The one style that fits everyone-CORSETS! Okay, these are an elegant, classic, and always sexy item. The shape accents any body and they don’t have to be so tight you can’t breathe. Here is a nice trick for getting it to fit just right: Have a close friend help you strap it up the first time. When she is finished lacing you up, make sure that when you breathe in, she can fit her hand into the back of your corset. This gives you enough room to breathe without letting the corset fall off.

If you want awesome corsets on a tight budget, surprisingly you can find them at Spencer's. Despite all the racy items in there, you can find a good deal on some items. Recently, I bought a corset, with boning, that laces in the front for only $30. The corset even had straps so you can throw on a sexy pair of jeans, high heels, and hit the town! Spencer's even throws in a set of thigh highs, a thong, and with some of them, an adorable belt.



LINK OF THE DAY:
Obviously, today's link is Spencer's. Check out their online and local stores. (However, the adorable pink and zebra print corset is from Frederick's, just a personal fave.)

Planning for that honeymoon can mean many things...like getting a passport, booking hotels, flights, rental cars, etc. But here comes the fun part-find some special surprise outfits for the groom-to-be to enjoy. Whether its innocent or seductive, you can rock the house in these pretty pieces.

Focus on getting something that fits your bodytype. If you are an hourglass shape, try the Lace Over Satin Chemise from Frederick’s of Hollywood ($42). With this shape, you want something that accentuates that tiny waste and highlight your natural curves.

For those who are pear-shaped, accent your chest and waist to give you an all-around shape. Try the Hanky Hem Georgette Babydoll (Frederick’s, $24). Plunging bras help bring the eye to your chest. But don’t let your trunk go unnoticed-show it off in a g-string. He’ll go wild.

Neither of these styles, though, are for those with a large chest. The knockers need to stand out ladies, but so does the rest of you. Try a corset to hold your ladies up, and accent the tiny waist that is beneath. A normal t-shirt won’t show this off, but a halter top sundress will. Try Victoria Secret’s Printed beaded halter Bra Top maxi dress ($99 Sale price). Or if you are still looking to save some cash, try the Off-the-shoulder Tee Dress ($29 Sale price). The wonderful thing about this dress is that it is playful, gives you an awesome tan, and brings the attention away from your chest and to your waist and hips-giving you a fuller look.



LINK OF THE DAY:
Check out these more hot honeymoon items at Frederick's of Hollywood. They have amazing items to show off your sexy curves!

That's right ladies. Most men think women in sweats are sexy.

For day-wear, think of similar considerations. More importantly, BE COMFORTABLE. Frank Johnson, a sophomore at NYU, said, “A woman can be sexy in sweatpants. It’s all about the attitude.” So, instead of a high-end expensive dress, try a 2-in-1 dress from Spencer’s. The dress is only $29.99 at spencers.com and is two outfits in one! The sexy halter version is great for ladies with a chest, while the other version strengthens those long, beautiful legs.





If you are looking for comfortable sweats, try items from the Victoria Secret’s PINK collection. They have some great pieces from long hoodies like the Boyfriend Hoodie, $44.50, to adorable sweat pants. Just please do me a favor-avoid the pants with elastic on the bottom. A size zero still looks fat in these things and, honestly, we can’t see why anyone would wear them.

LINK OF THE DAY:
Victoria's Secret PINK Collection!! Check it out here.

I don't know how many other bachelorettes know little about alcohol, but I fell into that category. My friends in their infinite wisdom, decided I needed to learn something about drinks. So...here are a few of my favorites-some strong and some are just fun!

1. Knock Your Socks Off--Long Island Iced Tea
1 part vodka
1 part 1800® Tequila
1 part rum
1 part gin
1 part triple sec
1 1/2 parts sweet and sour mix
1 splash Coca-Cola®

This drink from a bar will put you on your way to being wasted. It is a light drink flavor wise...which means you drink it quickly and don't realize how much alcohol is in it. It is one of the strongest drinks available at the bar because of the multiple types of alcohol as well as quantity. Can't go wrong with a little Long Island Iced Tea!

2. Sending You Down the Aisle-Between the Sheets
1 oz brandy
1/2 oz light rum
1/2 oz triple sec
sweet and sour mix

Now personally, I have never tried this one...but look at the name! And with rum it just has to be good!




3. The Drink Men Love to Order-Sex on the Beach
1 1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz peach schnapps
2 oz cranberry juice
2 oz orange juice

K, so the name says it all. This is a girly drink but it is delicious and definitely will send you on your way if made correctly. A couple of these and you're hooked!



4. Bring on the...MUDSLIDE!
1 oz vodka
1 oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur
1 oz Bailey's® Irish cream
1 oz cream

Chocolate lovers unite! This creamy mix of alcohol and a milkshake will have you loving every sip. I especially like when the chocolate is strong...a little extra syrup never hurt, right?



