Get-Fit Tips From 'Get Married'

So we're quickly approaching New Year's 2010. We better get ready to tackle those resolutions! I recently received a great e-article from Get Married in my inbox that I'd like to share. It's called Top Get-Fit Tips For Brides. According to Medical News Today, weight-related goals account for 66% of all resolutions set for the new year. Based on that statistic, I'm sure at least some of you will find the following information helpful. These don't apply only to brides-to-be, so no excuses!

1-Set goals that are realistic and specific, and having a set time period as your goal will help you stick to a new fitness regime. What better goal than to fit into your dress on the wedding day? Write down your plan of action for every day, week, etc. Make sure it is something you can measure and not just the end goal, but the milestones along the way. Start with a plan that you think you can accomplish or exceed. Walking for 30 minutes at a time. Then running for 20 minutes and see how many times you have to stop and walk each time. Eventually work up to running for 30 minutes and so on.

2-Figure out what your barriers to exercise and eating well are, and make a plan to conquer and avoid those specific barriers. Take each barrier or excuse and write down ways you can solve the problem.

3-Put one sneaker in front of the other. Many of us waste too much time saying we need to work out but dread the process. Trick yourself by just getting dressed for it and not really thinking about the next step. If you take it one step at a time, before you know it you will finish the cool-down and feel amazing.

4-Multitask your workouts! Cut your one hour workout into 30-minutes of multitasking toning moves (doing upper and lower body at same time while involving the core) with cardio intervals to boost your metabolism and fat burn.

5-Invest in a gym membership, DVD or trainer if you don't have one already, and use it. If you don't have the money right now, buy an inexpensive workout DVD like my NikkiBeachBride Destination Wedding Workout at www.nikkifitness.com or Amazon.com.

6-Make yourself an upbeat iPod play-list or CD and dance around as you straighten up at home; find a hip-hop or African dance class at the gym; learn to bellydance at an adult education class or at the Y; plan a girls' night out dancing. You can find a great list on my website.

7-Make active dates to see friends and family and do something that doesn't involve eating and drinking. Walk through the park, go biking in summer, ice skate or cross country ski in winter, walk the mall, take a yoga or cardio class, or run on a treadmill right next to my friend.

8-Think of food as a fuel, not as a gift, which means passing on food that is high in fat and sugar, and taking HALF the portion everyone else heaps onto their plate at a party and packing up half your food in a restaurant in a doggy bag.
9-Follow the food pyramid daily, by focusing on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein and calcium, not sweets and fats. Also, take a daily multi-vitamin. If you have to be at a restaurant, identify the 3 healthiest things on the menu and pick between those.

10-Weigh yourself every week to remember your goals and feel good about the choices you made yesterday.

Provided By: NikkiFitness (Nicole Glor), creator of Destination Wedding Workout

Happy New Year!

Simple Ways To Save BIG!

Over the past few months, I've been challenged to think of creative ways to save money as I plan my wedding next October. Based on my findings, here's a quick list of simple ways to save big!

1. Simplify your stationary. Whether this means you skip save-the-dates, tackle DIY invites, or simplify a super formal invite by cutting down on the amount of pieces included (which also cuts down on your postage).

2. Do more borrowing. Rather than buy new items for every aspect of your wedding, consider borrowing a few things from family and close friends. Some of my ideas have included jewelry (thanks Mom!), wedding veil (thanks Auntie!), or card box (thanks Wendy!).

3. Warning: This next one may not appeal to everyone (including me), but I'm going to at least throw it out there... Consider shopping for a 'gently used' gown rather than buying a brand new one. Websites like savethedress.com and woreitonce.com are good places to start.

4. Offer signature drinks. This is a great alternative to an open bar which can get out of hand very quickly. Trust me, it's in no way tacky to host only a couple signature drinks, or you could also choose to host only wine and champagne before/along with dinner.

