Bash Eco Events: Beautiful Backyard Wedding

I had a lovely chat yesterday with Paige Anderson of the Los Angeles based Bash Eco Events, an eco-friendly event and wedding planning studio. Our communication led me to learn much about Paige, such as how her background in film production led her to event planning and launch parties, and then eventually wedding planning. This talented gal has a lovely blog, Bash Eco Events: The Blog, of which she recently shared a beautiful backyard wedding. My favorite parts of this wedding are the hand dyed bridesmaid's dresses, but it also involved homemade goodies, a disco ball hanging from an old oak tree, and wildflower centerpieces with eggplant and asparagus! I borrowed a few photos to post here, but see the rest here.



All photos by Miriam Geer

Giveaways: Designer Handbags and Wedding in a Week

Hola friends, readers, and stoppers-by! Today I am sharing with you a couple of awesome giveaways. Although different in nature, each contest is held by blogs and websites worth promoting (at least in my opinion.) So hold onto your boring desk chairs and get ready to get lucky!
Wishpot teamed up with Avelle (a site where you can basically "rent" designer handbags - think Sex and the City) to offer you the chance to win a to-die-for Kate Spade handbag in a beautiful red. Entering is pretty easy, but there are a few ways to do it, so be sure to learn what you need to do to enter!


Wait! There's more!


The ever quirky and cute Broke Ass Bride, who is also the talent behind BrideShare, just launched the Wedding in a Week Giveaway! With 11 separate giveaways for brides-to-be and beyond to enter, the event aims to give budget brides a (possibly huge) break. So make sure to skip on by Broke Ass Bride everyday this week to check out what kinds of goodies they are offering!

Cardiovascular Fun: Starting A Running Program

A few years ago I became a really enthusiastic runner. For about 45 minutes, I would run like a race horse on the treadmill of the apartment complex's gym. My towel neatly draped over the handle bar, my pink mp3 player strapped to my arm, and with my cute Sigg bottle in the cup holder, I thought I was so cool. And then one day, my right ankle started to hurt. A lot. Forget running, walking was about all I could take. The doctor took one look at me and said, "Dear, you have tendonitis." In a nutshell, my Achilles tendon was overused and inflamed. I was instructed to keep my foot elevated and to ice it every few hours. My overzealous attitude, my failure to stretch properly, and my ignorance about easing into an exercise program landed me into a two week long rest and recovery phase. Suddenly, I was about as cool as marshmallow.

Running is an excellent cardiovascular exercise and it burns calories like nobodies business, but it's a high impact workout and, as I learned the hard way, it takes it's toll on the feet, shins, ankles, and knees. Don't avoid it, just be smarter about how you implement it, especially if it's your first introduction to a real exercise program.

Here are a few important factors to keep in mind:

1. Start off slow and gradually increase your running time. Consult a personal trainer or exercise program, such as Runner World's 8 Week Beginner's Running Training Program.

2. It's normal to be out of breath when running, but be careful not to overdo it. If you can run while carrying on a conversation, you're at a good pace. Once or twice a week, go for a shorter run at a higher speed, which will increase your cardiovascular strength.

3. Invest in good running shoes. Most metropolitan cities have specialty running stores, such as Big Peach Running Company in Atlanta, where you can have your run analyzed.

4. Last but not least, don't avoid strength training in fear of branding some major muscles. Unless you're a body builder, that's not going to happen. Strength training is important for injury prevention and it will help increase your speed.

Helpful hint: Want to tone up your butt and thighs? Go for the hills!

For more info, check out Fitness Magazine's Running 101: A beginners Guide.

Other Sources: Running Planet
Photo by SWPhotos

Handmade Fascinators with Vintage Fabrics

Simply charming fascinators from Hapitat! All handmade with recycled vintage fabrics, feathers, and lace.




Happy Friday everyone! Can you believe it's almost October? It's officially Fall, isn't it? Now we start thinking about pumpkins, falling leaves, and warm cups of tea. Enjoy your weekend!

Vintage Style Bikes Make for Eco-Friendly Transportation

You can take a cab to your wedding. A limousine. A chauffeured car. A bus. A truck. A tractor. A rickshaw. A Flintstone car.

Or.

