{wedding day} getting ready...

my post-wedding blues have stepped aside today...i have pictures, and permission to use them, from the fantabulous daniel meigs. i really cannot say enough about this guy..he has been a dream to work with ... from start to finish. so..without further ado..here are the pics before the dress:























the girls and i got ready at my mother-in-laws house, which was right down the road from the venue. she provided us with a fantastic salad and bread and even broke out her good china for the day.

Do: eat. and drink lots of water. i assigned my mom the job to make sure i always had something in my lap or hand to eat. this was such a big help..there was no time to just sit down and eat..there was always something going on..something to do. so make sure you delegate this job to someone. please.

my hair and make-up was done by a friend of the family as a wedding present. she does the stars of nashville and i was ever so grateful to have her there that day..she did a fantastic job, and even touched up my girls (my bm's that is..not my bewbies). :)

Do: get creative! we needed to have me raised up to eye level for my make-up girl to be able to do a good job..and she needed good light. my bm's got the great idea to use the wine crates we were using in the wedding..and stack them up high enough..AND they made for great photos.

Don't: think that you have to have your hair dirty for it to work better. i'm glad i mentioned to my make-up girl that i tend to get a little greasy if i don't wash my hair..she said that i should definitely wash it and we will make it "dirty" with products. so be sure to talk to whomever is doing your hair..she might have a trick up her sleeve...

next up: details and..the dress!

{beauty} buy it.

i know i'm a lucky, lucky girl..especially when it comes to breakouts. it seriously just doesn't happen to me. and when it does..it's ridiculously microscopic. ok. i'll shut up now...

BUT..of course..it happened. 4 days before the big day. just one..but it was GINORMOUS...and not just to me..other people commented on it, etc. i was mortified.

so..i scurried to my face place to see if they had any quick remedies..and boy did they ever:

lavender vinegar from l'occtaine.

seriously. buy it..just in case. it saved my life...er..face.

{beauty} my big fat face..or makeup..

doing some serious catching up at work, but i really wanted to let you in on the whole makeup/hair ordeal. as a matter of fact..there are so many things i learned from my own wedding and i cannot wait to share those with you...but for now..let's do the makeup thing...

remember how i went out and bought a ton of makeup? and i did a ton of research on how i wanted my hair? well..that all got thrown out the window...

photo by daniel meigs

i didn't use a drop of the $150 worth of makeup. lesson here is to find out from your makeup artist if she will be using her own stuff...chances are that's the way you want to go anyway...she/he will be able to see things that you might not..like color, texture, etc...in fact..she airbrushed my foundation on..and it lasted for-ev-er. as for the hair...well, she knew i never wear my hair up..so she came up with her own little do..and it turned out great!

so think about who you are and who you want to see when you look at your pictures years from now.. who cares if it's customary for the bride to wear an updo...do what feels right to you, and you can't go wrong.

{beauty} hello lovely..

i am seriously having a hard time breathing right now.. a couple of months ago i asked the ever so talented chelsea of "oh my deer" to work some of her magic for me and my girls..and just look what she came up with:

for my beautiful girls...yellow "ranunuculus" with guinea feathers and "bling":


and for me:


eek! aren't they just perfect?

if you are looking for some lovelies to add to your big day..drop her a line on etsy..and get your very own!

{beauty} oh yea..hair!

i got a note from the lovely miss chelsea yesterday saying that she will be working on the flower for my hair in the coming weeks...which got me thinking about how to wear the hair on the day...

i've imagined from day one that i will wear my hair in a low side bun sort of thing..but loose and romantic. but here's the thing..i loathe wearing my hair up. i have always been that girl who hides behind her hair..mostly because to me...my nose is freaking ginormous and i don't want anyone to see it. it's a vain problem, i know..but i really can't help it. so what am i thinking? i want to feel beautiful..not self conscious...i thought that maybe at least if the bun thing was more on the right with the flower, when i stand at the "alter" with my fh..no one will notice my sniffer.

sigh.

so here are some ideas for the low bun thingie:



of course these beautiful girls have cute little noses...so i've started to wonder if maybe i shouldn't wear my hair down..like this:

what do you think?