5. Minimize your menu. It is absolutely unnecessary to offer chicken, steak, fish, and a vegetarian option to every guest. Watch out for those split-entree fees which can quickly add to your budget, and make a choice to minimize the options. It is perfectly acceptable to only offer two options, or you could offer just one that includes two proteins. It's a wedding, not a 5-star restaurant (although I hope the food tastes like it is!!).

6. Research thoroughly before booking your honeymoon. You don't necessarily have to limit yourself to vacationing in the U.S. to save big... Just be a smart traveler! Do some price checking and try to get the best deal you can. Do(!) keep in mind that you don't want to completely sacrifice your experience for a lower price. It's always a good idea to consult with a travel agent and/or refer to reviews on sites like tripadvisor.com. Do the best you can to strike a balance between affordability and enjoyability!

7. Be honest about comparative bidding. Often times, companies will be willing to price-match if you give them the opportunity and present it in a non-threatening way (and are truly honest). If they decline, politely accept and move onto the next option.

Happy Holidays! [And Happy Planning!]

Using Bells For Holiday Decorating

Here are a couple more Christmas decorating ideas to spruce up your home for the holidays, both of which incorporate inexpensive bells. The first idea is extremely simple and very festive.

Tie classic silver bells (or any other color you choose) with decorative ribbon to doorknobs throughout your house. If you can't stand all the festive noise, I recommend placing the bells only at your front door. This idea allows visitors to jingle their way into your home this Christmas. :)

The next idea requires a bit more time and effort, but the end result is worth it. This decorative touch would be adorable in a kitchen or front window.

1. Purchase a tension rod at your local hardware store or Wal-Mart/Target.

2. Cut strips of decorative ribbon of your choosing about one foot longer than the length of the window.

3. Tie the ribbons evenly-spaced along the tension rod that you have secured inside the window frame.

4. String on bells and ornaments, knotting them in place approximately 5 inches apart.

5. Repeat across the window.

Tip: This looks much better when you stagger and vary the bells and ornaments (as shown).

Only 10 more days until Christmas... Hope you're all almost done with your holiday shopping!

Simple Can Be Beautiful

As promised, I'm going to share another idea for holiday decorating with you. This particular one is extremely easy to put together (I know I always say that, but it's true)! All you need is an ornament tree of your choosing and various holiday objects to add splashes of color. A few ideas include candy canes, small red/green wire bows, tinsel, peppermints, and ornaments.

To get this look, all you need to do is decide on your theme and scatter the objects on the wire tree. This adorable item would be the perfect accent at your bar or buffet table for this year's holiday party.

If you don't have a wire tree, check out www.ornament-trees.com. They have a very diverse selection that includes just about every style and color you could think of- black, white, colored, rotating, brass, gold, and silver, to name a few. This particular idea goes to show that simplicity can be really beautiful [Is anyone else with me that many holiday decorations have now become overly embellished, too technological, and just plain gaudy?]

Deck The Halls

One of my very favorite aspects of event planning is decor. I love finding unique and creative decorating ideas, especially for the holidays! Over the course of the next month I'll be sure to share multiple easy and inexpensive ways to decorate and prep for holiday events. Here's the first...

How perfect would this be as a simple centerpiece (surrounded by candles, of course) or for placing on your mantel or coffee table? All you have to do is put ornaments on top of leaves in a cake stand, and you're done! I think it may be even prettier to use garland and rich greens rather than the leaves as shown. In addition, I'd add some red ornaments too! Stay tuned for more ways to deck the halls this season!

Psst! 15% OFF EVERYTHING.

Hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend. I certainly did! Just wanted to pass on a great coupon code that's currently circulating. It applies to any purchases made via the Get Married online store. Enter in the promo code 'greatdeal' and receive 15% off everything in your shopping cart. What a great way to kick off your shopping this season!

Get Married offers invites & save-the-dates, ceremony and reception essentials, wedding favors, bridal party gifts for men and women, shower supplies, and honeymoon/travel items. Check it out at http://shop.getmarried.com/index.jsp. I'm not quite sure when this offer expires so don't delay!