You can ride your bike! Doesn't get more eco-friendly than that. Phooey to all those who complain about their dress potentially getting dirty. So what. You're only gonna wear it once. Might as well get good use out of it.

Need a bike? Make sure you know what to look for.

Groovy, retro bikes available at Linus Bike. Found via Oh Joy.

Thrift Store Finds for Your Wedding

Here is an eco-friendly way to bring a little life to your table, whether it's at home or at the reception. Gather liquor glasses from around your house, ask your friends if you can borrow a few, or your bound to find some at a thrift store or flea market. As shown here, you can plant them with succulents or fill them with tea lights for a romantic glow. For more ideas, check out Apartment Therapy's Re-Nest.

Grooms: Embrace Your Own Style

Most eco-friendly gals enjoy being unique, especially when it comes to their wedding. You don't hear too many girls say, "I want my wedding to look like everybody else's wedding." Figuring out your own style, being comfortable with it, and then stamping it on everything you can is an important part of life, but don't forget about the groom in your life. Some of you may have very involved fiances, while others prefer to stand on the sidelines, but whatever the case, talk to your guy and ask him what style he would like to bring the table. Remind him that "style" doesn't necessarily mean what tie he will wear - it could mean a favorite song he wants to play at the reception, a certain type of food that brings back childhood memories, or maybe it is a piece of clothing that he's always loved. Or in this case, maybe it's white and green socks with a skull and crossbones on the side!


photography by tooleart.com

Healthy Monday: Yoga Online

Switching back to Healthy Monday today, I thought I would share a site that is my new online obsession. We all know that yoga, pilates, and meditation are an excellent way to tone up your body, work off fat, and hone your mind, but finding the time to exercise or rearranging the budget to include a gym membership isn't always in the cards. Fortunately, due to this wonderful thing we call the internet, you can now practice your downward dog in privacy, on your own schedule, and even when traveling. MyYogaOnline.com gives you access to an unlimited video library, full screen HD streaming, and it only costs $9.95/month! Now get those booties moving!

Affordable Jewelry For Your Wedding

I recently received a sweet e-mail from Jenni Wingenroth, a jewelry designer in Phoenix, Arizona, of JLR Designs. She has designed and created jewelry for a multitude of weddings in the past year and with the majority of her work priced at under $40.00, it's very affordable. Jenni offers a great array of colors which could easily be matched or complemented to your bridesmaid's dresses. And my favorite part? 20% of each sale is donated to the Arizona Humane Society.





Have a great weekend everyone!

I love the simplicity in this combination. Gerbera daisies in a glass tea pot. Perfect for a wedding of for your home.

Found via Eat Drink Chic

An Environmentally Friendly Wedding

Allison and Doug, recent Earthly Affair customers, were kind enough to share their eco-inspiring wedding with us. The amount of care and consideration that went into every detail is incredible and I'm so excited to share it with you!

Allison's dress was made locally in San Francisco and it consisted of all natural silk.

The couple made sure to have their ceremony and reception in the same place, so guests wouldn't have to travel between venues and they could cut down on transportation pollutants at the same time.
Allison and Doug were married in a bird sanctuary that provides bay, tidal beach, grassland, shrub, and forest habitats for all kinds of birds and wildlife. They did a wonderful job of incorporating the scenery and wildlife into the wedding itself.

They used locally grown and organic flowers, designed by Chestnut and Vine in Berkeley, CA.

For favors, Allison grew and pressed native wildflowers to make handmade bookmarks on 100% post consumer waste paper.

In addition to offsetting everyone's carbon output (including vendors!) through TerraPass.org, Allison and Doug had three vegan, organic cakes from True Confections, catered only in-season, organic food and drink from Fond Catering, and they registered at the Sempervirens Fund, which works to preserve redwood lands.

Thank you, Allison and Doug for sharing your beautiful wedding!

Photography by Alison Bank

A Modern Ketubah

Daniel Sroka of Modern Ketubah has a couple of new designs available. Sroka uses his own modern, nature-inspired photography to create unique Ketubahs that you're not going to find anywhere else. The Daisy and the Evergreen Ketubah are his two new designs and they are absolutely lovely! Each Ketubah is printed on an acid free, fine art paper made of 100% cotton rag from Crane, a company which takes environmental responsibility seriously.