{beauty} finally!

i found my makeup! originally i wanted to try out some dior products (mainly because i'm obsessed with diorshow - which i still need to get). but i just love mac. it's just looks great on me. the colors are vibrant enough to show up on my skin and it's not heavy..and it's a makeup line i can afford...dior, not so much.

but why is it that they always coat it on at the makeup counter? i had to come home and wash my face..but i did reapply to show you guys (don't laugh at my crazy face..it's hard to find good lighting and i think the one in my bathroom is the best!) and never mind the hair please..it's a rainy day here in the city..

a semi close-up:

i am already in love with a couple of the products...

1. Pro Longwear Lustre Lipcolor. ladies. this is the one to go with for the wedding day. it's basically..paint. you need makeup remover to get this stuff off. one side is fab color (my choice was "lishous", other side, creamy gloss). brilliant! also worn with cremestick liner in "sublime culture" tip: apply liner after the lipstick, this helps it from bleeding and blends more in with the lip color rather than having an obvious line around the lips. yuck!
   
   
2. Studio Sculpt Concealer. holy cow. this stuff is amazing. i have terrible dark circles..but this covers them like a dream. it has a pink undertone to the color to cover up the "bluish" tint undereye circles plague me with. another plus: it's water resistant..perfect for those tears of joy that will be making their way down my face. tip: glide on with a soft brush and be sure to follow of the entire eye as this makes a great eyeshadow primer
   
   
3. Sheertone Blush. Just a great color for my skin..gives me a natural, innocent blush. tip: apply directly to the apples of the cheek for extra innocence
   
   
4. Studio Fix. I cannot push this product enough. It's the lighted foundation, concealer, powder stuff I've ever been able to find. It's perfect for my skin. tip: use a brush to glide on instead of the pad it comes with. it will go farther and go on lighter
   
   
5. Eye Shadow shades: yogurt, quarry, blackberry, and ground brown.

i also got some fake eyelashes for a little extra oomph but i'm not sure if i will be using those yet. also, you might not be able to tell, but one side has brown eyeliner (my left) and the other has my usual black eyeliner (my right). why do you think..black, or brown?

{ideas} latest obsession: make-up

a friend of the family is a professional make-up artist for celebrities in nashville...she's graciously agreed to do hair and make-up for the big day... i'm totally confident that she will do a fab. job. seriously. it's a little worrisome that she's never done my hair or make-up before, and probably won't get a chance to do a trial run before the wedding...so..i've been trying to find pictures of the look i'm going for and have been obsessed with trying to find the right one..

of course i want the "natural look" but i'd like my eyes to pop..and very little emphasis on the pout. i have olive skin with a purple undertone so pinks generally do look good on me. so i'm thinking a sheer pink on the lips..and dark eyeliner on the eyes..

but i also want that glowy-bronzy look..but without the glitter. why do they put glitter in everything? and i'm thinking a golden, pinky, brown on the lids..

sigh. i went "make-up" shopping last weekend, and i seriously could not pay people to sell me anything! it was the strangest experience...i want to try dior products, as i love and am going to get the diorshow mascara...but am waiting until the date gets closer, otherwise i know i will use it all up..but i've been a mac girl for years...i feel like i'd be cheating.

this make-up thing is really stressing me out. so is the hair...but that's another post..

{beauty} post-wedding snip anyone?

I've heard of ladies cutting their locks to a shorter, sassier style after the wedding...although my honey seems to like my long hair...i just get so bored with it...so maybe something like this would be fun, sassy, and still a little sexy:

{from here}

{ideas} hey you..your slip is showing

..and i love it! how cute are these little pretties:



if you haven't yet discovered ysis, then go, now. and bring a towel for the drool. oh..and if you're a daily candy subscriber, then you already know about the 30% off especially for dc members.

{beauty} yuck.

i seriously smell like i just got out of a tanning bed...like burnt skin. it's nauseating...although my dimply butt never touched a tanning bed this past weekend...oh no..it's all due to this:

and i am sooo taking it back. not only does it freakin' stink, it has glitter in it too (although no mention of it on the front of the product)...so much for "natural" glow.

there is something else that i just recently purchased...a moisturizer for my face. so far, i lurrrve it...but want to give it a week before i give you guys the low down...

also...i'm going to have a my first giveaway! stay tuned for contest details (aren't you excited??!! - i am).

happy monday!

