Buying A Used Gown?

For those of you looking for a pre-owned wedding dress, check out The Bride's Cafe very informative article on what to look for when buying a once-worn gown.

Happy Friday everyone! And Happy Halloween! Check out this nifty guide to earth friendly candy: http://ow.ly/xiMu

Photo above: Justina McCaffrey dress at PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com

Persimmon and Pine: Sustainable Gift Wrap and Carry All

Totally digging the saavy wrap! An eco-conscious alternative to gift wrap and available in a variety of sustainable crop and organic fabric choices. Available at Persimmon and Pine.

Vintage Cashmere Refreshed

Some style experts would say every gal should own a cashmere cardigan. It's simple, sexy, and versatile. Quite frankly though, I'm not a cardigan kind of girl. And if you aren't either, then you'll be pleased to read about Jen Sertl, a cashmere "refresher" if you will, and her company Angelina Accoutrements. Sertl handcrafts vintage cashmere into wraps, sweaters, halters, shrugs, and scarves and adds charming details, such as ruffles, lace trims, vintage pearls, and beadword. The result? A one of a kind piece, reconstructed from existing cashmere.

A Prescription For Love

I had this idea the other night. If you and your fiance were both pharmacists, or even doctors, your wedding theme could be, "A Prescription for Love". I know it's extremely corny (it probably even surpasses "extremely" and into the realm of "supremely" or something), but you could use these really cute vintage prescription store medicine bottles for your centerpieces! Eh, am I right? Available at Three Potato Four.

Remember to Stop and Smell the...Lemons!?

Saw this interesting tip on Natural Health Magazine and thought it worth sharing. Plus, I found a this really cute picture of lemons that I just had to share!


Next time you ask for lemon in your tea, remember to get a good whiff first! Did you know scientists have found a link between our sense of smell and depression? Lemons in particular seem to boost seratonin levels, which is a "feel good hormone." Pretty nifty, right? (original article)

picture by graygoosie

Organic Skincare and Makeup

Woohoo! After yesterday's mixup, I'm happy to say today is FRIDAY! If you're reading this at one in the afternoon, then you've probably already zoned out and your mind is currently floating in an abyss of potential weekend plans. But I ask you to check back into reality, just briefly, to take a look at the candy colored cosmetics of Josie Maran. Her organic skincare and makeup carries the tagline, "luxury with a conscience," but fortunately the price tag isn't really all that different from what you might find at a department store makeup counter. For instance, the lipstick, housed in a recycleable tube, costs $20.00. And the Argan Oil Moisturizing Stick, $22.00, might be a nice gift for your bridesmaids.

And I'm out until Monday folks! Hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead of you!

Pictured above: Earth Day Essentials Kit, $48.00

Around The Web!

It's Friday! (Oops! I mean Thursday! Yesterday was long enough to make me believe today would be Friday!) Enjoy this mish mash of neato stuff found around the web.


For the photographers out there! Submit your photographs to the newest e-zine, Eco-Beautiful Weddings, created by Katie Martin of the DC based, Elegance and Simplicity Weddings. Scheduled to launch in December of 2009.

Have fun with 100% recycled tissue paper. Perfect for your out of town gift bags!

Get your arms, chest, back, legs, and abdominals in shape with the 20 minute workout from RealSimple.com.

Check out this beautiful, 200-guest wedding, planned for under $15,000. Found on the always charming Snippet and Ink.

Real Wedding: Pumpkins, Daisies, and a Farm!

Kay English recently sent me this very sweet wedding she photographed, held at the bride's grandfather's farm. I love all the little details and it's so fall appropriate - I couldn't help but smile when I saw it. The 5 ft. tall centerpieces were made by the groom (go groom!) and the pumpkins were picked straight off the farm for use in the decor. They even used some of the vegetables from the farm for the catering!






Be sure to check out Kay's blog!

Mother Earth Brewing Company

Do you plan to serve beer at your wedding? There are the tried and true bottles that most bars stock - Budweiser, Heineken, MillerCoors, etc... And there is nothing wrong with those (not that I'm a heavy drinker of domestic or imported beer, but for liability reasons, it's best not to step on toes), but why not add a little uniqueness to your event by providing either beverages from a local brewery or from an environmentally friendly one? Or both! If you live in North Carolina, you might want to check out Mother Earth Brewing, a brewery which aims to be low impact and environmentally friendly. For instance, they remodeled an old building to operate out of, which now utilizes recycled blue jean insulation, eco carpet partially made out of renewable resources, and a one kilowatt solar array that now stands atop the building. They also employ green brewing procedures, such as sending spent grain to local farmers to use as "top quality feed," rather than send it to the landfills.


I've never tried this beer, but I do like how they offer beer style and food pairing suggestions on their website! Very handy in my opinion!

