Real Party: Spa Candy's Ladies Night

I found this cute party idea for a ladies night spa candy party @ Bella Grace Party Designs.











courtesy of Bella Grace Party Designs

The Best Wedding Dress Shape For You

You've joined a gym, changed your diet and even banned alcohol (during the week, anyway) -- now don't let all of your hard work go to waste. Stick to dress styles that flatter your figure to get the most out of your wedding workouts. Here are five common body types and what to wear for each.

Curvy
Embrace those curves with a gown that shows off your hourglass shape. A mermaid-style or a dropped-waist dress is ideal, though anything with a fitted bodice will enhance your figure.

Figure Flatterers
1. Opt for a sweetheart neckline to mimic the shape of your body's natural curves.
2. A decorative sash in a contrasting hue will highlight your shapely waistline.
3. A strategically placed floral applique draws attention to your most petite parts.
4. Exaggerated dropped waistlines, which hit below the hips, will hug your curves but still give you plenty of mobility.

Details to Dodge
Plunging necklines (or anything that shows a bit too much skin -- you want all of your guests to look at your face, right?)
Empire waistlines
Pear-Shaped
Disguise your hips by choosing a gown style that flares at or above your natural waist. Think baby-doll gowns with Empire waistlines. Or focus on interesting necklines and detailed bodices that draw the eye upward.

Figure Flatterers
1. An elaborate one-shoulder neckline is a great way to call attention to your tiny torso.
2. A fitted bodice with a full skirt suits your shape since it helps define your waist.
3. Empire waistlines (which fall just under the bust) hug your body at its slimmest spot.
4. Billowy tiers will hide large hips in style.

Details to Dodge
Dropped waists
Slinky fabrics
Sheaths
Mermaid skirts
Petite
Opt for a modern sheath. The slim silhouette adds length to your tiny frame. Pay attention to the hemline though: If it's too long or too short, you'll end up looking even smaller. If a sheath feels too casual, a trumpet or A-line style is another great option.

Figure Flatterers
1. A V-neckline draws the eye downward and gives the impression of height.
2. For layers without extra bulk, try a slim style with a sheer lace or light tulle overlay.
3. Embellishments on the bodice in V-shaped patterns will elongate your torso.
4. Trumpet skirts hug your frame and are the best bet if you want to wear a fuller skirt.

Details to Dodge
Poufy tiers
Excessive embellishments
Oversized bows and flowers
Tall and Slender
If you want to downplay your height, stick to more voluminous silhouettes. Or you could show off your lean shape in a flowing sheath. These slim looks hug your body for a sexier take on the traditional wedding gown.

Figure Flatterers
1. High necklines, like halter, jewel or bateau styles, will make you seem statuesque.
2. Silky fabrics show off your lean shape.
3. A gown with a defined waistline will create the illusion of curves on your slim figure.
4. You can go with a voluminous A-line dress or ball gown; it won't overwhelm your frame.

Details to Dodge
Headpieces
High heels (duh!)
Hairstyles with lots of height
Apple-Shaped
You're going to want a gown that hides your not-so-tight tummy. Search for styles with tight ruching or beading around the waist, and conservative necklines like scoop or V-neck.

Figure Flatterers
1. Wide straps balance out your figure. Bonus: They also let you wear a bra with ease.
2. A gathered waistline will instantly help make your tummy look more toned.
3. V-necklines are slimming.
4. A sassy, above-the-knee hemline is ideal to show off your best asset: great legs!

Details to Dodge
Off-the-shoulder necklines
High necklines

courtesy of The Knot

Fabulous Finds

Modern Paperware by Jonathan Adler

This partyware is adorable!!!






View it all HERE

How to Save When Entertaining

Want to feed your friends without taking a bite out of your budget?
Party on with these tips.

Drinks

Serve bubbly cocktails. You already know that opting for Prosecco or Cava instead of Champagne can save you about $20 to $30 a bottle. So why not stretch your dollar even further by mixing your bargain bubbles with fruit juice? Add cranberry juice to make a "poinsettia," or pomegranate juice for a "pomegranate fizz."
Explore non-European wines. "South African wines are inexpensive but have a high deliciousness factor," says Alexander Joerger, the wine manager for Best Cellars wine stores and A&P supermarkets. And be sure to check out Sauvignon Blancs from Chile ($7 to $15).