Floral DIY

With the help and expertise of the people behind Real Simple (which is one of my most favorite magazines in the world by the way!), I am going to show you how to transform supermarket flowers into gorgeous bouquets. It is not as difficult or as time-consuming as it sounds, I promise! Just make sure you do a little practicing beforehand, and maybe even ask a couple of friends to help you out. You will save a lot of money if you can pull this off!

Mixed blooms:

1. Buy a bouquet of monochromatic mixed blooms at your local market. Suggestions include rununculus, fresia, tulips, and small white roses.

2. Remove the green fillers such as asparagus fern and hypericum.

3. Rearrange the flowers so they are mixed well and at the appropriate height levels.

4. Tightly secure the bundle with floral wire and taping supplies.

5. Cover a large portion of the stems with matching satin ribbon and fasten with a pearl headed pin or vintage brooch.

Purple Flowers (How gorgeous for fall?):

1. Buy several bundles of purple flowers at your local market such as irises, statis, and carnations. Try to vary the size, shape, and shade as much as possible.

2. Once you have the mix, arrange them in an alternating pattern. You want the unopened irises to be juxtaposed by the fluffier carnations so it balances out.

3. Fasten the stems with floral wire. Make sure you do this from the top of the long stems toward the bottom to avoid them getting separating and appearing 'droopy.'

4. Cover the stems and wire with a thick satin ribbon.

5. Fasten with a pearl headed pin, brooch, or even tie a bow with decorative ribbon. Voila!

Depending on how many bridesmaids you have in your wedding party, this could be a DIY project that is well worth the effort.

Planning A Destination Wedding - Part I

This week, I started gathering initial information for a wedding I may be planning for 150 guests in Puebla, Mexico. If you are considering going the destination wedding route, let me tell you... It's not a bad idea to hire a consultant to help you with this undertaking [and I'm not just saying that because I am one!]. If you think planning a local wedding is a tricky task, try coordinating all of the details from a completely different part of the world!

As long as I'm doing so much background work, I thought I'd share with you some planning tips and etiquette tidbits so you don't need to reinvent the wheel when/if you begin planning your own destination wedding. To make this as concise as possible, I'm going to format this particular blog as a Q & A article. This is a vast topic that I could write pages about, so I'll start with the basics. If there are any major questions or topics you feel I left out, send me an email and I will get back to you with some answers. :)

Q: Is it necessary to pay for my guests?

A: In general, it is not required that you pay for your guests' travel costs or accommodations. Of course, if you're able to pay for even a portion of the cost, your guests would certainly appreciate it. Either way, try to choose a location where there are several price points available in terms of food, lodging, flights, etc., and then let your guests decide for themselves.

Q: Should I bring my own vendors?

A: At the very least, I recommend that you bring two very important vendors with you: your wedding consultant and your photographer. As mentioned earlier, destination weddings can be very complicated to coordinate. Hiring a planner and having him/her accompany you to your chosen destination can be a serious stress-saver (and a major disaster-averter).

I recommend you bring your photographer because he or she will be with you your entire day and capture those memories you'll cherish throughout your whole life. I always stress how important it is to meet with him/her several times prior to your event to ensure that you share the same stylistic visions. This can be very difficult to do from across the world, which is why I recommend finding one in your local area and asking them to travel with you.

Q: Should I have a reception back home?

A: If possible, absolutely. This gives friends and family the opportunity to celebrate with you even if they were not able to travel with you. Tip: Share photo slides and video from your ceremony at this reception... Everyone will love to see what they missed!

Q: How can I avoid hidden costs associated with a destination wedding?

A: The best way is to ask a lot(!) of questions to uncover all of the hidden costs, and then to make final decisions after incorporating these into your overall budget. Resorts often present wedding packages as if everything is included in the price, but often, this is not the case. Inquire about extras such as deposits, hidden clauses in hotel contracts, setup fees, clean-up fees, and cake-cutting costs before signing on any dotted lines.

Q: Should I risk bad weather and plan my wedding during 'low-season' in order to save money?

A: No! There are many other ways to save money. My advice is to not risk bad weather if you can help it. Working with a wedding planner and a travel consultant who have negotiating power will help you save without forcing you to risk much at all. It's just not worth it.

