Pick the day. Enjoy it – to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come… The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present – and I don`t want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.
~Audrey Hepburn~
This is a periodic blog about things I try (and trust me, I am ALWAYS trying something new) that work well for me. I would love to find out if they work well for you also! Let me know your comments and what other things you’d like me or other Brides-To-Be to try! I will also be adding helpful information and tips to help you plan your Big Day!
LIP SERVICE: I love, love lipstick and especially lip gloss – from the $2.50 squeeze tubes of gloss to high-end designer brands. So when Avon came out with a new style lipstick I was intrigued: their new SpectraColor Lipstick has both a lighter and darker shade in one clear container, a litter larger around and longer than a normal tube of lipstick. The magic part is that you click the dial to choose your color intensity. I wore this new product, in all 7 shades, all week-end it is was long lasting, stayed creamy all day, and never got cakey or sticky. There are 10 colors to select from with a $7.99 price tag. Check it out!!
My Avon rep, Kenna Galloway, 713-899-9633, has a cool website that makes shopping a breeze and she is great at customer service. I’ve attached all of her contact information and I know she would love to help you! kennagalloway@yahoo.com ttp://shop.avon.com/shop/product_list.aspx?level1_id=300&level2_i d=301&cat_type=C
Everyone knows that strong eyebrows are in right now. And while not folliclly challenged, mine weren’t as thick as I would like. So, I used myself as a crash dummy again. I told you about Rapid Lash Serum a few weeks ago so you know I’m a fan. And I figured that if it would make my eyelashes grow, why wouldn’t it make my eyebrows grow? Right?
I used it the same way but on my eyebrows every night before bed. I had stopped checking every morning to see if they were growing, until a couple of days ago when I went to apply my brow grooming wax and color, looked in the mirror, then looked again, and saw that I hardly needed any color at all! Whoo Hoo!
Then I had another idea. I use Mineral Brow Perfection by Pur Minerals (from Ulta – love it!) which has the wax and powder in one container, but I always run out of the wax first. So – rather than spend money to buy both products, I purchased just the wax, then used one of my light brown eye shadow powders I already had and it looked great ~ and I now have so many more shade options! Another way we make-up junkies can save a little money!!
BRIDAL EXTRAVAGANZA SHOW.COM
GETTING MARRIED?
We’ll show you how to do it …
Where to do it …
Everything you’ll need to do it …
Even what to wear to do it!
Everyone is welcome!
Bring your Bridal Party
and the GROOM! Saturday, July 25th, 2009
10AM to 5PM to
Sunday, July 26th, 2009
11AM to 5PM
George R. Brown
Convention Center
Downtown Houston, Texas
Enter Hall B or C
ADMISSION @ DOOR $10.00
BUY ONLINE @ SAVE $2.00
www.bigasalloutdoors.com/bride.php
FASHION SHOW SCHEDULE
________________________________________
The Bridal Extravaganza Show brings the excitement of New York’s choreographed fashion shows right here to Houston. Each day, several formal fashion shows will be presented on the 80-foot runway stage. You will find ideas and inspiration for weddings styles for your entire wedding party.
At the end of each fashion show, the models will toss prize certificates into the audience to be redeemed for bridal accessories and other prizes.
Saturday
11:30 Bridal Extravaganza Show Runway
12:00 HTexas Weddings Couture Runway
1:00 Alfred Angelo and Al’s Formal Wear
2:00 David’s Bridal / Men’s Wearhouse
3:00 Ventura’s Bridal
Sunday
11:30 Bridal Extravaganza Show Runway
12:00 HTexas Weddings Couture Runway
1:00 Ventura’s Bridal
2:00 Alfred Angelo and Al’s Formal Wear
3:00 David’s Bridal / Men’s Wearhouse
WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU SAY ‘I DO’
MARRIAGE LICENSE INFORMATION FOR HOUSTON AND AUSTIN
Like most everything in life, you first have to do the paperwork. So before you begin your trip down the alter arrange a trip to the County Clerk’s office. Each state and county has their own rules but in this article we will be talking specifically about Harris County, Houston, TX and Travis County, Austin, TX.
♥ Both parties must go to the County Clerk’s office in person and bring ID in the form of birth certificate and drivers license, and your social security card or know the number. If either party is under the age of 18 then parents must accompany you. Parents will need to show proof of identification and will be asked to provide written consent.
♥ If you have been married before, you must provide proof of divorce or an annulment. You must be divorced for 30 days before you can remarry, unless you have a waiver in the divorce decree – bring a certified copy of your divorce decree. If you wish to use your maiden name on the marriage license, you will need to provide a certified copy of your divorce decree that states your name to be change to your maiden name.
♥ Typically your license will be issued the same day as your application, but some restrictions may apply. In Harris County, Houston, a marriage license cost $41, $71 in Travis County, Austin – cash only — and is valid for 30 days.
♥ You must wait three days after the issuance of your license before you can marry. However, this waiting period is automatically waived with proof of military ID.
♥ Marriage licenses can be purchased at the Harris County Clerk’s office Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm –- 5:00 pm in Austin.