Starters

Two words: bread and cheese. Avoid fancy crackers. Instead, dress up the tray with baguette slices (who doesn’t love crispy bread?) for around $2.50. And stick with affordable domestic varieties of Parmesan, Gouda, and Cheddar (Cabot is a good brand)―all of which can run under $10 a pound, says cheesemonger Nora Singley, who leads classes for Murray’s Cheese, in New York City. Finally, don’t plate boulder-size hunks. "If you’re serving other appetizers, three-quarters of an ounce per person is sufficient," she says.


Main Dishes

Host a brunch. Eggs are cheaper than steak any day. Make an egg casserole or a frittata that can feed a crowd.
Pork tenderloin? Try pork shoulder. This hunk of meat can cost less than $2 a pound, as opposed to pork tenderloin, which is about $7 a pound. Slow-roast it in the oven, then pull it or slice it into chunks.


Dessert

Keep your sweets simple. Scatter orange segments and chopped-up dark chocolate bars on a plate or a platter and let everyone dig in.


Decor

Bring out your collection. Use seashells from your beach vacation as place settings. "Martha, you’ve got the conch. Tim, sit at the starfish."
Skip costly serving pieces. Serve cheese wedges on a rustic wooden cutting board. Bring braised meat or a hearty pasta dish to the table in a Dutch oven. With the family-style food, the look will be bountiful and homey.


Courtesy of RealSimple.com

Baby Shower Inspiration

Sweet Baby Shower

I found these great ideas for a Sweet Baby Shower over at My Dear Trash

Hello Spring Party

Charm Event Design created this cute and fun Hello Spring party.

Color Inspiration

Happy Monday!
MarthaStewartweddings.com has a great article on selecting your wedding colors, enjoy!


There is no better mood enhancer than color therapy. Tired of darkness that falls too early? Get yourself some brazenly pink tulips. Sick of slush? Slip on a pair of Crayola-yellow wellies. Color is the perfect antidote to the winter doldrums. It is joy. It is laughter. It is beauty.

These days, with so many gorgeous wedding-related goods available to you in colors that span the spectrum, it's easier than ever to pull together a celebration that positively glows. The hardest part? Deciding on your palette.

Below are ideas to brighten up your nuptials (who says pastels have to monopolize your big-day style?).

-- Pick a hue, any hue, and chances are high that there's a favor box in that shade (and in the shape you wish!).

-- If you can't find a bloom in the exact color you want, fake it with faux flowers.

-- Invitations that pop with color are very of-the-moment for more casual celebrations.

-- When else will you be able to use ribbon with such abandon? Take full advantage and go with the flow.

-- For a subtle way to inject color into your wedding, look for stamps that match your palette or custom-print using colored ink or paper.

-- Color and candy are practically synonymous -- and for good reason: They suit each other.

Choosing Your Wedding Party

I found this article at RealSimple.com about selecting your wedding party. This is so very, very important and I know many people want to have a large wedding party that includes all of their high school/college friends, but when choosing your wedding party you really should be selective and pick only those who you are very close to and are very, very reliable . The truth is everyone wants to dress up and be in the photos, but not everyone wants the responsibilities that come along with being in the wedding party!

Maid of Honor
Whom to choose:
Sisters trump friends, but otherwise go for your oldest and most loyal pal―the one who knows when to tell you what you want to hear and when to be brutally honest.

Job description:
As chief ringleader, the MOH plans the shower and the bachelorette party and is also responsible for keeping the bridesmaid machine running smoothly by staying on top of fittings and other tasks the bride has delegated. May be asked to make a toast at the rehearsal dinner. Gets bonus points for bringing safety pins to the bridal dressing area.

Caveat:
Since organizing and motivating are key duties of the MOH, choose your lovable but scatterbrained best friend only if you’re prepared to do a lot of the heavy lifting yourself.

Best Man
Whom to choose:
A brother or the best friend who won’t party too hard after the rehearsal dinner―you do want him to make it to the ceremony, after all. In some parts of the country, it’s customary for the groom to choose his father.

Job description:
Takes care of all bachelor events and provides support to the groom. Keeps track of wedding rings even if there is a ring bearer (you don’t want to assign that task to a four-year-old). Kicks off the toasts at the rehearsal dinner.

Caveat:
Picking someone who gets along with the bride is a plus.

Bridesmaids

Whom to choose:
Fun friends who will still be in your life long after you’ve thrown out that last chunk of frozen wedding cake. Negative, needy dramatic types need not apply. Once again, sisters and close cousins beat out friends for bridesmaid status. Don’t forget your fiancé’s sister.

Job description:
As members of Team Bride, bridesmaids participate in all prewedding events. They are also required to smile while purchasing their dresses, no matter what those dresses look like; dance enthusiastically to “Shout” at the reception; run errands; attend any tastings, site visits, or meetings that the bride asks them to; and stay until the end of the reception.

Caveat:
Out-of-town bridesmaids get a pass on most parties, but they still must send a gift for the shower.

Groomsmen

Whom to choose:
Old friends, cousins, and both the bride’s and groom’s brothers.

Job description:
If necessary, seating guests, helping the best man throw the bachelor party, and dancing with the bridesmaids.

Caveat:
If you’re having a large wedding, you can also have ushers, who will help with seating but won’t walk down the aisle


Flower Girl
Whom to choose:
An adorable moppet, such as a cousin, a niece, a godchild, or a stepchild between the ages of three and six. Not to be confused with junior bridesmaids, who are older and wear tween versions of the bridesmaids’ dresses.

Job description:
Scattering flower petals as she walks down the aisle. May be accompanied by the ring bearer.

Caveat:
Prepare to deal with disruptions, such as crying or not making it all the way down the aisle.


Ring Bearer
Whom to choose:
A boy young enough to wear knickers, saddle shoes, and long kneesocks, but who won’t turn the velvet pillow into a projectile. (Watch out, Grandma!)

Job description:
No surprise―bearing the ring. Accompanying the flower girl down the aisle.

Caveat:
Be sure to secure the rings to whatever they’re being carried in or on.

Tips for the Perfect Wedding Reception

Martha Stewart Weddings offers you 50 tips to the perfect wedding reception. I'm going to list a few here, but you can see them all here: www.marthastewartweddings.com



Take Stock of Your Location
Do a walk-through of your venue as soon as you're able, noting features to highlight -- a grand staircase or a grove of trees, perhaps -- and areas that need to be spruced up or downplayed.



Tackle Big Tasks First
Your immediate "to do" list: Book the venue, hire a caterer, decide on basic decor. With these major tasks done, you'll be ready to focus on the smaller details.
Get It in Writing
Make sure you have signed contracts from all your vendors and that you've read the fine print and resolved any questions.



Dress Up Your Entryway
Beautiful front-door decorations, which can be as low-key as swags of greenery, serve as a visual welcome whether adorning a building or a tent and ensure that everyone's first glimpse of the party is from its best vantage point.



Choose a Theme
Whether it's a monogram, a color pairing, or a food or flower that evokes a favorite place, a repeated element helps to both personalize and unify your event.



Size Up Your Centerpieces
Keep floral arrangements and other table decor under 14 or over 20 inches high, so guests can view and converse with each other across the table.



Invite Carefully
Be prepared: Up to 80 to 90 percent of those invited may attend. (The smaller the list, the more yeses you should expect percentage-wise, because you will likely be asking only those closest to you.)




Map Out Your Space
Be sure you have ample room for tables (figure 10 to 15 square feet per person, assuming that the tables are round and seat six to 10 guests); also check that the dance floor is big enough (four to five square feet per guest is about right).



Whip Up Affordable Favors
Stylish tokens needn't be expensive. These biodegradable bowls look sumptuous when wrapped with gauzy fabric and labeled with paper strips that are laser printed in a pretty font. Fill with mini meringues, an economical treat; either make them yourself or ask your caterer to provide them.




Play With Time
You'll save on liquor, food, and possibly vendors' fees if you shave 30 minutes or an hour off the party. So it doesn't feel rushed, cut a little from everything (make the cocktail hour a "cocktail 45 minutes") instead of eliminating events.

Set a Time Limit
Your guests have already spent hours, if not days, at pre-wedding events and at the ceremony itself; they're likely to be tired. Though you may wish the reception would never end, it should last no more than five hours. Also, make it clear that any after-parties you schedule are entirely optional.




Rethink Humble Decorations
Balloons have long been used to fill party spaces at low cost. For a sophisticated feel, opt for a few large balloons instead of masses of birthday-party-style ones. Those with a diameter of 36 inches have an elegant globe shape.

Wedding Reception Menu Ideas

Have no idea of what to serve at your reception?
How many courses are enough?
Do I need five courses or a buffet?
What food is best for my type of celebration?

Well RealSimple.com offers some helpful information on what to serve for your wedding reception.



Sit-Down Dinner

Appetizer
Choice of:

Seafood salad: shrimp, calamari, scungilli, octopus, and mussels with lemon and extra-virgin olive oil
Fresh figs: draped with prosciutto di Parma
Tuscan garden salad: romaine lettuce, Bibb lettuce, radicchio, tomatoes, and radishes with balsamic vinaigrette


Main Course
Choice of:

Salmon: broiled and seasoned with bread crumbs, garlic, lemon, and butter
Baby rack of lamb: three double cuts of rack of lamb coated in an aromatic blend of fresh herbs and spices
Served with: Bouquet of fresh seasonal vegetables and golden fried potato croquette




Buffet

Stuffed endive with Roquefort cheese, topped with chopped walnuts
Roasted new potatoes with dill cream and golden caviar
Spinach dip with toasted pita triangles
Wild mushroom tartlets
Artichoke mousse puffs
Melon wrapped in prosciutto
Miniature reuben sandwiches
Spanakopita (spinach and Feta in phyllo pastry)
Smoked salmon canapes topped with capers and fresh dill
Seafood dip with sliced French bread
Miniature crab cakes
Antipasti display (buffalo mozzarella, grilled eggplant, marinated mushrooms, artichokes, vine-ripened tomatoes, kalamata olives, and bread sticks)
Smoked salmon display (sliced salmon served with chopped onion, lemon slices, capers, cucumber-dill sauce, and assorted dark breads)
Pasta station (ravioli with roasted red-pepper sauce; bow tie pasta with Gorgonzola cream sauce)
Carving station (Asian flank steak and Cajun-rubbed turkey breast served with cranberry-mango chutney and assorted rolls)





Cocktail Party

Grilled coriander giant prawns with a chili-lime sauce
Rosemary-roasted baby lamb chops with apricot-mint salsa
Chicken satays with a tangy peanut sauce
Bite-size chicken fajitas with avocado salsa
Three onion, Feta, and sun-dried tomato tartlets
Mini lobster rolls on toasted brioche
Sauteed softshell crabs with a spicy rémoulade
Miso-glazed cod with Asian pesto
Authentic dim sum: crystal shrimp, sweet rice, spinach, and shiitake mushroom
Dumplings served with three dipping sauces




Backyard Barbecue

Main Courses
Barbecue beef brisket
Pork spareribs
Smoked sausages
Barbecue chicken

Sides
Barbecue beans
Coleslaw
Potato salad
Tossed green salad
Toasted garlic bread
Corn bread
Corn on the cob

Wedding Budget Planner

Photo Courtesy of The Knot

Wedding Budget Breakdown

Whether you're throwing a celebration in your backyard or a blowout, here's how you can plan up your budget. Just remember to include sales tax in your calculations.

Reception (Food, Beverages, Rentals, and Site)
40 percent to 50 percent

Flowers
10 percent

Photography/Videography
10 percent

Bride's and groom's attire
5 percent to 10 percent

Music
5 percent to 10 percent

Planner or Coordinator
10 percent to 15 percent

Miscellaneous (Invitations, Officiant Fees, Favors, Transportation, Etc.)
10 percent

Cushion
5 percent to 15 percent

5 Wedding Budget Don'ts

1. Never go into debt to pay for a wedding. Consider having an intimate gathering and putting off the big reception for a year or two so you can save up for it.

2. Don't put your wedding bills on your credit card unless you can pay off the balance in full as soon as you get each statement. Credit-card interest rates and finance charges can add hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars to your bill -- even if you carry a balance for only a month or two.

3. Do your homework before agreeing to any upgrades (colored table linens, fancy chair covers) without first asking if they cost extra.

4. Don't spend more than you'd anticipated in one area unless you can cut back by that amount in another area.

5. Don't budget for fewer guests than you invited. It's better to overestimate.


Set a Realistic Wedding Budget
To arrive at a realistic budget, start by researching the price of weddings in your specific area.