Er, No Title Cometh

You know, sometimes I got nothin'. Unfortunately, today is one of those days. It's Friday night and I'm trying to write my "healthy monday" post ahead of time (yes, this is what I do on Friday night, my life is just that boring), but the willingness to research a topic escapes me this evening. Perhaps by Sunday afternoon I will have deleted all of this and will have a beautifully written article on how to be healthy in some way, shape, or form.

If not, I leave you with this funny, funny website, sure to loosen up your smile muscles and create a few giggles here and there. I promise I'll be back on Tuesday with lots of love, pictures, and inspiration.

What Does Your Cake Say About You?

On this Friday, I leave you with a link to an interesting post from The Clueless Crafter (one of my new fave blogs!), where Lydia discusses how a cake is essentially a "monument to marriage." She writes,

"Do the aesthetics of your cake convey a sturdy, lasting message about you as a couple to your guests? Will they look at it and think, 'of course that cake would be powder blue, she works at Tiffany's' or 'They balanced the blue with crisp white piping, an homage to the groom's love for tidy, rectilinear shape.' The cake is a chance for the guests to get a taste of the couple, to figure out what matters to them and to decipher their love code through sight and taste. It's a peek inside the sacred."

Upon reading this, I realized how right she is. Very rarely is a cake, "just a cake." Couples who are active in their community and wish to support their local economy might enlist a small in-town bakery to create a delightfully simple cheesecake, while another couple who had their first kiss over a cone of Ben and Jerry's might opt for an unusual Chunky Monkey ice cream cake.

So what about you? Does your wedding cake suggest who you are?


photo credit: Top photos - CluelessCrafter.com, bottom photos - Brides.com

Love Them Apples

Fall is here and it's apple pickin' season! I am so excited b/c I love apples. I try to eat at least one a day and since I love sugar (and apples have a lot of natural sugar in them) it's usually not that hard to do. Of course, I also try to eat at least 16 baby carrots a day... uh, that's a whole different story.

There are a few great things about apples: one, they are a fairly inexpensive fruit, two, they have a long shelf life, and three, they are easily enjoyed on the go. If you're having a Fall wedding, consider using apples in your decor, as favors, or in your cuisine. Guests will have the pleasure of taking them home or back to their hotel, which will help create minimal waste. Feeling creative? Dip them in caramel for a treat reminiscent of fairs and carnivals. Mmm...caramel apples are a delight sure to please!

Here in Georgia, we've got our own Apple festival! Want to find an apple orchard near you?

photo credits:
Top Country Living
Bottom Eddie Ross, The Future France Family

Eco Cupcake Wrappers

Dessert bars are fun. So are cupcakes. And even if you aren't serving cupcakes, these eco-friendly wrappers would work well as little candy holders too. Printed with soy inks on recycled paper, they come in a variety of colors and are available at Dream Green Weddings.

As Seen Around The Interwebs

Have you seen the new Vintage Glam Blog? Now known as Ruffled, it's super cute and full of eye candy and eco-friendly finds. And they're kicking off the launch with a great giveaway from the talented photographer, Caroline Ghetes. Ghetes is offering the chance to win a wedding photography package worth $3600.

Healthy Monday: Michelle Obama's Secrets to a Happy Life.

Whether you're a fan or not, you've got to hand it to the leading lady. She's in great shape, makes headlines with her fashion sense, and maintains a classy composure no matter where she is. Prevention Magazine shares their exclusive interview, where Mrs. Michelle Obama divulges her secrets to a happy life. Although not all her tips may apply to the stage you're at in life, it's still an enjoyable read and it's short enough for those five extra minutes in your lunch break.

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On a completely separate note: When I was in college, I was always encouraged to take part in university studies to further the school's research capabilities, so I guess that mantra stuck in my head. I've been asked to pass along some information about a study the University of Virginia is currently holding, which will focus on relationship dynamics and plans for parenthood. I've copied and pasted their message below:

I am looking for volunteers for a study of attitudes towards marriage and parenthood among engaged couples. The study consists of a 25-30 minute online survey. To qualify for the study, you must be 20-35 years old, live in the U.S., and plan to marry or have a commitment ceremony within the next 365 days. You and your romantic partner must not have children, and this must be the first marriage for both of you.

You can:

-Help a doctoral candidate;

-Increase the pool of scientific knowledge;

-Support research on marriage and families; and

-Spend some time thinking about your relationship!

I am working with Dr. Charlotte J. Patterson, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. This study has been approved by the University of Virginia Institutional Review Board #2009025800.

If you and/or your romantic partner are interested in participating or want further information, please email me at survey.couples@gmail.com. I will send you a link that you can use to access the study.

Capecod Capelet

Burrr...it's getting a (little) cooler! Fall is here! This precious capelet could work for an Autumn wedding, no? And guess what? It's made out of a vintage lace table cloth! Who knew a table cloth could look so cute? Found at Kate Towers.

Happy Friday to you!

Real Wedding: Wonderfully Comfortable

Check out this wedding, found on Once Wed. This looks like the kind of affair that's relaxed enough to take off your shoes, but formal enough to be a wedding. I love the one tiered cakes, the sweet, country feel of the location, and the bride and groom look wonderfully comfortable and beautiful at the same time.

After The Wedding: Recycled Furniture At Home

Running a little behind today, so I apologize in advance for the short post. Enjoy the lovely work of Dean Stubbings, the man behind Madera. Handmade, artisan furniture crafted from local, recycled wood.

Reader E-mail: Chico Bags Made From Recycled Content

I love receiving e-mails from readers, especially when they want to share an interesting eco-friendly find. For instance, Jill sent me a link to these re-usable bags made with 90% recycled content, 73% made from post consumer waste materials. They are rePETe bags from Chico and they are oh-so-cute!

Healthy Monday: Staying Well

As much as I would like to, it's hard to ignore that pesky H1N1 (swine) flu right now. I recently had a past customer of Earthly Affair reveal to me she had to delay her wedding because of the swine flu. And one of my good friends, who is a teacher, said over 30 kids stayed home because they were sick. I visited a store the other day that had a bottle of big - and I mean really big - liquid hand sanitizer sitting on the checkout counter. "Is this for my hands or should I take a bath in it," I wanted to ask?

It's true that many catch it only to recover uneventfully, but others are hospitalized and for some, it's even fatal. Personally, I vacillate between being super freaked out and merely chalking it up to media hype, but regardless, it's always important to treat your immune system like the well oiled machine that it's supposed to be. (Especially if you've got a wedding coming up!)

Vaccinations or not, here are a few ways to keep your immune system in tip top shape:

- Get some sleep: Sleep allows our bodies to repair cells, which aids in a strong immune system. Experts say that sleep deprivation weakens the immune system, while getting adequate rest serves to boost it.

- Take a walk: Moderate exercise, such as a brisk 30 minute walk three to four times a week is a great way to keep the immune system in shape. Too much exercise though can make you more susceptible to illness.

- Rock out: Listen to music. Okay, yeah, this is a weird one, but according to one study, it works.

- Special potions: Certain herbs have been scientifically proven to beef up the body's defense system, such as Astragalus Root, Olive Leaf extract, and Echinacea.

Sources: DIY How to Keep Your Immune System Strong, Using Your Immune System to Stay Well

Photo: Handmade Tissue Holder by SimplyBeme

Invitation Etiquette: Asking For Cash

"Yay! ANOTHER blender!" "I've always wanted two toasters!" "I can't wait to display all these picture frames...in my closet."

When registering for your wedding, you may find you already have all the little necessities that a bride and groom typically register for. Couples are getting married later in life, shacking up (good or bad, it happens all the time), and already have established careers, apartments, or homes, by the time they tie the knot. So in the world where cash is king, it's tempting to ask for good old fashioned moolah on your wedding invitation. After all, this saves your guests time, right?

Not exactly.

While some rules are meant to be broken (who said that punch bowl didn't have alcohol?), never ask for cash on your wedding invitation. In fact, never put any registry information at all on your wedding invitation. If you do, you seriously run the risk of having about three grandmas call you on it at your wedding. And I'm not kidding. In a recent Q&A in the Wall Street Journal, the author cites Anna Post (author and spokeswoman for the Emily Post Institute), who says, "Saying anything about any gifts of any kind can be jarring to recipients." Instead, a perfectly acceptable way to let guests know you prefer cash is to ask friends and family to pass along the information. You can even let them know via a wedding web site.

Think cash is tacky? Other types of registries are becoming more and more popular, such as a honeymoon (honeymoonwishes.com) or charitable organization registries (changingthepresent.org).

P.S. Speaking from experience, if you want to ask for cash gifts, but are worried it will be tacky, you'll find guests are much more receptive when they realize they are contributing to a bigger cause - your first home, an in-house photography studio, an outdoor garden and sunroom, etc...

photo by: Leaca's Philosophy

Bridal Shower Tea Party Invitations

I consider myself an artist, but I'm really a graphic designer by trade. I'm not all that spectacular when it comes to free hand drawing, painting, ceramics, etc... but that doesn't stop me from loving and appreciating art in all forms. I am especially charmed by these original watercolor Royal Tea Party Invitations from Kimberly Shaw, who can work a paint brush like nobody's business! Each invitation has a little spot for a real tea bag, making it such a cute and unique idea for a bridal tea shower, I don't know how one could actually decline to attend.