Celebration of sweets!

Are you still moaning and groaning from your Thanksgiving feast? Well, if you took the day off of wedding planning....time to get back to it! There are probably several deals out there today on wedding related items! Everyone wants to capture the shoppers on Black Friday! I have found a couple of great candy companies to help you with your candy bar buffet! My favorite was the lollipops from Hammond's! You can not go wrong with a group of the gorgeous lollipops in your candy buffet! They have other fun candies as well and one of the best features - search by color!

 courtesy of Real Simple Magazine

This is a DIY project courtesy of Martha Stewart

You could be a bride like Julia who got married using this lollipop bouquet

Photograph credit: Mira Weddings

I wasn't looking for anything specific when I came upon these two candy companies however, seeing what they had to offer....I sure am glad I stumbled upon them! My creative impulses were in overdrive! From finding Hammond's, I then stumbled upon The Cocoa Room. I came across them by looking for cupcake decorations! The first thing I found were these candy coated sunflower seeds and almonds! I like Jordan Almonds but I love chocolate covered almonds!!

Dear Santa....

So, forget having those horrible disposable wedding cameras at every table. They are a waste of money, the pictures do not turn out and it is just overall very frustrating. Instead, invest a little bit of money in something like the Fuji Instax Camera and put a trusted friend or family member in charge of it. I pretty much guarantee you are going to get some pretty fun pictures from this camera!


This is option 1: Fuji Instax 210 Instant Film Camera. Price varies but it was $64.99 on Amazon with FREE Super Saver Shipping. This version of the Instant camera is a little bigger, slightly bulkier than its counterparts. But on the upside...the pictures are a little bigger.

Now, let's talk about Option 2. It's sleeker, it's a little more trendy and it prints smaller pictures (about the size of a credit card, I have read). The size could be an issue for me. I like the aesthetics of the White but I am not sure I want 100 credit card size photos. 

Here is the perfect use (and a great excuse to buy this camera!). Get pictures of people from your showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, etc. and use these pictures as your place cards for your seating chart! Then, at the reception, have people snap a picture and then hang it up to "develop"! They can leave a little love note on the bottom for you and then voila! You have have your guest book to put together! SO CUTE! I love this idea. I love this camera. I want it (now!).

PS: Santa, if you are reading my blog....I have been a very good girl this year and this camera (the larger one) is the only thing on my list. :)

A little holiday freebie!

Here is a little freebie I came across for your holiday photo cards! There are 5 designs to choose from, each from a different designer, and each available in 3 sizes -- 4" x 6", 5" x 7", and 6" x 7.5"! Just download them, insert your picture and send them off to your favorite printing place! 

GO HERE to download and for instructions.

Checking up on a few of my favorites....

I decided to check up on a few of my favorite Etsy sellers....just to see what was new in their shops! A couple of shops are on vacation but, I was able to drool over a few new items from my favorites!!

ImeonDesign

Have your cake and eat it too! I love her paper crafts! 

LoveToCreateStamps

I absolutely loved working with Todd...he custom makes these stamps and he had a lot of new designs! 

MeandMatilda

Custom neckties and bow ties. I adore the colors and all the fabric choices!

Cupcake Confections

I am a cupcake lover but, recently they have been featured everywhere and their stock value has pretty such sky rocketed! There has been a flavor explosion...like these Bacon Maple Cupcakes from the Milwaukee Cupcake Queen who writes a blog called "No One Puts Cupcake in a Corner" (seriously love the name!!)

And while we are talking about bacon cupcakes....I have to mention that if your hunka, hunka burning love has a thing for Elvis ...you might want to think of serving your guests an Elvis Cupcake!

Banana Bread Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Bacon

I was first turned onto the cupcake craze when someone told me about Sprinkles cupcakes - they brand themselves by being "the original cupcake bakery". Since then, there has been a serious cupcake explosion! Now, we have Cupcake Camps in most major cities that benefit non-profits (there is a Cupcake Camp being held in Los Angeles THIS weekend!). There are fancy couture cupcake wrappers for all occasions and the flavors are pretty much endless - the largest cupcake menu I found while writing this was from Yummy Cupcakes in Los Angeles. Currently, they have 212 cupcake flavors!! Seriously. I dunno....I kind of like chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting...the kind I always made as a kid...what about you? Are you a cupcake connoisseur?

Orange County Brides - It's a very special giveaway just for YOU!

Hey Orange County brides....I am hosting a special giveaway - just for you! I have never had a giveaway quite like this one - for several reasons: 1.) I won this giveaway at a silent auction, 2.) I have not hosted a giveaway that was only for one specific geographical area and 3.) I have never given an item that was such a high dollar value. This is all VERY exciting!


Most importantly, this is the giveaway that keeps on giving - by "paying it forward". This giveaway is unique because... my winning bid went to a charity I believe in 110%! You can read about my evening at the Blissful Wishes Ball here and you can learn more about Wish Upon a Wedding here.


So, here's the deal on this local giveaway: Lynne Lucente donated a FABULOUS floral package to Wish Upon a Wedding for their silent auction at the Blissful Wishes Ball, which was held November 4th, 2010 at the amazing Ebell Wilshire Theater. All proceeds from the silent auction were going towards granting wedding wishes for couples facing a terminal illness or life altering circumstance. 

This giveaway is valued at $1265.00!

Lynne is based in South Orange County, California but the winner can be anywhere in the Orange County area. The winner of this incredible giveaway will receive:


* Brides Bouquet
* 2 Bridesmaids Bouquets
* Grooms Boutonniere
* 2 Groomsmen's Boutonnieres
* 2 Father's Boutonnieres 
* 2 Mothers Corsages
* 2 Alter Pieces
* 6 Centerpieces

THERE ARE ONLY TWO CONDITIONS TO THIS GIVEAWAY:

• You must LIVE or BE GETTING MARRIED in Orange County California!
• Your wedding will have to coordinate with Lynne's schedule. She is now booking for 2011.

So, you have met the two requirements above - right? Now, it's time to enter!

HOW TO ENTER:

• For ONE entry into this giveaway: Follow my blog PUBLICLY and let me know you are here!
• For a SECOND entry "pay it forward" by sharing this post with someone who lives or is getting married in ORANGE COUNTY! Leave their first name and if they post you get credit for the entry!
• For a THIRD entry twitter or blog about this contest and leave an ADDITIONAL comment to let me know you did that with a link to the post! You can find my twitter page here

WOULD YOU LIKE 5 BONUS ENTRIES?

• Share a brief story of something random you have done to "pay it forward"....did you let someone go in front of you at the grocery store? Did you buy someone's coffee at Starbucks? Did you volunteer somewhere? Donate somewhere? 

This giveaway will end on: December 15th at 5pm PST and the winner will be posted shortly there after!

What you win: Wedding flowers - fulfilled by Lynne Lucente

Value of giveaway (including shipping to winner): $1265.00

This giveaway is open to only those who reside in Orange County, California

Bidding For Good

Holy smokes! I was looking at the BiddingForGood auction site tonight and they have auctions ending in the next 12 hours! If you are a bride in the San Francisco area or you know of brides in these areas there are AWESOME DEALS!!! Spread the word!

Photo Booth from The Laugh Box - 3 hours plus extras - San Francisco Bay Area
Worth $1200 Current Bid - $152.00



Luxury Limo Service from Lone Star Limousine - 3 Hours of service - San Francisco Bay Area
Worth $330 Current Bid - $157.00



Napa Valley Portrait Session with Damion Hamilton - 1 hour service plus ALL photos on a disk!
Worth $900 Opening Bid - $50.00