Research the Costs
If you have your mind set on a specific site, florist, or band, call that vendor to get a sense of their fees. During this preliminary planning stage, you'll also need a figure for the number of guests you'd like to invite. "How big the wedding is going to be, the style -- formal or informal -- that's the initial discussion," says Alan Fields, coauthor of "Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget" (Windsor Peak Press; 2006). All this early deliberation and fact-finding will give you a more accurate estimate of how much your fantasy wedding will cost.


Talk About It
It's time for you and your fiance to have an open and honest talk about how much you can actually afford. Whether to include others in this conversation depends on who will be contributing to the wedding. Though more and more couples are paying their own way, experts say, it's still common for the bride's and groom's parents to take care of at least some of the expenses. If your families are willing to open their checkbooks, it's crucial to get their input up front.


Track Your Spending
Remaining within your budget also means staying organized. Track your expenditures by saving receipts and recording your spending. (The interactive budget planner on our website can help you get a handle on your finances.) File copies of every vendor estimate in a folder so you can refer to them if need be. And remember to keep a cool head and just say no to things you can't afford.

Helpful Ways to Trim Your Wedding Budget

Party in Public Spaces
The nicest wedding sites -- parks, museums, public gardens -- may be the most affordable.


Ask for Help
Ask talented friends or relatives to help with your wedding. An artistic friend, for instance, might design your stationery, or a baking enthusiast could make cupcakes or cookie favors.


Set Guest List Boundaries
To minimize the guest list, refrain from inviting children and coworkers. Include your friends' significant others but not casual dates.



Downsize Your Bridal Party
Try to keep the number of attendants as small as possible: The larger the bridal party, the more you'll spend for gifts and flowers.


Make Your Own Favors
Handmade favors and decorations are appealing and usually cost less than store-bought.


Turn Favors into Centerpieces
As an alternative to traditional flower centerpieces, group favors together on the table. Even if you spend a bit more on the favors themselves, you'll probably save overall.


Decorate Tables With Candles
A single pillar candle in a hurricane lantern is a wonderful centerpiece, as is a casual display of votive candles in the middle of a table.



Arrange Fruit-Filled Centerpieces
Bowls or compotes filled with seasonal fruits from a farmer's market can take the place of expensive floral presentations.


Select In-Season Flowers
While most popular bridal flowers are available year-round, some traditional ones -- peonies and lilies of the valley, for example -- can be difficult to find and expensive out of season. Seek your florist's advice before deciding on your flowers.



Two Wedding Cakes Can Be Cheaper than One
Order two cakes for the reception: a large sheet cake and a small fancy one to be used for display and the cake-cutting ceremony. The sheet cake, which can be less elaborately decorated than the other, gets sliced and dished up in the kitchen.


Punch-and-Cake Reception
A punch-and-cake reception held in the late morning or afternoon is the least expensive type of party. To make it special, serve several cakes of different designs and flavors, or make punch in colors that match your palette.



Forgo Full Dinner Service
How dinner is served affects the price. French service, in which guests are served by waiters from a platter at the table, and regular plate service are the most expensive. More economical is family style, where diners help themselves from serving dishes brought to the table.



Consider a Wedding Breakfast or Brunch
Breakfasts, brunches, and afternoon teas are usually more affordable than evening receptions: They're shorter, the fare is lighter, and guests tend to consume less liquor early in the day.



Signature Drink
Serve a signature drink, such as punch or a favorite cocktail, instead of providing a full bar.



Limit Alcoholic Beverages
Limit alcoholic beverages to wine and beer, choices that will satisfy most of your guests.

Sign up for newsletters or join mailing lists at wine shops. Then, when wines you want for your wedding go on sale, buy in bulk.

Buy Wholesale

Buy your own wine wholesale. You'll pay your caterer a corkage fee to pour it, but wine purchased through him can cost twice as much.

Most merchants offer a 10 percent discount for buying wine by the case, and they'll often increase that if you purchase several cases at once.

Check into wine that's available in magnums (bottles twice the size of regular ones); several quality wines are. Wine sold in a magnum costs less per ounce, and because the corkage fee goes twice as far, you'll save on two counts.

Courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings