Awesome Bridal Shower Gifts!!!

I just loved this stuff so I had to write. I think this stuff would make amazing gifts for a bridal shower or a baby shower or birthday or whatever plus they are super pretty at a cheap price:

These are amazing! They are Chardonnay glasses with golden peacock feathers only $50 at Etsy. Check out Mary Elizabeth Hining's shop there :

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5458664

I thought this was super cute. Its only $2.50 and its just super cute to give to a bride. Put a couple of pins just like this inside a gift basket. Check it out Button Empire :

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27209941&ref=cat1_list_4

This is super funky cool. I love this idea. You take your picture send it to these folks and they make a cartoon of you for $50 bucks. Amy Jo's Handmade also on etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5513817

This is a classic gift but its still super cute and keeps the excitement going! Its the funny quote bridal tees at Bridal Party Tees, of course. Get one for the whole crew! Plus they are having a sale.

http://www.bridalpartytees.com/index.htm

I love the idea of giving your gal pal something really girlie and cute just to say "honey, we love ya" This is the Beauty Encyclopedia from Eyes Lips Face. It has the works. It has the eyes, lips and cheeks palette, mirror and it has a How To book on getting the perfect look. At $25 its more affordable than a fancy tube of lipstick at the fancy mall department stores.

Alternatives to flower bouquets?

So like after work I'm doing my wander around the mall thing. So I waddle my butt into my local Borders, folks I'm in here at least once everyday. I have a problem, I know but they haven't found a rehab program for Borders/Barnes and Noble addicts so I guess I will continue to go in there.

Anywho, so I waddled over there and I was like going into the mags and I saw this: Its beautiful, isn't it? I am in love. I saw it in the most recent issue of Martha Stewart. Aah Martha, you never fail me. I want this, period. The fat lady has sung...I'm making one. Call it Mariah Carey Butterfly fever but I am enamored by all things butterfly. This is a cool DIY project.

So it got me thinking, what are other things people can use for their bouquets?

Feathers: This isn't my thing but its super cute.

Pinwheels- this is for the fun at heart bride. I found this on www.mydiyweddingday.com

I thought this was cool.

Buttons- This to me is just weird but some think my butterfly thing is weird so its all relative. cute but weird.

Sam's Club Business Account=Super Savings!!

So I was at working doing my regular working thing when this guy comes in. So I'm like "Welcome how may I help you?" and he's like he's a rep from Sam's Club. Now I am usually kind of a you know what when I get a bit distracted from my task. This is what comes into my mind: "I'm at work and no I'm not buying sh..." Its not cool to be doing personal stuff on the job unless its an emergency sort of thing.

However,I have noticed like a week ago that Sam's Club has added bulk flowers (oooh girl, i love me some flowers) to their site. All sorts of colors at pretty fair prices. Like roses 125 stems for $79.73 shipping included. 20 stems of blue or white Hydrangea for $53.74. 150 carnations for $100. the list goes on but if you talk flowers you get the idea. Plus they deliver.

Plus with a business account you get like tons of savings on food stuff which helps if you are doing a DIY wedding with your Mom or Grandma. Buy a bunch of appetizers for less get some mint leaves and carrots , garnish and party. Have a cool hor dourves wedding reception!

Personally, I love the idea. So I said that I will getting a card from dude. Even if this wedding becomes a traditional Nigerian big wedding I still will be getting my flowers from Sam's Club.

My Guest list just doubled...Thanks, Dad.

well, here's an update:

I just invited my dad to our wedding of ten people and he just offered to help. He says that having a wedding of only ten people is stupid and that any respectable wedding has 50 people or more. While I am happy about getting his help I do not agree with his point of view. I think it is that point of view that gets some folks into debt in the first place.

A wedding is about the couple and NOT about the huge guest list or fancy appetizers and while its great to show your guest a good time with expensive fish eggs...its mainly about the love two people have for each other.

My dad thinks that I should aim higher and should only expect the best. He says that its not like I spend lavishly everyday. A little indulgence is a good thing. Weddings shouldn't be the same as cheap ten year old birthdays. Especially since I am paying a photographer to document my day. I think that its OK to try not blow a life's savings on one day. I don't know I am at a cross roads:

• Do I let Dad help us and invite all of my loved ones?
• Or do I tell Dad to just attend our 10-15 people wedding?

I really just don't know what to do.

i LOVE ETSY!

Etsy is supa cool...I am having my bracelet CUSTOM made for only $32! Yup I am supa excited! I spoke to my new custom jewelry lady KalliART and here is what we came up with: Needless to say I am super happy with it so far. I am worried about the beads but I think I will love it. Check out more of her work, she's a true artist:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=20308

this is kind of random but...

I like this song! Its on the radio all the time and I didnt understand it. I was like Beyonce is talking about Jesus? Huh?

but I realize this is about a slow love affair that turned out good....I like love. Its NICE.lol. After I saw the video I understood where she was coming from this is a link to the official video. Its a really beautiful song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZLxjI25fuo

this is the song.

Cute And Cheap Non Floral Centerpieces!

Well I am a bit freaked out about my centerpieces and if I will be able to have them at my venue. If not then its okay. I will have a great time regardless. After looking at some vendor price list I maybe may forgo flowers and do something less traditional. Here are some picks I saw and it got me thinking...."Hey, anyone can do that!"

super deals! JCrew!

I love J Crew! You can find some super deals there if you look this silk tricotine dress is in their wedding section and its only $ 195! The Sophia is just so weightless and easy plus its the perfect blank canvas for a colorful silk sash or beaded swarovski crystal belt. This dress is so cool its called the Maya and its only $99.99! Its an awesome dress to wear for a casual reception, city hall ceremony or a rehearsal dinner. Check out the sale section of regular JCrew. This one is super cute. It is so Goddess to me. Its $395 and its solid silk chiffon so its very flowy. Its name is Whitney. I really like this dress. The Aubrey is super cute and if you like your shoulders its the perfect choice. Its cotton so its comfy but it has some sass. its $175. A steal. I love easy uncomplicated hair accessories. I also love very affordable accessories. this is the best of two loves. its beautiful and its $22.50. I found this super cute and versatile headband for only $19.99 its a triple band in blush which is really flattering on a lot of shades. This is a cute cover up on a chilly evening night. its $99.99 in the sale section and it would dress up a short white dress instantly.

Writting your vows...I know its a little early.

I am at the point where I just want to be married already. I wish I would've taken my FI on his offer and just got married in our jeans. The excitement is just tipping over. We have our date, I got my dresses, booked our hotel room for our wedding night and there is much more to do. However, I am really excited about our wedding vows. In my opinion its the most important part of a wedding. Its what joins you two as a couple in the eyes of men and of God, mother nature or whatever you believe in.

I feel that alot of people get so into the "stuff" that this part sort of gets buried in the excitement. Vow are super important. While me and the FI were in the "courting" stage I would do tons of goofy stuff just to put a smile on his face like write poems about him and tape it all over the house on his birthday. Or leave him sappy love letters in his work bag.

I wish to write our own vows. I wonder if you can do that sort of thing in City Hall? Here's what I got so far:

I, (my name) Promise you (FI's name) that I will clean up after my messy behind every day.

I will not eat all of our food

I will listen more than I talk

I will be in your corner always

I will be faithful and true

I will stand by your side in good times

and carry you in bad times

I will excerise and do my best to be pretty I will trust you in all things and work hard

But most importantly

I will love you because

you are the example of what it means to love.

Thats how I feel about my FI. It may need some revision and I will probably adjust accordingly . I know I will be super nervous saying this .

Need help with your vows check out : my wedding vows. http://www.myweddingvows.com/

My thoughts about the shooting at the Holocaust Museum

I know this has absolutely nothing to do with weddings but I like to think of myself as someone who cares about events that happen outside of the wedding world. I know this may offend some but I feel like a great majority will agree with me. It sickens me to my stomach that some people can not respect the differences of other human beings. Our differences are what separates us from all other species of animals on the Earth. We are different colors, cultures and ethnicity. We have different opinions, personalities, religions and views. It is the blessing of being human.

However, instead of respecting and embracing our differences we choose to use it as a tool to detest, hurt, demean, ridicule, humiliate and even kill each other. Its not really just a race issue, if we all were the same color there would be an issue with class-ism. Blue collar VS CEO. Or sexism, or ageism. Its an Us issue. We have been given the power of free will. We are choosing to hate each other.

Its a fact that because of our differences we will not always agree. However, I feel like there should be a mutual respect for other people's choices. All because you live your life this way doesn't mean I have the right to judge, try to change you or force my views on you. All because I choose to live my life this way doesn't mean you have the right to judge, try to change or force your views on me. I am trying to learn how to treat people that way I would want to be treated. Its hard thing to do but I have realized that as I have the right to live the way I want to live so does any one else.

The events that happened at the Holocaust Museum in DC are a key example of lack of love and the true ugliness of racism and hate. It sickens me to think that this kind of thing is STILL happening but it proves my point: the work of the human race isn't done by the least bit. There are still people who are out there that are stuck in the past. Cave people of a very dark and sinister era.

My prayers will go out to the family of the officer who was killed.

Celeb Weddings!

I am so late with the celeb wedding news, its painful. But its better late then never. Here's the scoop with the rich, fab and cool: SALMA IS OFF THE MARKET! I REPEAT, SALMA IS OFF THE MARKET! Blame a really wealthy cool French dude but Salma Hayek is no longer single. She had a lavish star studded event in Venice. Good luck and Congrats! VIVA LA SALMA! Kimora Lee Simmons is also married or was she already married? This seems like a case for the X-Files but rumors are that she was Mrs. HOUNSOU but some folks say their "wedding" its really legally binding. Anywho, I love her anyway she is so beautiful and she signed my book!! Kimora and Djimon Hounson had a beautiful ceremony in Benin, Africa and now they also have a beautiful son. CONGRATS !!!! David Letterman and Regina Lasko got married in a low key justice of the peace ceremony with their 5 year old son. Cool! I want a celebrity wedding just like that! I am so posh, right? CONGRATS! This one is from the other side of the pond, I really got emotional about this one. Jade Goody a British reality TV star was diagnosed with cervical cancer and only had few weeks to live finally got married in a lavish ceremony with her beau Jack Tweed and her sons. She made her battle with cancer very public and used the media attention to build a nest egg for her two sons. If only other celebs would learn from her. Sigh. I wish her family all the best and my prayers go out to them. Here is a clip:

Now to more tradtional wedding clips and stuff!

Here are some helpful tips from these awesome shows: I love Platinum weddings. I will never afford a platinum wedding but I really don't want one cus Its alot of work and its hard enough just getting a convo about the reception venue or photographers with my man in. BUT its really pretty to look at. I think its ok to get ideas or take a little bit of inspiration from the big lavish weddings and do it on a smaller scale:

Kool Kendra!

Well the show Kendra is now in full effect and I can't wait to get my hands on the first season DVD. Its cool to see the funky ex playboy/ future bride/ mommy to be prepare for real life. I was a big Girls Next Door fan and I will admit it isn't a show of deep enlightenment. Kendra has her ditsy moments but so did Jessica Simpson. That laugh is definitely going to be a signature Kendra thing. Overall they are both cool. Its good fun television. Check out some clips:

I may have a bit of a staring probelm but...

Beyonce rocks tha braids, yo!

I am so into these hair styles! No, seriously I hate folks who stare. Its like "Jesus, do i have celery in my teeth or do you have a problem?" It isn't cool. Anyway, back to the hair dos. Too many times I see folks who try too hard to change themselves for this one day. They look totally different, almost unidentifiable. I think its important to look like yourself on your wedding. I have been wearing braids since second grade so It wouldn't make sense to have long straight hair that flows pass my butt now. Here is some hair styles that I am feeling right now for my wedding day: I love Alicia Keys she does braids so well. She always looks so flawless, I think this hair style is pretty but has some edge to it. The tiny corn rows are super cute. Also I like the idea of regular braids. I am also loving the half up and half down dos.

$30,00 isnt frugal folks!

what the hell is this? this bride spent $30,000 and she is frugal...please. My wedding will be over budget at $3,000! Despite my future husband's lavish ring...he picked it out himself. My two dresses and whatever else. I still only have 10-15 guest, no dj and diy invites. Frugal to me is having a wedding for $10,000 and under. $15,000 is too much unless you are like very well off. But hey I figure people do what they want and frugal is always up for interpretation. You decide:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31068737//
Here's what I did like:

• The bride sent save the dates in email form.
• The bride ordered her gown from Nordstrom.
• The couple used Flickr to get their photos
• They made their wedding day their own.

My mom is coming to see the dress

Yup my mom is coming down from Philly! I am super excited about her seeing my dress. My mom is super crazy but she has a very good heart so I'm curious to see what she will think about my dress. It isn't very traditional. Its a halter neck and its a bit form fitting but my logic is that I hate ball gowns, the wedding isn't that fancy and I wanted a evening version of me. So if my dress is all about my style then it should be form fitting versus that over the top princess fairy god ma look. I really look forward to showing my mother all the details of my wedding day look. I love jewelry. I think that a lady can have a plain dress that's only $20 but have amazing jewelry on and it will totally transform her look. Most of the jewelry in my adult life is costume but for my wedding I wanted to get something really unique. I have found some beautiful earrings I think I will buy one pair : They are from QVC.com and they are super stellar! They are not real diamonds but at 17 cts its enough sparkle for that day. They may be my something "new". Little more then what I wanted to spend at $70.14 but you only get married once. This is from Luxedeluxe which is a boutique on Etsy.com. its $69.00 plus shipping but its super pretty. Check them out: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25725107 here are more that I like from Luxedeluxe: Only$54! I love her attention to detail I think it may be a tie between the QVC and this pair because my dress has alot of details so i would need simple earrings. These are only $42 plus s&h! We'll see what wins its hard to make up my mind.