5. And the big guy...straight liquor.

So, you really want to get wasted at your party? Drink the hard stuff. Things like a little Captain Morgan mixed with Coke or a shot of tequila starts the ball rolling. Try this fun mix.

4 oz Bacardi® gold rum
2-3 oz Bacardi® 151 rum
2 oz Malibu® coconut rum
Coca-Cola®

Not one to drink it straight? Get a few girly drinks and then go to town on the hard stuff. It doesn't burn as much and you get really messed up when you mix alcohol.

TIP: Do not mix beer and hard alcohol (rum, tequila, vodka, etc). This is almost always a surefire way to end up with your head in a toilet. Eat while you drink and switch it up with glasses of water to avoid hangovers. Oh and avoid sweets...this really messes with your body and often causes strong hangovers.

LINK OF THE DAY:
So got a favorite drink, but have no clue how to make it? Try Drinks Mixer. It's a free website with thousands of drink recipes. Also, there are apps for iPhone and iPod touch owners that allows you to carry drink mix guides with you. Check it out and find one that you love.

Okay, so I'm not into getting a stripper, drinking til I puke, spending a bazillion dollars, requiring someone else to do all the work, and overall having a night that I won't remember...other than the hangover the next day.

So what can I do? All my friends want to celebrate and I definitely want to have a good time. Hey, here's an idea. A bachelorette party at home!

Okay, not my home (I ain't cleaning it up!) but my friend has a huge living room with lots of couches, a big TV, and a mini-fridge for the alcohol. We are going to watch movies and play games all night, getting drunk but having loads of fun.

Some great movies for a girls night in....


LINK OF THE DAY:
Okay...I was searching for some awesome things to ask for and check out this! This hoodie is adorable, available in white or blue, and only $50. Thank you Victoria's Secret. Great gift from one or a couple of friends!

So last weekend my fiance and I finished the registry. It was fun to around, picking out what will be in our future home. We took a while choosing the store, but ended up choosing Target. It was close to all our family members, has a wonderful website, and also has great prices on everyday items.

Some of my favorite items were:

Really nice bedset for less than $100...

Fieldcrest® Luxury Brown Derby Reversible Comforter Set - Queen
$99.99










Homemade Frappacinos...

Mr. Coffee 20-Ounce Frappe Maker
$79.99










3-in-1 Slow Cooking!!

Hamilton Beach Stainless 3-in-1 Slow Cooker with Black Bowls
$69.99

LINK OF THE DAY:
Here is a list from Brides Magazine on must-have items for every wedding registry.

It would be great if the image to the left was not true...more along the fairy tale wedding you see below that. But let's be honest. Grooms are a nightmare to involve in any wedding planning.







So how do you get the one person who could care less to be interested? Chances are you aren't going to. Find key points that the groom can help with. My fiance is in charge of his guys, had a large say in the cake, and wants a say in the music. But he doesn't care about the bridesmaid dresses or flowers or table settings. Find a balance that makes both of you happy...and don't stress if he doesn't know the difference between a tiger or calla lily.

LINK OF THE DAY:
Here is a great resource for the troubled groom...its called The Plunge. This website has advise for men about planning bachelor parties, groomsman and bestman duties, and how to understand what YOU are going through. Take a look and this may even help you understand his point-of-view.

My fiance and I spent a long time looking at wedding cake toppers. We went with an elegant topper from Party City, but what will you go with for your cake? The topper should be a representation of both you as a couple and of the style wedding you are having. We are hopeless romantics and met in England. So we wanted a simple elegant style. We are taking the topper and adding signature touches of color to reflect our wedding.

Here is the best part...you can't mess this one up. Whether its a bride and groom, two lovebirds, or the letters "I DO", make sure it is what you both want. Here are two videos, one of humorous and another of more traditional cake toppers.





LINK OF THE DAY:
Check out Wedding Star for stylish accessories. The prices are great and the styles are very unique. Buy a magazine to browse at your leisure or scan through the website for free.

So you are looking for that special gown for your big day...and you see this on the runway!! Do you hate it? love it? or can't stand the site of it? Well, here are three videos with the good, the bad, and the OMG bridal gowns from the Fall 2010 Runway Collection.


The Good

The Bad

The OMGs


LINK OF THE DAY:
Brides Magazine has an entire collection of Runway photos...wanna take a look yourself? Just click here.

Wedding colors are crucial to the development of a good design. It is usually the first thing a bride and groom decide. But here is where the trouble lies...

Not all colors are good choices!

