradition of bridal banter that more than likely dates back to Medieval times. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been endowed with many, wonderful things in your life. But of all the wonderful things you have, you seem to be missing any sort of metabolic capabilities or even the slightest sliver of super model DNA. And somehow, when these two things are missing, they can make everything else seem a little bit more lackluster.
Which is why each and every, single, gosh darn forsaken day, I feel like I have to work at my weight. (Of course, I’m using the word “work” here interchangeably with “worry” (hehe), and yet, I digress.) I feel like I’ve been dieting in some way, shape or form since I was 16, which basically means I’ve spent the last 11 years hungry. Awesome.
And not only am I hungry, but I always seem to want super horrible foods at the most inconvenient times - for instance, during The Biggest Loser Finale, while perusing the latest issue of Victoria’s Secret or right before a bathing suit clad vacation. Yet another dose of awesome.
So, I’ve gathered over a decade’s worth of trial and error data to come up with a few tricks that have truly helped me along the way.
- Stressing over it will only make it worse. (Probably why so many women cling to Yoga.)
- Everyone is different; so, don’t expect the same routines that worked for a friend to work for you. Just kick booty at whatever you do!
- No matter what a girl’s body type may be, she is liable to have just as many insecurities as you. (Kind of nice to know we’re all in the same boat, isn’t it?) And finally…
- Of all the fad diets, crash cut backs and insane techniques you can use to lose weight, nothing will EVER work better than good ‘ole fashioned healthy eating and daily exercise.
So, if you’re a bride currently looking to trim down, shape up or simply get healthy for your big day, here are a few sites I’ve found incredibly helpful: WebMD.com and LoseWeightLossDiet.com - pretty clever name, yes? We’re all in this together, girls! Brides-to-be, brides-already-been and brides-several-years-in: we’re all just as “ugh!” about weight loss as the next; so, get out, get going and rest assure that there’s at least one more person looking to take out her bathroom scale! Together, we can do this :)
July 28, 2011
courtesy of marthastewart.com
A girlfriend at work (holler for a dollar, Carolyn!) sent me a link on deconstructed wedding cakes last week, and I have to admit, it had my mouth watering for cake before the sun could rise and you could question, “Cake, for breakfast??” With all the new (not necasarily improved) but super fun ways brides are choosing to divy out dessert on their big day, I was sooo glad to see deconstructed wedding cakes as one of them!
And don’t let the chunky, clunky name fool you, because these beauties are anything but! Not only can the sleeker, chic’er cakes have a crisper, cleaner look, but they can also be filled with a countless number of flavors, which their larger versions are often times limited to! Um, hello?? More cakes to sample?? Yes, please!!
Whether a bride chooses to do each cake a different flavor or a select a specific amount of tantalizing tastes to divide between the masses, these deconstructed darlings have an abundance potential that will have your head spinning. Some brides even choose to double them as centerpieces, which encourages guests to mix ‘n’ mingle while trying to uncover which table has the BEST flavor!
Oh, and did I mention that the cost for these un-tiered dreams can be significantly, less? Yeah, add that to the win column too, ladies! Haha! Check out below for even more, mouth watering examples!
Stick with the same theme and shape for a more uniform look…
courtesy of theknot.com
Play with textures, sizes and shapes to really create a unique look…
courtesy of bridalguide.com
Decorate your deconstructed cakes in theme or according to the season…
courtesy of projectwedding.com
When doubled as centerpieces, disassembled cakes encourage guests to get up and move about…
courtesy of baileysbrides.blogspot.com
Ideal for creating a rustic, do-it-yourself ambiance…
courtesy of featherlove.com
July 26, 2011
photo courtesy of Lindsey Kroemer Photography
At Marilyn’s Keepsakes, we recognize the importance for the DIY bride to shine in all her shabby chic goodness! We also recognize, however, that she can’t shine fully if not provided with the proper tools. After all, not all of us our born killer crafters with do-it-yourself goodness infused into our DNA!
