Really Good DIY!

See these shoes:

They are from Christian Louboutin and they are $995. They are beautiful and probarely well made but I can't pay that much for some shoes. So I found this DIY on Love Maegan.com:

Wanna see more? Check out: Cool Louboutin DIY sHOES

this is another really basic DIY using Gerber Daisies. I hate daisies but this centerpiece looks pretty cool and simple. Check it out:

This is a cool DIY wedding updo that anyone can do if you have medium to long hair. Its a good idea to do a trial run with your bridesmaids or by yourself to make sure you get this look perfect.

This one is from the same people Videohairstyles and its a great look for the beach. Very easy, sexy, natural looking and breezy. Its a very sexy look for brides who want more of a relaxed look and its fairly easy to do.

This is very cute. Its inspired by Gwen Stefani. I wish I could do this with my hair.

Finally I love this look for myself. I would braid my roots and then do just this. Its called Afro curls. Its very good for ladies with very thick hair.

I just love DIY.Sigh.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, Y'ALL! I WISH EVERYONE TO HAVE A GREAT AND SUPER FUN FOURTH OF JULY!

I WISH ALL OF THE COUPLES WHO ARE GETTING MARRIED TODAY, THE BEST! CHEERS! I LEAVE YOU WITH PICS OF KDUB'S WEDDING IN US WEEKLY, SHE LOOKED AMAZING AND I HOPE I LOOK JUST AS HOT:

Affordable gems!

These rings are all under $2000 and they are from Topazery.com

I am noticing alot of folks who are trying to get engaged but are worried about the moola that it takes to get their bands. Well you have tons of choices:

• Go with a man made or synthetic stone: Diamond Nexxus, Cubic Zirconium like QVC or HSN, Mossanite etc.
• Go with a Gemstone: Sapphire, Aquamarine, Ruby like at Topazery. Check the Moh's scale of hardness.
• A real Diamond like Kay's Jewelers, Jareds, which is the hardest stone on the Moh's scale.

My top picks to find something at an affordable price are

1. A well known jewelry store. Why? Because the more fancier places are known to charge an arm and a leg for the same kind of diamond (sometimes even the same cut, clarity, color) that are at the well known stores. Plus your local jewelry store probably has great sales especially during holidays, you can get warranties of your jewelry and they will teach you all about the four Cs.

2. Online retailers and crafty online stores.: Etsy, you can have your jewelry made customized for no extra fees and haggle prices. Sites like Topazery which have antique jewelry and rings for UNDER $2000! Another awesome one is Carat.cc which is for CZ but its amazing stuff it was feature in Instyle Magazine.

3. Wholesalers- BJS, Costco, Sam's Club are great places to find a bridal set or a gents ring for a fair price.

Honestly to me a ring is a symbol of the commitment between two people. That's all. Back in the day folks used to tie ribbons around their fingers, make rings out of hair of their beloved, make cowrie shell thumb rings, skip the rings and make necklaces or just have dowries to show righteous intent towards their significant others.

Nowadays, its all about the bling it just makes me a little sick when folks forget why they are getting married and get wrapped into the stuff. I have my days to but I am starting to understand my hubby a little better now.

"You will always be trying to keep up with the Jeffersons until you realize that you are not the Jeffersons. You are you and thats ok. Really it is."

UPDATES: I'm A Big Mouth Bride

I can't stop tell folks about my wedding day, I'm too excited about this!!!!! I am so excited, I can't wait to see our reception site, talk to vendors and do this. I can't help but not be bitchy, I'm hugging people and talking to folks saying hi to old friends, I'm just supa happy. I guess this is the initial excitement Brides get before all of the hard choices. I don't know who to invite because I want to now invite everyone. How twisted is that? So here's what is happening my Calendar so far since May:

• We picked a date.
• We picked sort of a time.
• We picked a place.
• I paid 80% for his band...it took a lot of bus trips, penny counting and bag lunches.
• We had an idea of a guest list but that's undone since we are inviting more people.
• Got my dresses.
• rocking my engagement ring.

Here's what needs to be done:

• Down payment on reception site.
• Down payment on our caterer
• Finding the perfect photographer
• etc etc etc.

I hope to have things done by the next three months but we'll see.

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.