My fiance and I chose royal blue (easily found at most stores) and clover green. The problem arose when selecting ribbon, cake design, bridesmaid dresses, accessories, and flowers. You see, green is the most difficult color to match in a store. Go to Michael's and there are over 10 different shades of green. You have emerald, mint, lime, dark green, and an olive green just to start. We chose clover because that is what we could find at David's Bridal, but the guys' vest and tie is almost impossible to find in the right color. Your best bet is to look at vest, flower, and dress colors BEFORE selecting your wedding colors.

Otherwise, you may (like me) end up with a hazardous hue.


Emerald & Mint









Lime & Olive









LINK OF THE DAY:
Check out David's Bridal's color line-up. There are many colors that are available at Men's Warehouse for the gentlemen to match.

One of the first things my fiance and I did after getting engaged was form the guest list. There are many opinions on the subject but here are a few characters and some techniques we used to make our decisions.

1. The Drama Queens
We all have that person that we know who seems to always dance with drama. Depending on how close you two are, determines whether they make the list. However, I would avoid putting these people in positions of power. It is your day, so don't have a Maid of Honor that constantly brags about how helpful they are and how wonderful their bachelorette party was. You want to fondly remember the parties and your wedding, not focus on how much work it took to get you there.

2. The Troublemakers
These are the people who always seem to cause a scene at a party. Maybe they drink too much, maybe they say the wrong thing, or maybe they don't know how to tell a t-shirt from a tux. Either way these people are a risky invite. If it's a drinking problem, either put a limit on free drinks or do a cash bar. The bartender has a right to cut people off...use that right. Maybe speak to the person beforehand. Find a good mixture.

3. The Other One/Odd One Out
Okay, you invite all your buddies from "The Pack" or your clique...except one or two. How do you pull this off? Well, hand out invites in a private manner or mail them. Don't sit down with your buddies and hand them out to everyone but those two. Doing this can be seen as a slap in the face. Personally, my fiance asked if he could invite an old friend to the party. The problem being--this girl had tried to break us up before. We got in a huge fight and well, it never has been an easy topic. However, I made a concession. She can be invited but she is not to sit anywhere near me. Petty, maybe, but I don't want to deal with her on that day. Concessions like these are easily reached and make the list-making process much easier on all involved.

4. The Ex's
So this question always comes up. Can you invite an ex? The relationship determines the invite. Did you remain friends? Has there been any doubt as to whether you were "just friends"? Easy way to settle this one---if you still have romantic feelings, whether its lust or love, its a no. Did you leave them for the groom/bride? Did you ever cheat before? with them? All these are no's. But in most cases, ex's who become friends are standard. Not every ex is a threat...
To summarize...friends=yes, threat=no. Even a perceived threat, but realize if you veto a groom's ex, he has the right to veto yours.

5. The Last Minute Probs
Okay, so two of your friends just had a really bad breakup. He cheats on her with someone else on your guest list...do you make a quick edit to avoid drama? or do you let it play out? Well, here's the thing. Does your friend know that she was cheated on? In other words, if the drama is played out already, then it shouldn't affect your list. But if you it hasn't played out, then you may want to confront the guy. If he doesn't come clean, he isn't invited anymore...It may come off rude or conceited but there are enough last minute headaches on your big day that you don't want this to blow up.

To summarize, you are going to have drama at any big event, especially if alcohol is involved. Don't let these people ruin your day. It is about celebrating your love and you have a right to stand up for yourself. Good luck with your guest list...

LINK OF THE DAY:
Guest lists are difficult, as are RSVPs. Well, save on postage and big problems by creating the list on The Knot.com. The Knot provides an easily managed wedding website for free!

So there is a shiny new ring on your finger and you are dreaming of life with that "special someone". You hit the bookstore and pick up a few magazines (The Knot, Brides, and some Martha Stewart title). My fiance and I loved looking through magazines, picking out cake ideas and flower arrangements. Hours on the couch of laughter and cuddling. He wanted to be part of the experience and we agreed it would be "our" day. It was a time of heady love.

However, six months later--we are BOTH exhausted. Treasure those first few moments because wedding planning takes it out of you, and your groom. Between calming the relatives, finding a house, and figuring out the registry (its not just what you want!)...well, let's just say even I couldn't look at one more color swatch.

The best advice someone can give you: Take a day off, at least once a week where neither of you can talk about the wedding plans. Feel free to talk about how excited you are to spend the rest of your life together or how much you love each other. It is about enjoying today. Watch a movie, go out for a drink, play a board game. Just do something that doesn't have you both contemplating guest lists and vows endlessly.


LINK OF THE DAY:
While searching for a perfect photo for this blog, I came across a photographer who shows a unique talent for capturing emotions. There are some wonderful engagement and wedding photos on this blog so I hope you enjoy Dan Rappa Photography.