We can, however, own the right to fake it ’til we make it with our line of DIY Stationery. Among the most recent addition is our DIY Paper Pennant Bunting Kit! This do-it-yourself, dream project kit will leave your guests “oohing” and “awing” from the minute they step onto the scene to the minute they bid you adieu. Because of its versatile nature, this one of a kind flag banner ensemble really lets your creative side shine by garnishing all your favorite events with a personalized touch of charm.
And by kitting these items altogether in one, simple package, we leave the fun part up to you for making everything from outdoor weddings and baby showers to anniversary extravaganzas, birthday parties, holidays and more a little bit more fun and a lot more personal! See below for product details and decor options:
Paper Pennant Bunting Kit Includes:
- 50 Flag Pennants
- 12.5 yards of White Satin Ribbon
- Complimentary CD with 40 pre-designed Templates for mixing and matching
- Test Printing Sheets and Instructions for use
When creativity reaches a lull, use one of our design options available on complimentary CD to re-inspire you! (courtesy of marilynskeepsakes.com)
July 21, 2011
courtesy of Gina Leigh Photography via pbfingers.com
While traditionally speaking, it’s always been said to be bad luck for brides and grooms to see each other before the ceremony, we explored the benefits of kicking this tradition to the curb in our post, Catching a Glimpse ,and choosing to have a moment prior to the ceremony for just the two of you to see and be with each other. Perks remain:
- an intimate moment for just the two of you to share without having to share yourselves with everyone else
- it not only creates beautifully candid shots of the two of you…
- but it also can create time to get some of your ”formal” wedding pictures out of the way (ie. bridal party, portraits, family shots, etc.) while everyone is at their freshest
- and finally, can make for some uniquely beautiful memories
However – and this is a HUGE however - a girlfriend of mine (wad up, Linds!) sent me a link today exploring a ‘Behind the Door’ technique, which proves brides who are both trendy AND traditional can have her cake and eat it too when it comes to this! (Sooo stinkin’ sad I didn’t think of it myself!)
The ‘Behind the Door’ technique puts you and your main squeeze right next to each other without revealing the way either one looks. How, you might ask? Well, by leaving a door – be it the one that enters into the bridal suite door or the church or wherever – and giving you a moment to hold hands, share in the moment and capture the memory… all without ever having to give up the tradition of the grand reveal!
I mean how can you not love this idea?!?! My hubs is my best friend. He’s the one I talk to when I’m extremely happy or super sad or overly worried or incredibly annoying (you get the idea); so, it was very difficult to not have him there on the biggest day of our lives to share in that time with me. Because we chose to stay on the side of tradition on our big day and didn’t see each other until my Papa walked me down the aisle — we felt it added to the anticipation and excitement of it all, we weren’t able to talk to each other :( But if we would’ve done this, we could’ve had the BEST of BOTH worlds! Check out Julie’s pics from her Peanut Butter Fingers Blog below:
courtesy of Gina Leigh Photography via pbfingers.com
July 14, 2011
Alfred Angelo has done it, my friends. He’s created a line of fairy tale, dream-come-true dresses perfect for the princess bride in all of us, and there’s nothing (and I do mean NOTHING!) that I love more about this than that each one is modeled after one of the grandest princesses of them all… a Disney Princess! Whoop, whoop!
Not only are the dresses too cute to boot, but each one is reasonably priced (under $1,399) and available in a size to fit any princesses’ frame (0 to 30W).
So, without further adieu (and in no particular order of ahhhmazing), I give thee, Alfred Angelo’s Line of Disney Dresses…
Ariel. Not even ten leagues Under the Sea could this dress’ beauty be hidden from view!
Jasmine. Open the crowd’s eyes to A Whole New World.
Aurora. You’ll never want to Sleep in the Beauty!
Tiana. You may have Kissed a lot of Frogs to get to your Prince… but in this dress, who even cares??
Cinderella. Not even a Glass Slipper or room full of ladies in waiting can outshine you!
Belle. Captivate the hearts of even the most Beastly men on the day you say “I do.”
Snow White. Wicked Queens and Poisoned Apples beware… there’s a princess ready to party!
July 7, 2011
