UPDATES: Reception Sites!

Sorry for the wait but here's the scope: We have been searching for the perfect reception site and we are finalizing on the perfect site. this week we are going to physically check out the sites. I have looked at tons of great options. Spoke to tons of amazing people and overall, after looking at our needs , I think I found a couple of sites that may be it. I'm not super excited. I guess I am starting to calm down. I have tons of questions and hope they get answered. Hey, if you are spending your hard earned money then you should at least be ok with the place.

More Dr. Phil. its just too juicy.

More Dr.Phil saving marriages. I agree with Dr.Phil. You Must Really Know Each other Before The Marriage,I have been living with my boyfriend off and on for three years and I am still learning stuff. Dating isn't enough:

Here are some of Dr. Phil's tips to maintaining a successful relationship: Five and a half years into their marriage, Stacy and Chris, a Dr. Phil Family, ask for help rebuilding their union. Dr. Phil offers this advice.

Have a solid friendship. "Ask yourself what kind of friend you are being to your mate," Dr. Phil says. He asks Chris and Stacy what they enjoy doing with their friends, whether it be talking about silly things or sharing a good joke together. He then advises them to apply that same openness to their own relationship. "If you want a good friend, be a good friend," he suggests.

Meet each others' needs. "The success of a relationship is a function of the extent to which it meets the needs of two people," Dr. Phil explains. He tells Chris that he needs to discover what Stacy's needs are. "Maybe she needs a soft place to fall that day or she needs a shoulder to cry on," he says. He tells Stacy that she doesn't always need to agree with her husband, but she should figure out his needs, whether it's saying that she's proud of him, or that he looks nice that day.

Set specific goals. "Wake up each morning and say, 'What can I do today to advance the ball?'" Dr. Phil advises. Even small things will accumulate over time and make a difference. Find a quiet moment each day and come up with a specific goal to improve your relationship, whether it's calling your spouse during the day just to say hi, or telling your mate that you love him or her more often. Make a conscious effort.

Get back to basics. "The idea is to have some concept of what a marriage and a partnership is supposed to be and start doing those things," Dr. Phil urges. Write down your definitions of a successful relationship and live up to those definitions. Focus on the fundamental things that are going to make a difference in the long run.

Take responsibility. You can't control the way your spouse acts in your relationship, but you can control how you react in negative situations. "You have to take 100 percent responsibility for what you're doing in a relationship," Dr. Phil says. "Decide what you believe and hold to be true, and conduct yourself 100 percent consistent with that."

Turn the negatives into a to-do list. After getting failing grades on Dr. Phil's Relationship Health Profile Test, Stacy and Chris are instructed to turn their negative answers into positive actions. For example, if you don't have fun with your partner, you need to make a list of enjoyable activities you can do together. Ask yourself, what would make your answer on the quiz change?

Engaged, Now what?

I think its important to have some kind of rehab from the wedding planning. I have been trying to plan my wedding for months now and I know I am driving everyone crazy. However, its important to take time away from wedding planning and do regular stuff...like play xbox or watch movies cus after all, the wedding is only one day.

I also think its important to do some soul searching whether it be Pre-marital counseling, going to your spiritual leader or just having a heart to heart with your mother in law to be, its important you realize why you and your mate are taking this step.I found these funny clips on Better Tv. Yes, some are a bit biased. Plus Dr.Phil who gives the skinny.

I think its not ok to be clingy. Its good to have time by yourself away from the couple unit. Check out some clips:

Find more videos like this on www.truveo.com.

MY WEDDING SHOES: I found them and they were supa cheap!

I have found my wedding shoes! I, finally found them after looking everywhere! They are from Payless which is fine with me and they were only $19.99!! I am saving the moola! Here they are: Yup they are wedges and have a cool lace like detail on them. I love them. They are a great buy for only one day. I wanted shoes that have height but have a solid base. I have always hated stilettos (I can wear them but I hate them) so it was either kitten heels, flip flops, or wedges.

Plus I have an inner hippie. I am finding myself getting knee deep in the whole bohemian fashion look. I like wearing my flip flops everywhere and I try to push my style as far as I can go before my hubby starts asking "What are you wearing?" I can live in a long dress and flip flops or torn jeans and a Yoda shirt. So wearing wedges just feels right.

I am still trying to decide if I am going to Sasha Fierce my shoes and glue Swarovski crystals all over them. I may get some Dereon flip flops is they are light and sparkly. I'm taking it one step at a time.

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.