Sticky Situation July 16, 2009

Fashion isn’t your mothers strong suit.  You’re worried she’ll show up at your wedding wearing something tacky or inappropriate.

Seek the help of a third party.  Ask her to join you for an afternoon of shopping, and use a personal shopper or sales associate to take the pressure of.  She will be more likely to accept fashion advice from a professional.  If she still ends up picking something completely hideous, keep your disappointment to yourself.  In the end, a happy mother, wearing what makes her feel comfortable, is much more important than a great picture opportunity.

About Face July 16, 2009

Nutrition for your skin.  Here’s a daily nutritional plan that your skin will love you for.

• 2 cups of raw fruit
• 2 1/2 cups of raw vegetable
• 3 ounces or more of whole grain products
• 6-8 glasses of water
• Reduce coffee or tea intake to 2 cups or less.
• Avoid drinking liquids 2-3 hours before bed to reduce puffiness.
• Avoid alcohol
• Eat Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs): Omega 3 and Omega 6.
• Reduce saturated and processed fats.

Calla Lily July 16, 2009

The calla lilies are a beautiful genus of flowers that have been enjoyed by humans for centuries. The calla lily grows from a type of bulb called a rhizome and produces very large green leaves, typically covered with lighter-coloured spots. The flower blooms from the top of a rather thick stem and sort of resembles trumpet shaped rolled paper, having a texture ranging from rather fleshy to wet autumn leaves.

MEANING – Rebirth and Purity.

AVAILABILITY – Year Round

COLORS - White, white with Red Spots.

FRAGRANCE - Light scent with memory of summer.

COST – Moderate.

Tying the Knot June 15, 2009

The traditional bow tie will always be around, but with a modern bride comes a modern groom.  There are different ways that you can go about tying a dess tie from Windsor to Prince Albert.  Brooks Brothers has a great selections of ties, much like your bridal attendants buying their dress this is a great way for the groomsmen to have a piece of the day to keep too.  They also offer a guide on different ways to tie a tie.

If this is still a bit to traditional for you.  Opt out the tie with an open button for a less formal wedding, possibly a beach ceremony.  Taking this opportunity to add pattern color and personality to the groom and his groomsmen on this day will make a huge impact.  You just may want to keep your groom away from the “bootlace” cowboy tie.

Your Matrimonial Muse June 15, 2009

From the Editors Desk

Every bride-to-be should have your very own look book of great ideas to spring from, a collection of inspiration then can be in nearlly any form – magazine pages, post cards, color chips, photographs, pressed flowers, fabric samples.  Designers use inspiration boards to conceptualize new lines and products, and brides can do the same thing by gathering visuals they love.  When getting started the bride will need to get a jumpping off point, whether grandmas china or a painting from a new art gallery, whatever it may be make it something that means something to you.  This is a fool proof way to insure that your day expresses who you are.  Always having to find the newest trends I look all over for what can be an inspiration to a bride.  Although the traditional “brides book” is great for tracking your likes and dislikes technology is at our finger tips.  I suggest making a folder on your desktop and moving digital photos to build your dream wedding.  Even with these enhancments in tracking dont forget your textures, you need to sample fabrics and finshes – if only the computer could do it all?

Secrets to a Flawless Face June 15, 2009

Every bride wants to showcase her beauty on her big day.  While makeup can conceal minor imperfections, nothing beats healthy, clear skin.  Let’s face it – no one has a perfect skin.

Do no harm .  When it comes to your skin, remember not to harm it.  Usually you won’t be able to feel or see it, but accumulations of low levels of trauma may add up to skin damage and aging later on.  Here is a list if things you can do to protect the largest organ of your body.

• Protect yourself against ultraviolet radiation by wearing sun protection.
• Avoid harsh detergents that may be harmful to the skin instead use nonionic detergents.
• Keep your hot showers and baths short if your tap water has high dosage if chlorine.
• Avoid skin irritants which may directly damage the skin or trigger an inflammatory or allergic reaction (fro example, overuse of makeup or long-lasting makeup tend to contain harsher chemicals and require stronger solvents for removal.
• Treat inflammations but not to a point where the treatment causes more damage than disease.
• Minimize puffiness.
• Be aware of certain facial expressions, which when repeated enough, may cause motion wrinkles.
• Be aware of overusing skincare products.
• Stay away from excessive cleaning and exfoliation.

Sticky Situation June 5, 2009

Need to check in with guests who have not RSVP’d to your wedding yet.

There’s really no choice but to directly ask the invitees via telephone, e-mail or in person if they are planning to attend – however, you can always solicit the help of your attendants to do the dirty work.  To ease the awkward nature if these conversations, phrase your inquiry like this “Aunt Jenny, its Sara.  I hope you have received our wedding invitation.  We need to give our final numbers tot he caterer this week, and I haven’t received your response card, so I am calling to ask if you and Uncle John are attending the wedding.  We hope you will be able to join us.”  Do not point fingers are lay blame regarding their forgetfulness.  After all, invitations and response cards are occasionally lost in the mail.

Secret Appreciation June 5, 2009

So the day has come and you are walking down the aisle.  There are so many things going through your head from your shoes, to you hair, to whether your ring bearer will swallow the ring.  Your guests know you have a lot going on and it may be hard to show your appreciation to everyone in person.  A great idea is to leave a note under each guests charger.

As your guests finish their last bite and the dinner plate is removed, also request – once all plates are removed – to remove the chargers as well.  Your guests will see the note left for them and feel as though you thought of them even on your hectic day.

Midnight Snacks June 4, 2009

Your wedding celebration will continue on for some time after the last dinner dishes have been cleared.  So consider offering your guests a late-night treat that will be surely satisfying and light enough to keep the party rolling.

If you want to continue the dessert portion of the evening you may want to have some fruit tarts.  They are bite size and easy to eat, no mess.

Sometimes pairing something to drink with a passing dessert is always a nice one stop re-charge.  Try a hot chocolate chip cookie and a shot of cold milk.

If the dessert is over and you don’t have much of a sweet tooth crowd, think about a mini-ender.  Think of your child hood maybe a grill cheese sandwich and tomato soup.  By using a Chinese soup spoon to hold the soup you are continuing the quick and easy slow of your midnight snacks.

No matter how you serve it or whether it is the sugar to keep you going through the night or some comfort food to finish the night, always make sure you keep your guests fed.  Much like your new husband – a way to a guests heart is through there stomach.

Eye Spy June 3, 2009

Want to leave the black rivers on your checks for another day?  Secrets to jaw-dropping peepers.

BANISH SMUDGES

When emotions are running high use Genie TLC mascara, a waterproof formula that defines and lengthens the lashes.  Then, to mop up tears while staying smudge-free, wrap a small piece of paper towel around your finger and dab – rather than wipe – away the moisture.

Genie TLC mascara, $20; geniebeauty.com

GET LONG, LUSH LASHES

Fake lashes do not have to come off cartoonish (Betty Boop) or theatrical (Liza Minnelli).  The trick: Rather than attaching a full strip along the entire length of your upper lash line, ask your make-up artist to attach individual ones to the outer edge of your eyes.  Simply pluck them out with the help of an oil-based makeup remover. Try Ardell Lashtite Individual Eyelash Adhesive.

Ardell Lashtite Individual Eyelash Adhesive, $4; drugstore.com

QUIT SMOKING

Instead of wearing event-inappropriate smoky eyes, line the inner rims with a water-resistant black eyeliner.  It creates drama without heaviness.

DARKEN BROWS

Skip the dye job and fill them in.

STEP 1 – Brush brows up and out with a clean spooley brush.

STEP 2 – With a pointed taupe (for lighter brows) or brown (for darker ones) eyebrow pencil, draw tiny feathery strokes on the skin beneath the hairs.

STEP 3 – For the color to look natural, use an angle-cut brush to go over the brows with eyebrow powder. It blends the powder and takes away the waxy finish of the pencil.

Anastasia Beverly Hills angled-cut small brush, $17; sephora.com

You have ripped up unflattering pictures of you in the past and your wedding snaps don’t want to have this final end.  If you are able to afford one, book your makeup artist for the day or at least until after dinner.  This way if you want to add a darker eye it would become much more appropriate after your dinner is complete.