Saturday, December 27, 2008

Super savings at outlet stores

You won't believe the 50%, 60%, 70% and higher discounts that you'll find at an array of outlet stores near you, or within a short drive [which is so worth it when you find a $100 designer wedding gown or $40 designer handbags for your bridesmaids' gifts]. Check out www.outletbound.com to find out which outlet stores are near you, search by store name, and find out what's new in your area and in areas you'll be visiting (like his parents' place or your next vacation spot.) If you can't easily get to any outlet stores, now you can shop online at www.realoutlets.com. Happy shopping!

Money-saving DIY ideas


I LOVE Amy Palanjian's column 'Things We Make' for the terrific DIY projects and inspiration. Check it out!

I also saw on the Hallmark Magazine website a fantastic photo feature on 'recycling' the lace from your wedding gown or bouquet fabric. They're talking making a shadow box or frame to feature one carefully-cut lace design, and I think this would make an AMAZING gift to give to your mom, grandmom, daughter, the bridesmaids. Since the bouquet toss tradition started out originally, long ago, as wedding guests tearing at the bride's dress to get a little scrap of fabric and thus a bit of her luck (and sometimes it got brutal!), giving out snippets of your gown or veil lace or that from your bouquet handle is a precious gift!

Monday, December 22, 2008

COOKIES!!!!






I *love* Cheryl & Co's frosted cookies. Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em! These are fantastic for bridal shower desserts, as shower favors, as wedding favors (especially the fall flavors for fall weddings) and as additions to guest welcome baskets.

Check out their 30% off sale going on right now

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Monday, December 15, 2008

A Green Wedding with Martha! Tune in!


(Photo credit: Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia)

Get behind-the-scenes access with Martha Stewart on the revealing new special "Gorgeous and Green: A Martha Stewart Wedding," premiering Saturday, December 20 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on The Style Network.

Viewers will follow Martha's assistant Liesl Menning, as she prepares to marry country music artist Kevin Haynie in Nashville, Tennessee!

Martha's team is dedicated to making this wedding not only gorgeous, but as green as possible! Liesl and Kevin want to have an environmentally conscious event but still desire all the elegance of a Martha Stewart Wedding. Darcy Miller takes the lead as planner and helps the happy couple prepare for the big day incorporating green elements such as using delicious organic items from the garden for their dinner ingredients, to finding unique and beautiful ways to decorate for the reception with recycled and natural products. They also create a registry featuring eco-friendly items.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

The reward is always at the finish line



I love this viral video of the World's Smartest Mouse...just shows that with persistence and a good sense of direction, the ability to keep going without the need for immediate reward, and challenges of all sizes (including tall ones that seem insurmountable), you get to the finish line and the reward is waiting there for you. Love this.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Books are the #1 budget wedding favor and gifts choice!

If you're looking for the perfect, affordable wedding favors, forget about those cheesy little silver frames and choose to get your guests great little gift books! Priced at under $7 each in most cases, these books offer your guests humor, quotes, pretty pictures, poetry...you name it. It's something they'll enjoy and keep on their bookshelves for a very long time, always remembering your wonderful wedding.


For parents' and bridal party gifts, get your recipients gorgeous coffee table books featuring photos of their favorite locations (Tuscany, Paris, Egypt), their favorite artists (Monet, VanGogh, etc.), architecture, boats, whatever topic they love. Again, this gift -- signed by you with a heartfelt message of love and thanks -- stays in their home, on display, for a long, long time. That's way better than a bottle of wine and is the perfect add-on to the framed photo or album you're already planning to get them.


And if you have a Rewards system with Amazon, just think about the points and perks you'll get when you order 30 shower favor books or 100 wedding favor books! It's an additional savings on an already affordable gift idea, adding up to a very smart gift choice.

My personal favorite for bridal shower favors? A very fun choice for your married and single guests: Love Bets.

Monday, December 08, 2008

Have some FUN with your groom!



My new book is out! I thought the release date was next week, but here it is, ready for you now.

“Winner gets a neck massage.” “Loser gives winner a candlelit striptease.” “If you win, I’ll wash your car. Shirtless.”
This book brings a sense of play and friendly competition to any relationship - and the wager is the best part. The prizes range from the innocent (as in a first date’s friendly wager for a second date) to the gourmet (chocolate-covered strawberries brought to you at work) to the sexy (full body massage) to the racy (a striptease). This book suggests more than 300 romantic couples’ bets in a range of categories, focusing on different activities, such as: which team will win the football game; what family member will be the first to embarrass himself at Thanksgiving; who will come up with the most complex word during a game of Scrabble; and more! This book also includes expert tips for executing the prizes. Plus, each entry has space for recording the bet, wager, and outcome, making this book the perfect keepsake for any relationship!

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

The perfect items for guest welcome baskets...and for you!



I LOVE Bath and Body Works Instant Aromatherapy. They're the perfect indulgence for your guests' welcome baskets, a gift they'll keep and use for a long time, and you get to choose the 'theme' of aromatherapy you want for each recipient.

I always keep their lavender scent in my handbag for moments when I just want to chill out a little bit...stock up for you, for the Moms, for your bridesmaids and also as the perfect, affordable bridal shower favor!

Organize your wedding photo wishlist

Check out my book excerpt, a checklist of shots to be taken (or skipped) at your wedding, featured on the SeeYouThen.com blog.

While you're there, cruise the site to see if you would like an account as a gift!

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

The Williams Sonoma Wine Club



Now here's a brilliant, classy idea for a gift to request from your parents or bridal party...sign on for the Williams Sonoma wine club in order to receive your choice of vintages shipped right to you, plus amazing advice from their wine and culinary experts about food pairings.

If your parents are footing the bill for your big day, this could be a great gift to give to THEM.

Visit their site at Williams Sonoma.