Trend - Themed Bridal Showers

Throwing a bridal shower for your best friend could be one of the hardest parties you'll ever host, unless.... you know about the Hostess With the Mostess! Hostess has parties broken down by occasion, creates a design, sets the stage and tells you exactly how to get that look! What more could you ask for?! I love this Butterfly Meadow theme for a bridal shower.

Photos courtesy of Hostess With the Mostess

Trend - High Heel Cake Server

Running errands this weekend I came across a High Heel Shoe Cake Server! These are a cute treat for a bridal shower or a themed wedding. I found them at Nordstrom Rack, but also found them at Mommy's High Heel Shoes.

Trend - Couples Showers

Couples showers are popular for those couples that have had their fair share of "girls/boys nights out" and want to celebrate their upcoming wedding together with their pals, guys and gals!Photo provided by The Memory Journalists

Trend - Buy Eco-Friendly For The Gifted Gardners

Looking for a bridal shower or wedding gift for your gifted gardner or outdoor loving pals? Check out the new eco-friendly MIO line available at Target, including gardening accessories and outdoor living.

Check out more about sustainable products for home design available from MIO.

Trend - Showering With Sweets

Don't spend your time baking and frosting desserts for your best gal pal's bridal shower, consider these wedding cake inspired, frosted, sugar cookies from Cookie Connection for only $2/ or $21/dozen. These soft morsels will be a great complement to some bubbly or sparkling water adorned with raspberries. Mmm...

Be sure to place your order in advance at pick up at their Fair Oaks or Roseville locations!

Trend - Floral Potluck

If you're throwing your BFF's bridal shower, find an assortment of different flowers (tulips, gerbera daisies, stargazer lilies, roses) and place them all together in lovely containers and large vases. At the end of the shower, you can have tissue paper and cellophane laid out with ribbon and cutting shears. They can each create a fun DIY arrangement to take home as their favor!Photo provided by The Memory Journalists

Trend - Sweet Florals

Martha Stewart Weddings shared these fruit-flavored, flower-shaped candies pictured here. They are a traditional French treat called pates de fruits. These candies would make a delicious addition to any bridal shower in the event's colors.

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Dynamite Sites/Blogs - Butterfly Cakes

Searching wedding blogs and commenting today, I stumbled across Butterfly Cakes blog The Beehive in Burlingame, CA. Sonya Hong is the owner and cake designer with amazing artistic ability creating remarkably detailed designs.Sonya also had some amazing bridal shower cake designs that I just had to share! Some cakes are so pretty I couldn't imagine eating them!























All photos provided by Butterfly Cakes

It's all about YOU!

So you're probably not (I hope not at least) planning your own shower, but maybe you have a friend getting married or your bridesmaids check out this site. I have come across some MOST ADORABLE finds for the one wedding event that really is ALL ABOUT YOU! Let's get to it!

First of all you have to get it started off with the sassiest, cutest invites you can find and I think these just might be it!

You can buy these invites at Nella Designs on Etsy.

A great place to pick up your party supplies is Polka Dot Design. I wanted post some of their designs but they no-likey. So you'll just have to check out the website. I really like the Poppy design and the Bridal Shower Starlights design.

And how about this for a unique favor? How adorable are these? They are actual cake size soaps that are in the shape of cakes and pies! Your guests can walk off with a "slice of cake" in their hand!

The LemonGrass "Cake"

Pearberry "Cake"

How about these super cute notepad favors, shared by another fabulous wedding blog: Love, Honor, and Cherish? Too cute!

Photo courtesy of Beau-coup.com

Or these darling pink purse manicure sets...useful and cute!Photo courtesy of littlethingsfavors.com

What ideas do you have for the perfect bridal shower favors?

I Scream, You Scream...

A little dessert obsessed lately? Maybe. Check out this awesome recipe that you could mix up for a fun summer bridal shower treat! Ice cream treats never get old no matter how old we get.

Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs
2 Tbsp. chopped peanuts
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups chocolate ice cream, softened
4 cups vanilla ice cream, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup chopped peanuts


Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In medium bowl, combine cookie crumbs, 2 Tbsp. chopped peanuts and melted butter and mix well. Press into bottom and up sides of 9" pie pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 5-6 minutes until set. Cool completely.

When crust has cooled, spread softened chocolate ice cream in bottom of crust. Freeze for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, combine vanilla ice cream and peanut butter in large bowl and beat until peanut butter is thoroughly blended with ice cream. Spread over chocolate ice cream in crust and top with remaining chopped peanuts. Cover and freeze for at least 6 hours. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. If you really want to kick it up, drizzle chocolate syrup over the slices of pie! Enjoy!!

I received this recipe in an email from our local top BBQ joint, Texas West BBQ. Thanks TX West!

Recipe and photo provided by Texas West BBQ.

Trend - Co-ed Bachelor/ette Parties

Bridal showers are not just for the girls anymore. Many brides are opting to invite both male and female guests. Even bachelor/bachelorette parties are going coed.Trend provided by Dynamite Weddings
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Who Doesn't Like Deals?

Deal Hunters---Check out these great discount finds posted at fabu-luxe.com. These are just a few, check the Fabu-luxe blog for the rest.


Free shipping on order over $50-SHIPPING 50







Victoria's Secret is giving away free shipping from now until July 11 for orders $50 and above. Perfect time to get your bridesmaids' gifts, items for your trousseau, or honeymoon goodies!

The Ultimate Registry

What if you could register for ANYTHING you wanted? And money was absolutely no object? What would you register for? Here's my picks if even everyone I knew was a gazillionare.

Reflections Bed Suite

$5400 at Neiman Marcus

Evelyn Etched Mirror

$500 at Neiman Marcus

Savannah Chandelier

$1220 at Neiman Marcus

Capresso Coffee Center

$1400 at Neiman Marcus

Danby Silhouette 166-Bottle Wine Cellar

$1700 at Beverage Factory

There's my list! What would you pick?

Trend - Spa Bridal Showers

Spa themed bridal showers are becoming increasingly popular. Spa professionals can be hired to come into the host's home. The host can designate an area in the home to have manicures, pedicures and massages for the guests to enjoy. And there is no need to schedule the treatments, guests may partake in the pampering as they would like.
Tip provided by Dynamite Weddings
Photo courtesy of J. Christiaan Salon and Spa

My Money Saving Gadget

I’m addicted to Starbucks lattes. I can’t help it. When the days get long at work, there is nothing I like to do more than sneak out for a quick pick-me-up. This is a costly habit when you multiply a Grande latte by 5 days a week… every week.

For Christmas, we received an espresso machine. Why didn’t I think of this?? For about $50 you can purchase your own basic latte-maker and make fancy drinks whenever the craving hits! Of course, depending on the quality and features, the price goes up from there. If you are an espresso-addict, I would recommend registering for one of these gadgets. They can save you money and are fun for entertaining!

Trend - Bridal Shower Do

No more recipe exchanges -- the current trend is to exchange meaningful marriage and relationship advice. Prior to the bridal shower, the host requests that the attendees bring notecards filled out with marriage advice for the bride and groom. The host then assembles a book filled with the advice for the bride and groom.
Other options are to ask the attendees to bring a notecard filled with a favorite memory or funny story about the bride and/or groom.

Trend provided by Dynamite Weddings
Photo courtesy of Profinish Design

Could Green be the new White?

As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, so too are weddings. With more and more brides marrying at an age of heightened maturity (as we are marrying later and later in life on average), many are finding new ways for their wedding day to make a huge impact on their guests…and a very small impact on the earth.

While I am not suggesting that toting handmade hemp shoes and an organic cotton gown down the aisle is for every (err…any?) bride, there are many small things you can do to keep our planet pretty AND create the wedding of your dreams.

If you want to go green, here are some easy things you can do without sacrificing style:

· Order sustainable food products. Talk to your caterer about using locally grown fruits and vegetables in your menu selections (locally grown=fresh, and fresh=yummy, so this option is a plus for everyone). You can pump up your efforts by also going organic.

· Consider choosing natural fabrics. You can go as far as having the groomsmen, bridesmaid or flower girl attire made of organic cotton, or go for a simpler option and use natural fabrics as table linens or napkins.

· Go vintage. It can be done in style (who says you can't choose vintage Oscar de la Renta as your gown), and using existing prodects means that you aren't requiring the manufacturing of new materials. You can let your bridesmaids wear a dress they already own, buy or rent used dresses, or choose dresses they will wear again (really). You can choose a vintage wedding gown, rent one, or select vintage wedding bands and jewelry for your big day.

· Use recycled/recyclable paper products. Invitations, wedding stationary, save the dates, announcements, table cards, disposable napkins, menus, programs…weddings require A LOT of paper. Why not use recycled products and spare a few trees? Many elegant and unique eco-friendly options are out there. Look for paper that is non-chlorine bleached and at least 30% post consumer waste.

Eco-friendly invitations, plantable Monogram Seed Paper
Available at www.botanicalpaperworks.com

· Consider socially conscious wedding favors. Many brides are opting for creative “thank you” favors for guests, so why not be creatively conscious while you’re at it? You can donate to your favorite charity in honor of your guests. (I did, best decision ever: not only did the charity benefit, but the earth did too (I printed the announcement card on natural vellum) and I didn’t have to tie 175 tiny bows.) Another fun option is to give each guest a flower—you can pot them yourself and use as place cards & leave behinds or order plantable favors (check out http://www.botanicalpaperworks.com/ for some super cute ideas). The options are virtually endless.

· Talk to your florist about using pesticide-free flowers. There are many local pesticide free nurseries and suppliers available they could work with. Using local suppliers reduces your ecological impact; and, the US has more stringent regulation so flowers grown here almost always carry less pesticides. You can also check out http://www.organicbouquet.com/for for ideas.

One dozen Aphrodite Roses, $44.95, Organic Bouquet

· Register for eco-friendly goods. Pottery Barn has amazing organic bed linens and bath towels. Or you could opt for bamboo or hemp placemats instead of regular linen, or register for art or pottery made locally. Check out http://www.branchhome.com for some hip eco-friendly ideas ranging from bowls to bedding. If you are registering for appliances, choose those with the Energy Star label.

100% organic-bamboo bowls by Bambu, $24, available at branchhome.com

· Recycle, recycle, recycle. Talk to your caterer to find out what they do with all the used soda cans, water bottles, and wine bottles at the end of the night. Get them to commit to recycling or designate a friend, family member or member of the wedding party to be in charge of gathering the goods for recycling.