Wedding planning help + Let’s get real!

Let’s get real when we talk about weddings and wedding planning.  While I was planning my wedding last year, I found myself on Pinterest and blogs reading anything I could to help the process, I started to feel they were all repetitive and way too much sugar coating.

My goal is to keep it real with you from tips and tricks to what obstacles to expect. It isn’t all fun and games… there are moments of major stress, tears and just being pissed!

Don’t get me wrong I LOVED planning our wedding and had a great wedding day.

Things to consider:

1.  Wait….Check out venues before setting a date. I suggest even doing a lot of the planning before setting anything in stone. This takes the pressure off of meeting deadlines and for the indecisive bride like myself. This also helps paint a realistic picture of what your budget is actually going to look like
2.  Budget.…. you will go over it…. even in the moments you think we will stay under… nope. I applaud you all that stayed under you first budget idea.  I know before we even started planning, we had a number in mind and then we were slapped with reality.  Make a list of priorities and go from there. You will read endless posts on how to save on your wedding…. they all say get a free venue…. No shit! Not everyone is so lucky to get such a hookup.  I will make a whole post on venues and creative options. Stay tuned.
3. Think about your crowd and their budget when planning, mostly for a destination wedding and when registering for gifts. We wanted to have a co-ed wedding shower but we knew that most of our buddies did not know what to do with a registry and Alex being a chef, we really didn’t need anything. So, we had a stock the bar party, our guest brought a bottle for the bar and one for the party. It was great because we used a lot of the alcohol for the bachelorette  and Bachelor party, which saved money.
4. Be Direct!!!! Ask for what you need and tell people what you expect. Some people won’t know what to do or how to help and they are willing but waiting for you. It may feel awkward but do it, you may be end up  feeling like you are doing it all alone and stressed. I thought way too much about not wanting to bug people or ask too much of them. It is the one time you can ask your friends and family for help or tell them what you needed or expect…. it’s the bride card… use it nicely but use it!
5. DIY or Not: Some projects are always best DIY but there are some things that just make more sense to purchase online to save time and money.
6. MATH: Any time you like something then times it by how many you actually have to buy… obvious one right…. well when you see something that is great and only $1…. yay! Well, now you need a 100 of them,no longer as affordable. There are few things in weddings you only need one of.
7. Just don’t do it. If there is any aspect of the wedding planning or traditions you are not a fan of, just don’t do it! Weddings now are all about making your own traditions. For example, we didn’t do bouquet toss or garter toss. I just wasn’t into it. Again, a time I thought about my crowd.
8. Slowly but surely! You will get it all done, you will have a billion list and it will all come together!! Something I wish I did was prepare even more. If you think about it, do it. There are some aspect of the planning or getting things that I thought would be quicker and I would handle them closer to the wedding, I wish I hadn’t! Just do it early.
9. Options: Present options to your partner, make sure you love all those options. This way it makes your partner feel involved and you don’t have to all of sudden add some crazy aspect into the wedding because the significant other has some wild idea.  Alex had full reign when it came to the cake, cake topper and food. The rest I  provided options 1-5 etc and he picked from that. Some of you will have a partner that is all-in with you but, for the most part, the planning lands heavily on one person. For example, Alex wanted lime green ties and blue flowers…. yeah, no! 🙂
10.  Enjoy it! I know, I know everyone will tell you this. There were times that I had to chill on the wedding planning and I allowed myself to. I wanted to enjoy it and not have it stress me out. I believe you are a Bride for life.

Share with me your big wedding woes or tips and tricks!

X- A

The Magical Beauty Must Have + Rose Water

The last few month’s I have been noticing a lot of talk about Rose Water. From Youtubers like Nicole Guerriero ,to Vogue’s article French -Girls Beauty Rules.  So of course, I had to look into it…and now I’m obsessed. One of the best parts, it’s affordable. You can make your own, find it at a natural food store or your favorite beauty store like SEPHORA & ULTA.

There are so many benefits to this amazing bottle of floral goodness! 

• Toner: Helps cleanse and illuminate  the face from the dirt and pollution of the day. Often recommend for acne- and rosacea-prone skin  because “it reduces bacteria on skin, decreases inflammation, and simultaneously hydrates and soothes the skin,” says Jessica Weiser, MD, a dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group in New York City. After cleaning your face either spray the rose water on a cotton ball or you can be a lazy babe like me and just spray it right on your face. Boom…. cleansed, less red, and glowing.

• Makeup Remover— all in one

• Freshin up & Glow – That moment in the middle of the day and you look in a mirror and think “oh,shit… I have been looking like this!” Rose Water is a great pick me up for dry, winter dull skin. Or for those hot days, spray away and cool off and look great!

• Oily Skin – Not to worry – Rose Water helps balance the oil and tighten the pores.

• Sunburn Treatment: Spritz the Rose Water on your Sunburn for instant relief. Check out my other post on my favorite natural ways to cure a sunburn.

•  Hair softener: Mix rose water in your regular shampoo to get softer and fresher hair. Massaging your hair with rose water promotes hair-growth.  Spray it on your dry hair to bring it back to life and soften it up.

• Dark circle & Puffy Eyes: Simply pat  a little rose water around your eyes to reduce both dark circles and puffy eyes.

If I even cry a little, the next day I look like Quasimodo, so this is needed.

*Find a Rosewater that has limited ingredients, to ensure you receive the best benefits from your Rose Water.

 What is your favorite must-have beauty secret?

X – A

What’s In My Carry On Bag | Must Haves

There are a few things I will always have in my carry on bag, no matter where I am going.

•  Backpack – I personally prefer skate or snowboard type backpacks. They tend to have a lot of pockets and straps. Volcom is a personal favorite.
• H2O- it’s a must to have a water bottle and stay hydrated. Most airports now have refillable water stations. I am loyal to Nalgene and my husband cannot live without his 🙂

• Socks- I tend to get cold feet on planes and I have learned my lesson on being miserable. So, socks are a must.

• Eye mask- For those that haven’t experienced the wonders of an eye mask, I’m sorry. Flying with an eye mask is a game changer.
• Pillow- Save your neck and enjoy a nap.

• Headphones – Duh
• Lotion-  I hate dry hands… it drives me nuts! The little eos one is perfect!
• Lip blam – I can get the worst chapped lips. I travel with so many lip balms! One of my favorites is Jack Black‘s mint lip blam.

•  Antibacterial wipes- clean your seat area…even if you look crazy.

•  Cleansing wipes- Personally I like to feel refreshed after a long flight and cleansing wipes can make you feel like a new person.
• Wristlet , Fanny pack or any small purse contraption – This is best for getting through the airport and not having to go in and out of your backpack. I personally love my fanny pack!!!

• Notebook – I don’t care how many note apps there are on my phone, I like to write it down. It’s great to have to make travel plans, schedule, play games with your travel partner etc.

What are your must have travel items?

x- A

Babe’s Friday Cocktail | Vacation In A Glass

Any time you can make it feel like vacation…do it!  Mojitos are one of those amazing cocktails that instantly brings you vacation vibes. It’s one of my favorite cocktails and super refreshing!  Cheers, babes!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 ounce lime juice / about 3 limes — Fresh is the best
• 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
• 3 or more Mint leaves
• 2 ounces rum — white rum — I prefer Bacardi. (Check the link for a whole array of cocktails with Bacardi.)
• club soda

Directions

•  In a smallish  glass, muddle lime juice with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon superfine sugar.
• Add the few mint leaves, mushing them against the side of the glass.
• Fill glass 2/3 with  ice and pour in the rum.
•  Pitch in the squeezed-out lime shell and top off with club soda and stir!

This is a drink you can play around with, add more mint, add another fruit such as Strawberries. The point is make yourself a total babe cocktail that is perfect for you!

x- A

What is your favorite vacation style cocktail?

Fall Jacket Round Up

Amazing post on this season’s hottest jackets.

M&J Blog

Autumn season is near! Leaves are falling, layered outfits, and the perfect add-on to your outfits like scarves, hats, and of course the perfect jacket. Some of our favorite fall jackets include denim, wool, and of course, what is fall without the perfect leather jacket? What’s going to be your favorite jacket this upcoming fall season? Wool, a knitted sweater, perhaps just go sleeveless?

Banana Republic is getting chic this Fall 2015. Already falling in love.

Burgundy leather jacket for fall ? Why yes, don’t mind if I do! Notice the exposed zippers on this beauty? And what is a leather jacket without some studs?

Sleeveless with a drapery affect…irresistible!

Love everything about this outfit. Khaki has been taking over fashion strong this year.

An over sized knitted sweater can be your go-to jacket alternative this fall.

Perfection. Denim jackets are always great for those cool breezy nights.

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Lazy Babe Booty.

Let’s keep it real… We all aren’t that great at keeping  up our workout regime and eating healthy. So what’s the one thing that kills that guilty feeling, gets you moving and makes you feel it the next day…. JUMP SQUATS.  

  
 Doing a quick 25 in those moments of feelin shameful that you’ve been so bad. 🙂  By simply adjusting your stance and toe direction, you can target different regions of your bum and thighs.Do a little or do a lot but no matter what get movin. 

Xo- A 

What are your go to quick workout moves? 

Beach Day!

My favorite little spot!   
Happy weekend Babes! 

Stressed…

  

Fall Body Refresh

One of my favorite places is the Korean Bath House! Since it is a bit pricey and I don’t always have the time for a day spa experience. I decided to share my alternative for all you spa lovers  or those too nervous to strip down butt ass naked and get scrubbed down by a stranger. If you decide to go to the Korean bath house with another person, make sure you are really close. You will being seeing ALL  of each other and others…if you catch my drift.

The Korean Bath House at Home.

STEP 1: Step into hot shower. Start with washing your face while your body relaxes and skin softens.

STEP 2: Step away from the water. Time to exfoliate… this is not little bitch exfoliation…this is deep down, sometimes ouch exfoliating.

The gloves are the best,laziest and easiest way to scrub down. They are also just like the Korean Bath house gloves. This step should take at least 15 minutes. Its’ gross but you will see balls of dead skin rolling off and in a sick way it’s satisfying. After a summer of soaking up the sun it is time for our skin to shed and soak up some moisture. Once you are scrubbed raw, its time to really relax.

STEP 3: Start bath and create mix in the fabulous Honey Milk Bath. Soak in the bath for 20-40 minutes. Rise,dry and moisturize with your favorite lotion or oil. I am a personal fan of old school baby oil.

STEP 4: Drink a lot of water!

 Hope you all enjoy your mini spa day!

xo- A

Comfort with Style

Comfort with style by alexia-kt featuring pull on pants