What I love about Real Simple Weddings is that the guide is filled with a wealth of information and photos for planning a wedding. As the publication is put together in collaboration with Crate & Barrel, advertising is kept very minimal as the only ads shown are for Crate & Barrel (typically before the next chapter). But, this year's guide is basically last years with several new sections being added (see below) and all new featured Real Weddings. The bulk of the publication is identical, and the photos within the chapters are the same.
This years additions with new photos include:
• Dresses by Season
• Bridesmaids Attire (dressing with either same style/complementary colors or different styles/same color)
• Flowers - Pick Your Color Palette
• Flowers at a Glance (32 popular flowers and their "in" season
• Bouquets by Season
• Cakes by Season
If you are a new bride-to-be and don't have last year's Real Simple Weddings, then I highly suggest you head to your local Crate & Barrel to pick up a copy. It is filled with a tremendous amount of wedding tips and worksheets that I know you will love. But, if you already have the 2008 edition, I want to use the one you already have. Unless of course, you want to see the newest Real Weddings that have been published in the 2009 edition. You can also purchase a copy of the Real Simple Wedding Guide online at Crate & Barrel.
And, one last little note, more of an FYI: while there is a web site index, the actual resource links/credits associated with the images are not noted. Therefore, you will not be able to know the exact gown designer for the dress shown, cake baker, etc.
I've recently been introduced to Sue Devitt's line of makeup, in particular her Kilimanjaro Collection for Holiday 2008. I'm loving it. I've been using the eye shadow and mascara from the collection for about 2 weeks now. I'm so happy to have finally found a mascara that doesn't leave little black clumps on my eyelashes. It also washes out easily with my daily cleanser at night. The eyeshadow is amazing too. I've always loved purples, but it's hard to find a collection that includes a dark enough color for the bottom half of my upper lid. This collection of 4 shades is perfect and goes on smoothly. Thank you Melissa for letting me know about Sue Devitt.
A bit about Sue Devitt's new collection:
Sue Devitt takes a journey to Mt. Kilimanjaro this holiday season with a new, breathtaking collection inspired by the seductively alluring colors, textures and natural surroundings of this exotic locale. Created to mimic the vibrant hues of Kilimanjaro, Sue has captured a vision of exotic colors that range from the crisp mountain white caps to the deep shades of purple and lavender reflected off the mountain during the sun's descent and an intense black African starry night.
The Kilimanjaro Collection includes:
Microquatic™ Hydrating Marine Mineral Eye Palette in Kilimanjaro
{retails for $37.50}
This exquisite palette features a variation of universally flattering purples in blendable, wearable and long-lasting eye color. This cutting edge formula also contains a synergistic complex of biotechnological marine and botanical substances such as Sea Butter, Shea Butter, Ceramides and Hylauronic Acid in addition to vitamins, minerals and proteins that work in tandem to help skin absorb water from the air while restoring skin's natural elasticity.
Microquatic™ Mascara in Black Widow Black Lavender
{retails for $22.00}
Condition lashes while dispensing a deep black lavender pigment to the lashes. This luxurious mascara features Devitt's signature Microquatic™ formulation, offering a nano dispersion of vitamins, pro-vitamins and soothing orchid extract for added hydration, while beeswax and microcrystalline wax keep lashes moist and malleable all day long.
Eye Intensifier Pencil in Black Widow Black Lavender
{retails for $22.00}
Long lasting, smudge-proof and water resistant, Eye Intensifier Pencil creates an instant and dramatic finish, emphasizing the eye with deep, dramatic shades in rich, velvety textures.
Has anybody else used Sue Devitt's makeup? I was told the Sue Devitt Holiday Collection will be available at Barney's and online at www.barneys.com
Our cookie collection is featured on the Wedding Chicks blog today!