Q: How do I look up the marriage legalities for my destination of interest?

A: Your wedding consultant is the best resource for this. There are many websites with info guides pertaining to various destinations, but I would not swear by them. Contacting actual officials and/or researching on official government websites is better than referring to these online sources. Avoid last minute mishaps and know all of the requirements before you travel to your destination spot. {Did you know England requires a seven-day residency before a marriage certificate can be issued? Were you aware that some areas in Mexico require x-rays and blood work before you can be wed?}

Hopefully this helped provide some clarity and direction for those planning a destination wedding. Part II will follow with more information and planning tips sometime in the near future (but for now, I need to get back to my research on Puebla, Mexico!). Always feel free to e-mail or call with your wedding-related questions or concerns. Happy planning!

Twin Cities Wedding Fair

This past Sunday I attended the Wedding Fair at the Convention Center (put on by the Twin Cities Bridal Association). It was my second time attending, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first! If you are engaged, I strongly recommend buying tickets for the next one coming up this January. What better way to shop around for vendors? This forum gives you the unique opportunity to speak with hundreds of representatives at one place, one time. No more playing phone-tag, being greeted by telemated phone systems, and receiving those pesty blast emails.

The Wedding Fair presents you with the opportunity of having your questions answered in a face-to-face conversation. It is this particular aspect that can really help you narrow your choices. Most times while interacting with vendors, you can quickly get a feel for whether or not your styles, ideas, and goals are similar and parallel. This is a lot more difficult to determine while visiting a webpage.

One other added bonus of this event is the special pricing and promos for Wedding Fair attendees, and the chance to win fabulous prizes [how does a free honeymoon sound?]. As soon as I hear of the next few sets of dates, I will be sure to share them with you. Until then, here are a few snapshots!

DIY For Halloween

So if you haven't gathered this from any of my previous postings, fall is my favorite season. I love everything about it. Well, usually! Except for when it snows in Minnesota during October... Anyway, one of my favorite things to do is to put out my fall & Halloween decorations. I think it's more enjoyable than getting ready for Christmas because you get to up the cozy-factor at home without all of the hassel/cleaning up to do afterwards! This year, I tested out a quick and easy Halloween DIY project that turned out pretty cute. At least I think so! The finished product is re-usable and inexpensive. Here's the 411 in case you'd like to try it out for yourself:

Required materials:

Medium-sized styrofoam balls: $3.99/each

Tempra paint (black): $3.79

Wood/foam painting tool: $1.29

Small fuzzy/decorative balls: $0.99

Peach-O's: $2.78 for 2 bags

Glue: I had it on hand, but you could purchase a low-temp glue gun for $11 at Wal-Mart.

Instructions:

1. Start out by painting the styrofoam ball completely black using the Tempra paint and foam tool. Wait for it to completely dry.

2. Glue the Peach O's onto the styrofoam using a hot glue gun or E6000. Use any pattern or arrangement you'd like.

3. Glue on the black 'fuzzies' scarttered throughout the open spaces. Wait for it to completely dry.

4. Place the ball on top of a vase or narrow bowl to display. I set mine on top of clear glasses filled with candy corn for extra color.

Suggestions:

1. You could easily personalize this project and use different kinds of candy. For Halloween, another option would be to use Reeces Pieces or the new Electric M & Ms. Tip: If you're working with chocolate, keep in mind that the hot glue may cause it to melt. I'd suggest using a different glue if you choose to go this route.

2. Depending on what you choose to decorate them with, this craft could be used for any season/occasion.

3. Save it with your other seasonal decorations! This project is something that could be pulled out and displayed year after year.

I encourage you to try this one out because it doesn't get any easier than this! Not counting the glue, it costs only $8.41 to make each! A little cheaper than buying decorations from Target, don't you think? Plus, there's something to be said for the satisfaction that comes from making things yourself. I have one displayed on each end of my fireplace and I love 'em!

Birthday Bash on 10.10

Hey guys! Here are some photos and details from a recent birthday party by EDLV. All photos were taken by Megan of Megan Sherwin Photography.

Her [brand new!] official website is http://www.meganmsherwinphotography.com.

She enjoys photographing just about anything including weddings, parties, senior pictures, couples, and kids. Check her out!

These 12 rambunctious ten year-olds were able to burn off a lot of energy in this ginormous 'jumpy.'

Party favors consisted of Silly Putty and a Puppy Chow-Lollipop-M & M goodie bag (How's that for sugared up?!)

Since it was pretty chilly on Saturday afternoon I planned a few SHORT indoor activities to keep the guests occupied. And I mean short! These were 10 year-old boys I was dealing with! :) After lunch the boys participated in a trivia game about the birthday boy. There were a lot of laughs with this one! The quiz pictured above provides a perfect example: one boy guessed that Zach's favorite movie was Tinkerbell. Hhmmm.... close! ;) The 2nd activity involved guessing how many pieces of candy were in each jar. Whoever had the closest guess won the candy which included Mike & Ikes, M & M's, Candy Corn and Sour Worms.

I also setup a caramel apple station where they could add whatever toppings their little hearts desired. (Oops! There's that sugar again...) FYI: If you are attempting to make home-made caramel as I did, leave yourself extra time for the caramel to chill and thicken after cooking. Another helpful tip: Place the pan of caramel in a big bowl of ice to speed up the thickening process. Let's just say that I certainly lived and learned with this one.

After all of these activites the boys went outside to play a very animated and energetic game of flag-football in the yard. Overall I think the kids had a blast, which is what makes any event a success. Happy 10th birthday Zach!

Puppy Party

I wanted to share a few photos from a puppy-themed birthday party my aunt recently attended (the darling 4-year old birthday girl adores puppies!). As you'll see in the photos, the hostess found a way to incorporate the puppy theme into almost every aspect of the occasion, including the decor, treats, and even the serving ware.

The party included a puppy piñata, puppy-paw birthday hats, biscuit shaped cookies, an adorable puppy-themed birthday cake, and of course, a big bowl of the delicious sweet treat, puppy chow. The hostess even had the clever idea to present all of these goodies in multi-colored puppy bowls! How creative and fun for the kids!

All of the goodies featured in these photos were made by Mary Jo Anderson, an expert baker here in the Twin Cities. Please contact me if you'd like her contact info. You can see more samples of her work featured in my 'Pretty In Pink Party' blog from August 28th. She's truly talented!

Happy 4th birthday Quinn! Awesome ideas Leah!

Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

The selection of your wedding party comprises a very personal and significant part of the wedding planning process. Your wedding party should consist of family and friends who are closest to you... the people you know you can always depend on.

Being a member of a wedding party is truly an honor, but it also comes with some responsibility and requires a bit of sacrifice (attending all of those fittings, tastings, showers, & dinners, buying that dreaded bridesmaids dress, addressing shower & wedding invites, planning and possibly hosting the bachelor/bachelorette parties, writing the perfect congratulatory toast... need I say more?!). For these reasons, I believe it's essential that the bride & groom put extra thought and effort into asking those special ones to be a member of their wedding party.

Someone on Twitter recently asked me for ways to ask their bridesmaids... Overall, I believe the golden rule here is to make these women feel valued and appreciated (and if you've read any of my blogs before, you know I'd encourage you to do it in a one-of-a-kind & unique way). Here's how I asked my bridesmaids:

I custom made each card with card-stock and art supplies that you could find almost anywhere. First, I found pictures of bridesmaid dresses consistent with my wedding color scheme and carefully cut them out. Next, I found close-up photos of each bridesmaid, cropped and resized them, and carefully pasted them on top of the dress (to look as realistic as possible). I did the same thing with a picture of a wedding dress and a close-up of my face, and then pasted both cut-outs side-by-side on each card. I stenciled "Will You..." on the front, and "... be my bridesmaid?" on the inside.

I wrote a personalized note in each one that described their importance to me and how much it would mean to have them standing at the altar next October. Not only did the cards turn out pretty cute, but more importantly, they gave me an opportunity to tell these ladies just how special they are to me.

If you're not the super-sentimental type (like I am!), think of a more humorous way to ask them to be a part of your wedding party. It doesn't need to be sappy, it just needs to be thoughtful. For more ideas on how to ask a family member or friend to be a bridesmaid, check out http://weddings.about.com/od/theweddingparty/a/askbridesmaids.htm. Regardless of how you do it, make sure you tell them how much you appreciate them!

Sunday Brunch For Wendy

This past Sunday, I attended a wedding shower in celebration of Wendy, a delightful recent addition to our family. The event was perfectly hosted by Carrie, who incorporated little touches and pleasant surprises to make this shower a memorable one. Here's a peek at a few photos:

Carrie served a perfect brunch menu consisting of a sausage & mushroom quiche, breakfast potatoes, fruit salad, pumpkin mini-muffins, and blueberry scones.

The bride [in blue] enjoying a delicious Peach Bellini,

the perfect substitute for the classic Memosa.

Each guest received a darling little gift bag filled with

rich dark chocolates on their way out the door.

Whether you're planning a small dinner party or a grand celebration, pay great attention to the details! Being creative and adding those little touches will make your event much more unique and memorable.

Back-To-School

Summer is over (sigh) and the kids are back in school. It's time to bring out your fall sweaters, autumn wreaths, and [my favorite!] pumpkin spice candles. Is it obvious how much I enjoy this time of year? One thing I love is how back-to-school-time encourages everyone to get organized and ready for the coming months.

In spirit of that, I'd like to share a link from Real Simple that could come in handy for lots of families (and even if you don't have children, it wouldn't hurt to use some of these ideas for yourself). Although this link doesn't relate to events & social occasions directly, it does discuss organizing, planning ahead, and becoming more efficient (and what's more central than that to event planning?!?).

Real Simple's Back-To-School Organizer

Hope this link helps you get all of your ducks (and pumpkins!) in a row...

Labor Day Bash Ideas

Just thought I'd share some party ideas to help you end your summer in style! The following are ways to elevate the usual backyard BBQ to a memorable celebration:

1. It's all about the lighting. Hang twinkle lights or yard lanterns to create a more intimate environment. You could also line walkways with home-made luminarias (How? Fill paper bags with sand and secure a small votive candle in the center. Sounds easy enough, right?).

2. Setup classic outdoor games for the kids. No, you don't need to go buy pricey bocce ball or croquette sets. Instead, make a home-made tic-tac-toe board by making grids with rope and using common items for the X's and O's. The kids will love this!

3. De-bug your outdoor area. Provide guests with bug spray and scatter citronella candles to fight off those pesty mosquitos.

4. Offer guests a few 'clever comforts.' Set out buckets with dollar-store sunglasses, bottles of sunscreen, and hats to combat the sun (idea courtesy of Katie Brown).

5. Setup a cocktail stand with summer drinks or a refreshing punch. Want to be even more creative? Turn a watermelon into a cocktail keg. Here's how:

- Cut the lid from the top & scoop out the fruit.

- Drill a small hole near the bottom and use a knife to widen the hole until it's slightly smaller than a keg shank.

- Attach the shank and prepare a batch of refreshing watermelon sours by doing the following:

- Puree 4 cups of watermelon chunks & strain.

- Stir in 4 ounces of Alize Red Passion, 8 oz. of gin, & 2 cups of sour mix. Chill mixture and pour into melon shell.

- Add sparkling rose before serving and garnish with lime.

[Makes 10 to 12 drinks.]

6. What would a summer bash be without some chips & quac? Here's Rachel Ray's 'Holy Guacamole' recipe... it's nummy!

2 to 3 avocados

1 juiced lemon

1 large clove of minced garlic

1 to 2 small plum tomatos

1/2 of a small onion

1 tsp. of coarse salt

1 finely chopped jalopeno (optional)

Mix & mash these ingredients and serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

7. Lastly, sit back and soak up one of the last days of summer!