{beauty} get the low-down on eating pretty...

i am a huge fan of epicurious. it has a ton of recipes and great articles to boot...here's a great one on the top 10 foods that will keep you beautiful:

"... So say hello to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory superstars such as asparagus, wild salmon, and dark chocolate, and good-bye (or at least "see you later") to wrinkles, dull skin, and other signs of aging.

Blueberries

This perpetual topper of "superfood" lists gets the thumbs-up from Perricone for being one of the greatest sources of antioxidants, as well as a potent anti-inflammatory.
recipes to try:

Whole-Grain Pancakes with Wild Blueberry-Maple Syrup
Raw Blueberry Tartlets

Apples

Who needs exotic tropical fruits? This old standby is bursting with anti-inflammatory, cancer-fighting phytonutrients, as well as the antioxidant quercetin, says Perricone. Apples also pack a big dose of fiber, which can help you slim down by filling you up.
recipes to try:

Belgian Endive and Apple Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
Apple Phyllo Strudel

Wild Salmon

This fish is rich in long-chain omega-3 essential fatty acids, which Perricone calls the most beneficial kind. Omega-3s bolster heart health, may fight depression, and help keep skin young, supple, and radiant. Wild salmon also contains astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
recipes to try:

Salmon "Bulgogi" with Bok Choy and Mushrooms
Salmon with Roasted Asparagus and Lemon-Caper Sauce

Nuts

Nuts such as hazelnuts, walnuts, and almonds are good sources of heart-healthy short-chain (plant-based) omega-3 essential fatty acids. Nuts are also high in an amino acid called arginine, which Perricone says can not only help reduce cholesterol and boost the immune system but also increase lean muscle and burn fat, giving you a sleeker physique.
recipes to try:

Mixed Greens with Walnuts and Roasted Onion Dressing
Toasted Almond Tofu Burger

Dark Leafy Greens

Greens such as kale and spinach contain antioxidants called carotenoids that can reduce the risks of heart disease, neutralize carcinogens, protect your eyes, enhance immune response, and help your skin by blocking sunlight-induced inflammation, which can lead to wrinkles and skin cancer.
recipes to try:

Swiss Chard with Raisins and Almonds
White Bean, Butternut Squash, Kale and Olive Stew

Asparagus

This fiber-rich favorite provides copious amounts of rutin, a bioflavonoid that Perricone says may help prevent broken capillaries. It's also a great source of the antioxidant glutathione.
recipes to try:

Asparagus, Green Onion, Cucumber, and Herb Salad
Sautéed Red Snapper Fillets with Lemon Asparagus Purée

Olive Oil

This go-to oil for heart health is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Its essential fatty acids also nourish the skin, says Perricone, who recommends using it in your cooking and even as a topical oil.
recipes to try:
Steamed Broccoli with Olive Oil, Garlic, and Lemon
Oven-Poached Fish in Olive Oil

p.s. i also like to mix 1 part olive oil with 2 parts sugar...makes for a fantastic sugar scrub in the shower (not intended to use on the face).

Green Tea

This beverage is rich in polyphenol antioxidants, which can help fight inflammation and free radicals, slowing down the signs of aging, as well as protecting against heart disease and cancer.
recipes to try:

Scallop Tea Rice
Moroccan Mint Tea

Red Wine

Could a glass of Cab be the new fountain of youth? Red wine contains a powerful heart-healthy, anti-cancer, anti-aging antioxidant called resveratrol, says Perricone. "It also appears that resveratrol helps protect the skin against the sun's UV radiation." According to Perricone, Cabernet Sauvignon grapes have the highest concentration of antioxidants. Just be sure to keep it to one glass, and have your wine with a meal to mitigate the inflammatory effects of alcohol, advises Perricone.
recipes to try:
Red Snapper with Potatoes, Tomatoes and Red Wine
Oranges in Red Wine

Dark Chocolate

Here's a tip we never get sick of hearing: Dark chocolate is good for you! It's a great source of antioxidants and a potential mood elevator (and we all know that feeling good is a great way to get glowing skin). Perricone recommends buying chocolate with 80 percent cocoa solids or more to get a hearty dose of antioxidants and avoid excess sugar. Try chocolate in savory recipes, such as chili, or just dip fresh fruit in melted extra-dark chocolate for a one-two antioxidant punch.
recipes to try:
Vegetable and Bean Chili
Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies "