I want everyone to see my 'Rocked Out' {Ring}...

Once your fav photographer has 'Rocked Out' your gems, you can brag, brag, brag !!! on the sister site of Trash The Dress ...

{photos via Brag Bride @ Trash The Dress::special thanks*}
thanks *}

What's Your {Wedding Style} ?....

The editors at Brides.com will help you find your {Wedding} Style. Are you ethereal, earthy and a free spirit? If you are, then a bohemian themed wedding may be just the expression that will showcase your personality the best. More minimalist, trendy and simple chic, then a modern backdrop is for you.

View the video quiz here and start planning the wedding of your dreams...

Be Our {Guest} ...

don't be afraid to be creative with the details of your wedding event. instead of the traditional 'Guestbook', let this valued keepsake say something personal about you and your fiance'. if you are athletic and engage in a sport, let a piece of the equipment from your favorite sport be your guestbook. whatever you choose, traditional or creative, let your guestbook always be a treasured keepsake that forever reminds of that special day *

Happy {Earthday} World ...

it's our turn to be {thankful} by giving back to this {wonderful *} and {amazing *} Earth that we call home. Log on, select a charity & start giving back.

* list your charity as 'the' preferred {gift} for your guests to give to you... *

{La-a-adies-s-s} ... we have a {Project}...

{photo + instructions by:: Anda via Etsy::special thanks}

Looking for a unique gift and just one more reason to gather together your favorite girls?
Call everyone up, break out the lite fare {they have dresses to wear}, blend delicious smoothies, crank up your favorite tunes and enjoy! as you churn out these eco-friendly + functional totes. They make wonderful containers for holding all of the gems + gifts for your out-of-town guests.

The technique is called 'upcycling' and the following video provides step-by-step instructions.
If you prefer step-by step pictorial instructions, here they are::

What you'll need:: Plastic bags (thin + flimsy = best) , Parchment paper, iron surface, scissors, freezer paper (or copier paper)

Making it:: {Please do this in a well-ventilated area.}

Flatten out the bag and trim the bottom seam and handles off. This allows the bag to be opened up into a larger rectangle of plastic.
Turn the bag inside-out if it has printing on it. Once the ink heats up, it comes off the bag and makes a huge mess. If the bag has an interesting design that you'd like to preserve, try using a clear plastic bag layered on top of the printed one.

We find that between 6-8 layers of plastic gives the best results. So, you can either fold your bag twice until it is 8 ply thick, or use three or more bags layered on top of one another. Trying to fuse less than 6 layers often results in little holes forming in the finished piece and a generally weaker material.

Sandwich your plastic bags between the parchment paper

Next, run a hot iron (we set ours to "rayon," but you will need to experiment a little to see what works for you) and keep the iron moving constantly. Make sure to get the edges, and after about 15 seconds, flip it over and iron the opposite side for a few seconds.
Peel a corner of the paper back to see if the plastic is fused together. It should be fairly smooth and "one sheet" to the touch (watch out, its a little hot). If the layers are not all melted together, iron it some more.

Peel the parchment paper away from the finished plastic sheet. Voila! Now, you can use this stuff to make a million things.

The {Proposal} ...

after a refreshing meeting with my two new clients, a walked away with a smile and lots of musings. These two are so much in love that it gushes with every word that they speak. This is a rare couple that, during the initial phases of planning their nuptial vision, the fiance' actually has more imput than usual {most men will reserve this for a later time in the planning process...}.
However, one of the visions that I have forever etched in my mind is, his recanting his stuggle of deciding on 'how' he would propose...
Well here's my heartfelt version of how that must of been for him...


{video via World of Jeff}

... and we think that it is easy for them ....
do you have a Proposal story that you'd like to share? we'd love to read it !!

On The Same Page as {Hue}...

one of the essential tools in a designer's toolbox in their {paint} chip. It's portable, small, and the color palette is seemingly vass in its offerring of hues. The other beauties with this must-have 'jewel' is :: {1} you never get the color wrong (ala you've accidently left your swatch at home and a vendor is asking for a sample of your colors and you must rely on your eye's memory...), {2} you are not risking that the vendor that you just gave that very, very (did I say 'very'?) tiny piece of swatch to, may , somehow, get it wrong (because, 'I didn't know that every vendor would want a sample of the color....I thought they could match this with no problems with the description I gave them...) and {3} you can stop biting your nails because you are worried that ..."if I have to give another piece of my dress to another vendor, I'm going to be wearing a mini wedding dress ...."
So, learn from the designer Pros and invest in a paint chip stack. It'll make your life {much} easier !!

{Bridesmaid's} Rules :: Part Une

{photo via Suite Bridezilla}

I'd like to introduce to you Jami {no 'E'}. Jami is a Bride, soon to be married - {October 4th} - to Mr. Ballentine {add the 'E'}. Because Jami is a St Louie Girl and Mr. B's heart {& roots} belong to New York -- Jami & Mr B will be having a {New York::St Louis} theme as the backdrop to their wedding. Jami {a.k.a. Suite B(ridezilla) } is keeping a blog that is chronicling her procession toward holy matrimony and it is funny & addicting!!!
After one {although plan for many} of her outing with her Bridesmaids... and they are "FIERCE"... Jami found that, in order to keep her sanity {at least when connecting with her BFFs}, she needed to inform her posey of the following "Bridesmaids Rules :: Part 1."
I absolutely {LOVE} the rules !!! I have sent my Brides to Suite B's site to see them {and, if necessary... use them}. I hope that you enjoy these rules as much as I do.
.... and as for her 'fierce' Bridal posey... I'll be waiting for your comments...

{Green} things i am loving now...Part Une

{BEAUTIFUL INVITES} ::

{earthly affair website}

Branches of {Green}

considering having a sustainable Wedding? Does the idea of having a {green} wedding excite your senses? This beautiful Grapewood Candelabra centerpiece will stun your invited guests and gracefully speak volumes about your 'eco-savvy' sense.
Inspired by japanese retailer- Takashimaya- the folks at Nettleton Hollow provides all of the "How-To's"::

In {Great} Company ...

{Pastry Guru:: Sylvia Weinstock} O-O



L to R::{that's me..{yours truly}, Clara - a cake diva in her own right, Sylvia & Wanda}


{One of the Diva's majestical delights *}

THE cake DIVA, Sylvia Weinstock was the keynote speaker at the 'standing room only' mix & mingle, held earlier this month, by the Baltimore, Maryland chapter of NACE {National Association of Catering Executives}. Yours truly was in attendance taking notes from the pastry chef phenom.