AUSTIN LOCATIONS
5501 Airport Blvd ~ 512.854.9188
1000 Guadalupe St., Suite 222 ~ 512.473.9188
405 Martin Luther King St., Georgetown, TX, Williamson County ~ 512.943.1515
137 N. Guadalupe St., San Marcos, TX, Hays County ~ 512.393.7330
HOUSTON LOCATIONS
201 Caroline, 3rd Fl, Administration Bldg. ~ 713.755.6411
6000 Chimney Rock ~ 713.660.7902
7300 North Shepherd ~ 713.697.5193
10851 Scarsdale ~ 281.464-0115
701 West Baker (Baytown) ~ 281.422.0253
16603 Buccaneer (Clear Lake) ~ 281.486.7250
7900 Will Clayton Pkwy. (Humble) ~ 281.540.1173
16715 Clay Road (Katy & West Houston) ~ 281.859.0685
107 East Shaw (Pasadena) ~ 713.473.9048
6831 Cypresswood (Spring) ~ 281.379.1057
OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN: with the July 4th holiday almost upon us we would like to honor our military by hosting their wedding pictures here on OnceUponADressBridal during the month of July. Send us any wedding photos as a jpg, in any time era, of the bride and groom. If no one is in uniform in the wedding pic, please include a uniform shot.
HOW TO DRESS FOR A WEDDING: Obviously the bride has her dress selected by now, but what if you’re a guest at this fabulous event and you’re unsure what to wear? Allure/May 2009 issue had a interview with Monique Lhuillier, designer for wedding gowns for Ashlee Simpson and Jewel, that I thought would be appropriate and of great value.
Dress up: Being underdressed is the worst feeling, so I’d rather overdo it. Even if an invitation says “casual attire,” the furthest you should take that is a floaty cocktail dress or simple sheath. For a black-tie wedding, a long, formal dress is always appropriate, but if you’d rather go short, choose something knee-length in an opulent fabric. Silk charmeuse has a glamorous, ‘30s vibe and looks effortless but still fancy.
Take a hint:The location of the event is a big clue about what to wear. If the wedding is on a beach in Mexico, it’s pretty obvious that you should stay away from heavy beading. I love chiffon for a resort wedding. It’s romantic, dreamy, and elegant. If the party is in a more traditional setting, like a ballroom or a country club, chances are the dress code will be more conservative.
Embrace color: All black on a wedding guest is too severe. Jewel tones like peacock blue and emerald green and umber patterns are sophisticated and vibrant. Stay away from white, not just at the reception but at any wedding event, from the rehearsal dinner to the day-after brunch. That’s the bride’s territory.
Stay focused: Choose one item to build your outfit around, whether it’s your shoes or an amazing piece of jewelry. You want to avoid looking as if you piled on every accessory you own. If you have a complicated dress with a lot of ruching or a bold print, keep the jewelry minimal. And those dyed-to-match shoes are a definite no-no—not everything needs to coordinate exactly.
Don’t go flat: Heels are tricky at an outdoor wedding, but flats don’t feel right with a formal dress. Wedges are great for lawn receptions. If a wedding is on sand, I wear embellished sandals, though I often take them off and go barefoot.
Eye Lash Growth Treatment – I’m sure you’ve seen all the hype lately and all the various products that promise to make your”eyes light up with fireworks” “declare independence from spare lashes” and so on . Let me tell you…some of those treatments are big $$ bucks!!
I’m a sucker for anything that is going to give me a little added oomph in the looks department so I tried Revitalash. It cost me $150 plus shipping but I have since found it for $99 plus shipping. It did exactly what it said it would do, and after about 4 weeks I had nice, full, lush lashes!! (But beware if you accidentally get it in your eye – it burns!!)
Then like everyone else in the world currently I felt I had to spend my money a little more wisely, but I still wanted to keep the lush eyelashes I got for my $150!!! So I tried Rapid Lash Serum which I got for $49.99 and free shipping at DermStore.com. And, to my surprise it worked just as well or better than the product for three times the money!!
If you have already used one bottle and gotten your growth, which I did, then on the second bottle, you can just use it every other day, keep the growth, and not have to buy it as often – even more savings!! Let know if it works for you!
NEW COCKTAILS: with summer events , and all the parties our Brides-To-Be are going to be hosting or attending, new cocktails are always a welcome treat. Here’s three I found I think you’ll enjoy!
Watermelon Majito
Fill a glass with ice. Crush the watermelon and six mint leaves together in a cocktail shaker, then add ice, lime juice, simple syrup, and rum, and shake vigorously. Strain into the glass and top with soda water. Garnish with a mint sprig.
- 4 1-inch watermelon cubes
- Several mint sprigs
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon simple syrup (equal parts water and sugar, brought to a boil,
- then cooled)
- 1/3 cup white rum
- Soda water to taste
Dirty Pete
- 1/3 cup vodka
- 3 tablespoons olive brine
- 5 or 6 dashes Texas Pete hot sauce
- 2 pitted Spanish Queen olives
- 1 pickled jalapeno
Fill a glass with ice. Shake the vodka, olive brine, and hot sauce vigorously in a shaker with ice. Strain into the glass and garnish and olives and jalapeno.
Mortoni
- 2 tablespoons vodka
- 2 tablespoons Campari
- Tonic Water to taste
- 1 lime wedge
- 1 orange wedge
- 2 lemon wedges
Fill a glass with ice. Shake the vodka and Campari vigorously in a shaker with ice. Strain into the glass, top with tonic water, and squeeze in the juice of the lime and orange wedges and one lemon wedge. Garnish with the remaining lemon wedge.
I would love to hear your comments—good, bad, or indifferent—and look forward to next time.
Judy