Here's what Amy and Jocey had to say:
"Check out this darling Wedding Cookie Collection available at Best Wedding Sites! These wedding cookies make super cute and tasty favors. Edible favors are always a hit at weddings, and now you can even personalize your cookies. So often we find that non-edible favors are left behind on the table. I can’t imagine anyone leaving these delicious cookies behind! This cookie collection renages in price from $5-$7 each. Each cookie favor is packaged in a high quality cellophane bag with twist tie and satin ribbon. (No work for you - yay cookies!) These cookies have a shelf life of eight to ten weeks and are shipped direct from the baker to ensure freshness. You just have to check out Best Wedding Sites for the very latest cookie designs in the exclusive collection that have just been released!"
Thank you Amy and Jocey for a lovely presentation and write up.
You made my day!
Note: The above is post 1 of 2 for today July 23rd. The 2nd post follows. I just wanted to let you know as I typically only post once a day and wanted to make sure you saw both entries.
by Meg Cabot
This is the 3rd novel in Meg Cabot's Queen of Babble triolgy, featuring Lizzie Nichols, a restorer of vintage wedding gowns who is in the midst of beginning to plan her own wedding. Meg Cabot is a #1 New York Times bestselling author - you may recognize her name from the popular young adult fiction series The Princess Diaries which was also made into two hit movies by Disney.
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched begins with Lizzie accepting Luke's proposal, yet Luke's best friend Chaz quickly lets Lizzie know that Luke could never love her the way he does. Hmmmmm, what's a girl to do? While trying to plan her wedding to Luke at his family's chateau in France, she faces decisions that result in her breaking out in hives. Should she leave Luke for Chaz? Or should she marry Luke and move from NYC to Paris. And, what about her budding wedding design business? While Lizzie sorts thru these questions, she is surrounded by a great cast of supporting characters, including her Gran, her friends Shari and Tiffany, and the gum-snapper Ava Geck with her chihuahua.
In case you missed our exclusive release of Meg Cabot's latest video where she talks about her elopement on Monday, you can see it here. Meg's witty personality shines through in Queen of Babble Gets Hitched, even some of the quirks Meg has encountered in her own life, are passed onto Lizzie in the novel. This book was a sweet and fun read. I found myself not wanting to put it down, even though I should probably have been getting work done :) It's the perfect book for brides to read who want a temporary, yet still romantic escape, from all the tedious wedding planning.
Don't worry if you haven't read the first 2 books in the series, I haven't, and I don't feel that I've missed anything by starting with the latest release. Although... I am now off to start reading her other 2 books in the Queen of Babble Series. And, don't forget to enter our June contest to win your very own set of the Queen of Babble book series - 10 lucky winners will win a signed 3 book collection. Enter Here.
Last week I was given the opportunity to try the new product from Bumble and bumble called Creme de Coco Masque. It's a once a week treatment for your hair and the company says, "starting this regimen months or weeks before your wedding will ensure your hair is as healthy as possible for the big day". To give the masque the true test, I wanted to test it out with the matching shampoo and conditioner from the Bumble and bumble Creme de Coco line. I loved the results. My hair has never felt so smooth and soft. I think I might have finally found the hair cleaning system for me. My hair has been feeling very dry, so I couldn't wait to try out the masque. I will say that I was a bit skeptical after using the shampoo as my hair didn't feel very clean and they say you shouldn't need to use it 2x. I took their recommendation and let it go at 1x, applied the conditioner and then the masque. The entire line contains coconut oil and smells wonderful. After drying my hair I saw an immediate improvement, my hair finally had the smoothness that I seem to only get after being at the hair salon. Hooray for Bumble and bumble - I say it's a keeper. Has anybody else tried this new product yet? Please let me know your results if you are able to try it.
About the masque, from the Bb.Stylists: they recommend applying a generous amount of Creme de Coco Masque through clean, wet hair. For added treatment benefits, use with heat – wrap in a warm towel or sit in the sunshine. Rinse after seven minutes or more and be amazed by the slip-through-your-fingers silkiness. Creme de Coco Masque is great for all hair types, including the color treated, but ideal for even the dullest or driest of manes.