BRIDE GUIDE: TOP 5 WEDDING PLAN TIPS!

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I’m so excited to share this series with you and I’m also creating videos for it on my YouTube channel! Welcome to the Bride Guide, from yours truly! Because, those that can’t do, teach and I’ll be the first to admit that I suck at planning! Like really I’d rather have someone else just tell me where to be and when ha! Realistically though I’m a control FREAK so I’m giving you my tips and tricks to staying bright and breathing and never turning into the huffing puffing bridezilla, from the control freak in me to the control freak in you!

So the part of wedding planning that I found to be the most stress inducing (ahem the entire ‘planning’ part of it duh) has become the most fun to do … once I relied on other sources to do it for me of course! Today I’m sharing with you my bride guide to planning your big day with ease, featuring some of the sites I’m currently using to prep, plan, style, and SAVE with my top 5 wedding planning tips!


1. Create a site– a landing page for guests and a place to get information surrounding your wedding. If I have a ton of questions I can’t imagine the questions my guests would have and creating a site for this puts it onto one place- the who, the where, the what, the when, the hows! You’ve probably heard of Martha Stewart weddings and The Knot, and I love checking in on those sites to see if I’m on track with the planning ‘time line’ (oh yeah, there’s a freaking time line to follow! No pressure!), but I’m using RileyGrey.com for my actual wedding site and reception hub. It feels daunting but it’s super user friendly and if I can navigate it, your tortoise probably can too! You design the page, you fill in the information, create your own personalized link, and boom, you’re like a pro baby!

2. Set a date and pick a location– I feel like these two go hand in hand because if you plan on a destination wedding *raises hands and feet* than timing becomes crucial depending on time of year, weather conditions, and travel. Also, when you set a date the next natural thing to do is pick your location which takes away 99.9% of stress, at least for me it did. I’m living and breathing by THIS blog by JetFete which caters to destination wedding planning, and helps you narrow down your options, sift through all the possibilities, and goes through every question you may have lingering when it comes to planning a wedding away from home.

3. Food, flowers, and such– choosing a vendor that offers prime location, handles decorating for you, and provides food AND beverage service is like a dream come true! But lets face it, most vendors aren’t all inclusive, thus you’re left to fend for yourself. I got your back though, CaratsAndCake is a site that allows you to shop your vendors ACCORDING TO LOCATION (whoa! and hence pick your location first) with the help of other brides who’ve already had their weddings and link you out to each of the services they used. Genius right?!?!?! So you go through the albums, it features photos from their wedding and the links to their vendors from food, to their dress, to decorations and flowers! These links are located at the bottom of the post which takes you to a page with other work the company has done, and from there you can contact the vendor directly.
G E N I U S

4. Take photos and send Save The Dates!– taking lovey dovey pictures are the fun part! You get to look all kissy and fishy faced with the love of your life … in front of strangers, and hold poses that seem awkward but look sexy! Then you send those to your family and friends as Save The Dates and RSVP cards 😀 Postable is like oxygen to me right now because it gathers the mailing address and contact information from all of your guests and puts them into one place for you. So when you’re ready to mail out your invitations simply upload or export that information to your stationary person or print them off yourself and you’re set! It’s a free service and you create a personalized link which you then email your guests with. It takes them to the landing page where they fill out their information and it goes directly to you, never shared (that was a big deal for me). You could use this for holidays, special occasions, and birthdays since you update the list yourself throughout the year.

5. Register and receive– gifts! The super duper fun funners part! Well it’s all fun but I mean c’mon, wahooo gifts!!! Sites like The Knot, Honey Fund, and others also allow your nearest and dearest to either purchase a gift from your registry or contribute to your honeymoon. Since I will both register for gifts AND ask for honeymoon perks, I’m using NewlyWish. With group gifting options and a low cash fund fee, it was just the way to go for us. I also never know what I need or want- I want it all, but this site helps you skim through products and add them to your list with a click of a button . . . ummm yes please!

So I realllllly hope this post helped you if you’re planning a wedding, helping someone else plan theirs, or will be planning in the future! There are so many resources out there like Etsy and Pinterest that give you a plethora of options when it comes to story boards and sharing ideas, and gift giving! However these are the sites I’m currently using to organize my thoughts and plans for my own wedding and I wanted to share them with you before things start to get cray lol.

There are some key things left out of this article like dress shopping and timelines, which will be woven in between all of this, but these were the items that I needed to check off my list in order to settle the nerves and be able to function and get shit done in my life so there ya go! And cheers to you <333

Are there any sites or companies you use for planning a wedding or special occasion? 

 

 

MY TRUTHS ABOUT GETTING MARRIED

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Let me preface this with ‘my’ truths, ha, thought I should put that out there! So I recently wrote an article about the conscious choices we make in regards to what we do and don’t share publicly about our lives. Much of our audience has watched Joe and my relationship grow, but from a distance as we’ve been very private about it. Well on Christmas Eve Joe proposed to me in front of his entire family and I ugly cried through it y’all. It’s been 5 1/2 years and I think we’re finally ready to open up about our future plans, why we haven’t been so open until now, and what we think about sharing your life with the internet.

People are either all for marriage or all opposed, or so I’ve been hearing, and today I’ll explore both sides of it. Personally however, I was somewhere in the middle, yes leaning more towards the “if you’re a bird I’m a bird” mentality, I mean I’m a hopeful romantic. But I’m also the girl who’s been married before so I’ve got issues with marriage whether you see them or not. When I was 18 I married Corrine’s father. That didn’t last forever and I’m a “make it work no matter what, marriage is forever” kind of person, so that was ouchy. After the dust settled though, I knew that eventually I did want to get married again. If the right man came along and changed my mind about this forever business I’d do it, besides, I’m a hopeful romantic remember? Regardless of my feelings, I also didn’t want us to feel pressured into getting married just because it was the ‘next step to take’, even IF I’ve wanted to marry Joe since our 1st date! *more on that soon*

So many people get married for the wrong reasons. You reach a certain age or you date someone for a certain amount of time, and all the sudden everyone and their mother wants to know when are you finally going to tie the knot- especially your own mother. Don’t get me wrong, marriage can be AMAZING, but the pressure to do so is not so amazing.

Here’s the ‘opposed’ side of me. There are people who get married because they think they have to, it’s all that’s left to do… shit or get off the pot kind of thing, or the ‘oh crap we’re pregnant’ kind of deal. There are also those kinds of people who marry for opportunity and those situations are too heated for me to touch on in just one post, so I’ll save it. Then there’s those who do it because they want that huge wedding that is for everyone ELSE except for them. So firstly, shout outs to all my happy couples out there wed or not wed, and secondly, through all the BS and past mistakes I’ve made myself, I wanted to get married because I’d finally found my person, who is my life partner, best teammate, biggest cheerleader, and ride-or-die best friend when we have it all or nothing left. You sure do learn a lot when you get it wrong the first time. If you can’t be best friends with your partner, what do you have after the buzz from the wedding planning and honey mooning settles off?

With my first marriage I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I needed to grow up (a crap ton), that I was co-dependent (a crap ton), and that I had ZERO clue about who I was or what I wanted outside of this other person (#baggage). Mind you, I had a little human looking up to me for life coping skills, all the while- I myself was trying to learn how to navigate through life.

Here’s the ‘all for’ marriage side of me. Today looking to the future, I can confidently say (17 years later whew) that I love the person I’ve become, I love the man I’m with, and I love how healthy our relationship is. No relationship is perfect, but I think we work because I’m the hot head and he’s the calm and logical one. I’m the loud mouth and he’s there to shut me up when I irrationally roid out. I can get down with marrying that! Also, when he’s having a crap day I can be the rock for him too, and lastly, (and this is a big one) we’re not allowed to go crazy at the same time! Rock Paper Scissors for that if you have to! Life is too short to fight and it’s also too short to be with someone you really don’t like as a person.

So if I could share with you one thing about being in a relationship; not just being engaged or getting married, but being in a healthy relationship- it’s that the only person you can control is you. No one will ever change just because you want them to, and when you aren’t a whole person (we all have baggage don’t we now) you can’t expect someone else to fill that void. Marriage is a big deal and it should be the happiest of moments, not a forced or uncertain one. Lets be real though, I’ve been putting the pressure on Joe for like 5 years! When ya know ya just know!

This post somehow turned into a self-help for the emotionally-unavailable/ rant on love, but the point is that your relationship and your kind of love, is nobody else’s to judge or weigh in on. So you do you and don’t let marriage posts (like this- oh it’s about to get lovey) or FaceBook updates, make you feel like you aren’t a cool kid or hurried into doing something that you aren’t ready for. Also the point of this post was to share with you that we’re ready to share! The pressure of having a big wedding is big (I write these for me too), but we’re going to do it our way and I can’t wait to show you!

We’ll be answering questions on my YouTube channel about our wedding plans soon! I’ll also be creating posts for you here along the way in reference to my DIY happenings, or mishaps you be the judge, and posting my tips on how to stay sane because planning a wedding can be a BIT overwhelming! So until then, here are some photos we had taken while we were in Yosemite last weekend. Pre-engagement photos if you will, that we did spontaneously with our new friend Karl who just so happens to be an uber talented photographer! Thank you Karl for hiking up hills with us during the blizzard! Ha! You guys can check out his work here and give him a follow on Instagram!

Just before the moment pictured above, I fell into a 3 foot pile of snow and then jumped out of it to have that photo taken <3

Awww, just a couple of love birds in a snow storm. That is the metaphor for our life!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this rant of mine about love and my thoughts on marriage and unity. My heart is full and I feel content in my life for the first time in my life, and I’ve been here before, in this marriage place. So if you’re going through hell, keep on moving. *thank you dear country song for that one*

Boy oh boy is writing therapeutic!

SO, is marriage something you’re for or against? If you’re currently married, what’s one secret you can share with other couples? If you’re neutral on the subject, what do you think the hubbub is all about, this whole woohoo we’re getting marries stuff! I got all deep about the pressure of it all, so lets hear it!

I’ll see you later this week with my first wedding “Pinterest DIY-not” post! Oh Lordy, here we go! Wheeeee!!! PS if you’re a bird I’m a bird. Whew that was a wordy one.

 

 

HOLIDAY PARTIES AND WHAT TO BRING!

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Office holiday parties, gingerbread house making parties, ugly sweater parties … you’re being invited to SO MANY parties! You’re going to want to bring something to contribute to each of these gatherings and I have you covered! I learned this practice from my mom who would always  say that when you go to someone’s home you bring something to gift the host with. Here are two things you can bring to your next holiday get together that is sure to be a crowd pleaser!


Sweet potatoes au gratin with a spicy chile twist! This is a wonderful side dish to bring if you like the idea of combining the richness of comfort foods with the sweetness of the season. Think sweet potato pie minus the whipped cream BUT marshmallows included! Ummm yumm!! Thank you Bobby Flay! I’ve taken his original recipe and put my own little twist on it!

What you’ll need:
3-4 large sweet potatoes
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon chipotle puree
Fresh ground black pepper
Pink Himalayan sea salt
mini marshmallows
square glass pan or ramekin cups

Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Separate the chipotle peppers from the oil and place in blender and slowly add in the oil until you blend it to the consistency you like. Add the puree to a bowl and whisk in the heavy whipping cream, salt, and pepper. Set aside. Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into thin rounds and begin layering them into your ramekin cups or glass dish. In between the layers spread an even layer of your chipotle cream mixture, sprinkle a few marshmallows on top, and continue this layering step until all of your potato wedges are gone. Bake in the oven for 1 hour or until the cream is absorbed by the potatoes. ENJOY!!! *note, do not cover this as I learned it will spill over and cause smoke alarms to go off. OR if you do cover it, simply place a cookie sheet beneath your glassware or ramekin cups*


It’s decadent, rich, and comforting! This sweet potato au gratin recipe is perfectly savory!

Next up, we’re putting a spin on the traditional hot cocoa drink, I present to you, the world’s BEST adult version, the “spiked hot cocoa latte”! That’s what I’m calling it any way because it has coffee, liquor, AND cocoa! So you’ll all be super keyed up on caffeine, and able to enjoy a night of dancing under the mistletoe! You’ll need to borrow your host’s stove top for this one, but trust me, you’ll be everyone’s favorite by the end of the night! Ha!


What you’ll need:
1 package hot cocoa mix of your choice (1 per cup)
1 tsp Cacao liqueur
Peppermint schnapps
Coffee of your choice
White chocolate chips
Mint chocolate chips
1 cup milk of your choice
Peppermint candy for garnish
Whipped cream

Method:
Make your coffee how you usually do and set it aside (I used my french press). In a small sauce pan add the hot cocoa mix, the milk, and a hand full of both the mint chocolate chips and the white chocolate chips. Warm over low heat and stir until melted and combined. Fill your mug halfway full with your coffee, then add in the hot cocoa mixture until almost full, leaving enough room to add in the liquors. Add in the cacao liqueur and enough peppermint schnapps to almost completely fill the cup. Mix together and top off with whipped cream until your heart is content. Garnish with a candy cane and ENJOY!!!! *if you aren’t of drinking age, please enjoy this drink just the same sans the alcohol!*

I hope you give these recipes a try, they are so yummy, so decadent, and so festive! Give them a go at your next party and TAG me in your squad photo!

What is your go-to potluck dish? Pigs in a blanket? Chips and dip? Tell me!

See you later this week with a ‘how to pack when you’re headed home for the holidays’ post!

 

EASY CHRISTMAS DIY – CENTERPIECE AND COCKTAILS!!!

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Twenty-one more sleeps until Christmas morning!!! So with that, I am feeling festive and this year I didn’t let ‘do it yourself’ projects intimidate me. I usually talk myself out of doing these kinds of things, but today I’m sharing with you my easy, festive, and QUICK do-it-yourself creations and cocktails. First up, this snow covered pillar holder!

What you’ll need:

  • tall glass pillar holder or sconce
  • pillar candle of your choice
  • epsom salt
  • mod podge
  • sponge or brush for mod podge application
  • faux pine branch with berries and pine cones
  • string of mini lights (optional)

Method:

Take your sponge or brush and coat the outside of the pillar holder with a thick layer of mod podge, going up with the mod podge as high as you’d like the ‘snow’ to go. Take a bowl full of epsom salt and dip the holder into the bowl using your hands to coat the mod podge with the salt. Set aside and let dry 20-30 minutes.

Fill the pillar holder with epsom salt up to just below the ‘snow’ line. Take your pillar candle and set it inside of the glass holder on top of the salt. Give it a nice little push to center it and secure it. Then take your pine branch and pluck off the bits you like- the berries, the cones- and simply stick them into the salt surrounding the candle. For some extra flare, take miniature lights and layer them up and around the candle. Now your festive snow-filled candle holder is complete!

Now for this DIY gift! A merry-lil-mason-jar, filled with candy OR your favorite hot cocoa recipe mix!


What you’ll need:

  • mason jar with a lid
  • candy of your choice (or your favorite hot cocoa mix)
  • epsom salt
  • mod podge
  • brush or sponge for application
  • scissors
  • hot glue gun
  • festive string or burlap

Method:

Paint the mod podge three quarters of the way up the mason jar so that some of the candy shows through the glass once you’ve completed this project. Place the jar into the bowl of salt and begin applying a thick layer of salt around the jar, on top of the mod podge, using your hands. Set aside and let that sit 20-30 minutes.

Now we’re ready to decorate! Fill your mason jar with your favorite holiday candy or layer it up with your favorite hot cocoa mix. Pluck off some berries and pine stems and hot glue them into a bundle with a dollop of hot glue so that the bundle stays in place. Then wrap your string around the bundle so that it stays in place while hanging from the lid, and tie the string it all the way around the jar. Secure the knot with a pretty  bow just under the lip where the lid goes and tadaaaa!

Holiday cocktail time!!! Today we’re making three holiday inspired cocktails, a peppermint kiss, a GRAND spiked eggnog, and a Ferrero Rocher chocolate bliss cocktail!!!


For the Peppermint Kiss Cocktail you’ll need:

  • martini glass
  • shaker
  • ice
  • white chocolate liqueur
  • peppermint schnapps
  • vanilla flavored vodka
  • peppermint candies

Method:

Take the peppermint candies, place them into in a plastic bag and crush them into tiny bits for the rim of your martini glass. Dip the rim of your glass into a liqueur and dip the glass into the crushed bits of peppermint, set it aside.

In the shaker add your ice, equal parts of the vanilla vodka and white chocolate liqueur- which is about 1/4 cup each. Add in 1 table spoon peppermint schnapps, and shake it all up! Pour the drink into your fancy cup, sprinkle in some more peppermint chips, and you’re done!

The GRAND Spiked Egg Nog!


What you’ll need:

  • fancy wine glass
  • egg nog
  • Grand Marnier

Method:

This one’s an easy one so don’t blink! Simply fill the glass half way with your favorite egg nog, and spike it up with 1/4 cup of your favorite cognac,  I’m using grand mariner. Give the mixture a soft stir with a spoon or straw. Since both liquids are pretty thick I didn’t want to shake this in a shaker, so a little swirl with a spoon or straw and you’re set! Enjoy!

And the very BEST for last, the Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Bliss Cocktail!


What you’ll need:

  • low ball glass
  • a hazelnut liqueur (I’m using Frangelico)
  • cookie butter ice cream (or chocolate)
  • Ferrero Rocher chocolate candies

Method:

This cocktail is also super simple and it’s SUPER decadent! totally worth the five seconds it takes to make! Simply fill half of the glass up with the Frangelico then drop in a generous spoonful of ice cream! Top that baby off with some Ferrero Rocher candies and then ENJOY because this drink is worth every single guilty sip!!!


I hope you try making these drinks yourself and please TAG me on Instagram and Twitter when you do! Don’t be afraid of these DIY projects either, give them a go and let me know how it goes!!! The tutorial of each of these is up on my channel now so go show it some love!

Let me know what your holiday plans are and if you’re going to get adventurous in DIY this season!!!