DIY Monday: Yogurt Tub Luggage Tags

(Cue deep movie preview voice) In a world where all luggage looks the same, there was one, one who stood out in a sea of gray and black. It had a tag... and it was made of a yogurt tub.

Yogurt lovers unite! Now you can enjoy your yogurt and make use out of the container as well. These yogurt tub luggage tabs, found via Planet Green, would make for great bridal party gifts or use for your own honeymoon luggage!

TOMS Now Offers Wedding Shoes

TOMS Shoes is one of those rare companies that makes you feel good just to be human, and they're giving us a good dose of wedding happiness today. Read on to find out more...

As things begin to add up, you will find that a wedding can be quite expensive. The flowers, photographer, the food, the drinks, the location, and of course the dress. And to make it an earth friendly wedding, things can become more costly. Everything, that is, but the shoes.

Yep. You heard right. Instead of paying a fortune just to stumble around on four-inch heels that you’ll never wear again and squeezing the guys into ill-fitting rentals, consider wearing wedding TOMS shoes. In case you haven’t heard about TOMS before, it’s a shoe company with a noble mission. The TOMS commitment states that for every pair of shoes purchased, a pair will be given to a child in need. One for One. Even if the thought of embarking on your new life journey by helping a child isn’t reason enough, the totally reasonable pricing on all bride TOMS shoes should do it. And if you get your entire wedding party to rock the TOMS for the ceremony, they’re willing to work out discounted pricing to make it even more affordable. No better way to start your life together than by giving, and saving.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Embrace Uniqueness : Games at Your Wedding

Embrace your love of the sport of Ping Pong by setting up a table at your wedding. Looks like this guy enjoyed it! :)

photo by Sean Flanigan

Unique and Eco-Friendly Centerpiece Ideas

Pears on a pedestal and musings in milk glass, here are a few eco-friendly centerpiece ideas to inspire the brain. Vintage milk glass and edible centerpieces make for a great way to reduce waste and incorporate family heirlooms in your decor. My favorite is the first picture - the grain of the wood, the patterned fabric, and the rich color of red create such a lovely effect.

by Jane Flanagan

by Kimberly Shaw Graphics

by Kimberly Shaw Graphics

by Lepiaf.Geo

Happy Holiday!

To my friends and readers in the states, enjoy your Labor Day holiday!

P.S. I'm not sure where this is, but wouldn't this make for a great engagement photo location!?

Found via Share Some Candy

Handmade Bridal Shrugs and Shawls

Comfy bridal shrugs to welcome slightly cooler weather. ReflectionsByd offers a whole array of handmade shrugs, shawls, scarfs, and boleros that are soft and feminine.

I'm taking advantage of my Labor Day weekend to spend some time with a good friend from college, so I'll be back on Tuesday, September 8th. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Colorful Outdoor Wedding

If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair...

This couple used all organic flowers from Full Belly Farm. And although it's Sacramento, not San Francisco, this bride pulls off the flowers-in-the-hair look quite well. A little eye candy for you to enjoy today, courtesy of Tiny Water Photography. The details and colors in these photographs are just beautiful.




See Part 1
See Part 2
See Part 3

Unique Sustainably Harvested Wood Jewelry

I came across these while perusing the charming PDX Bride blog. The intricate and delicate design is beautiful and I particularly love the sturdy femininity of each piece. PDX Bride purchased a pair of Orange Slice earrings as a thank you gift for a friend. I would imagine most jewelry lovers, especially those who enjoy unique pieces, would get a kick out of these.

Orange Slice is a small company dedicated to being low impact and environmentally friendly. Each piece is created from a non-toxic hardwood, laminate that is made from sustainable harvested trees.

Fashion That Makes A Difference

Having a wedding generally includes spending money and a lot of it. Even "budget weddings" can equal the price of a gently used compact car. So when it comes to buying gifts for your ever faithful bridesmaids and groomsmen, why not stretch your dollar? For every shirt bought, Onetribe promises to donate half the proceeds to making a difference in communities around the world. For instance, just one water.org shirt provides one person with clean drinking water for life and one Grassroot Soccer shirt equips one child in Africa with the knowledge, skills, and support to live HIV free.