Country Wedding

I was browsing the Martha Stewart Weddings site and I can across this beautiful Tennessee wedding. At first I was looking at the details for ideas for an inspiration board but I had a whole page full of ideas by the time I was done. That’s when I decided that this wedding was too beautiful, it had to be shown in it’s entirety. I loved everything from the guest book quilt to the candy apples! I hope you enjoy! If you want to get more info on the wedding or see more pics just click the link above!

 

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Spa Weekend

 

spa

While the economy is on the downturn, it may not be practical to spend the money for your entire wedding party to hit the spa for the day. However, you do not need to give up your relaxing spa day. Simply bring the spa home with these wonderful recipes from Martha Stewart.com.

 

Face and Body Ubtan Scrub
This invigorating “ubtan” (“cleansing paste”) scrub improves circulation and help tone slack muscles. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup oat or chickpea (garbanzo) flour, 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric, 2 tablespoons each ground mustard and crushed fresh coriander leaves, 3 tablespoons rose water, 1 cup orange juice, and 1/2 cup water; stir to blend. Work the scrub all over your face and body. Rinse with warm water.

 

Herbal Steam
This is a great treatment to eliminate toxins. Steam your face over a bowl of hot water combined with a handful each of fresh cilantro and basil leaves, steaming for about 10 minutes. Hold your face at least 12 inches above the water and tent your head and the bowl with a towel to prevent the steam from escaping. Pat your face dry and splash with tepid water to refresh the skin. Discard the herbs. To purify the rest of the body, run a hot shower to fill the room with steam, and relax in the steam for 7 to 10 minutes.

 

Lepa Mask
“Lepa” translates as “medicinal plaster.” This mask absorbs impurities. In a large bowl, combine 2 teaspoons each sandalwood powder, natural clay powder (available at natural-foods stores), a pinch of ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon neem oil, and 1/4 cup fresh orange juice. Mix thoroughly and apply all over the face and neck, avoiding the eyes. Leave the mask on for about 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

 

Moisturizer
Aloe is an ideal ingredient in pitta-balancing skin treatments because it provides light moisture and creates a wonderful soothing sensation. Massage your face and body with aloe vera gel to soften and refresh your skin.


Coconut and Flower Hair Oil
Oiling your hair is the most important part of Ayurvedic hair care. It conditions the hair and scalp and promotes relaxation. Prepare the oil the night before by bringing 1/2 cup coconut oil to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons rose water and 1/2 cup mixed fresh flower petals such as rose or jasmine. Return to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Let the flowers steep in the oil overnight, then strain the oil through a coffee filter or double layer of cheesecloth into an airtight container. To oil your hair, gently massage four to five tablespoons of the oil onto the crown of your head and into your scalp. Wrap hair in a towel and allow the oils to penetrate for at least 20 minutes. Shampoo and rinse as usual.

 

Nourishing Hair Mask
A protein-rich mask helps to strengthen hair. In a medium-sized bowl, thoroughly combine 1/2 cup yogurt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 egg. Apply the mixture to your scalp after oiling and cleansing. Leave the mask on for about 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.

 

Hand and Foot Treatment
To soften rough hands and feet, start by gently massaging them with a loofah or rough hand towel. Next, soak them in a tub of warm water infused with a few drops of sandalwood, rose, neem, or jasmine oils. Use a pumice stone to soften rough areas on the feet. To moisturize, make a solution of 1 teaspoon neem oil and 2 tablespoons coconut oil and massage into both hands and feet, focusing on the heels, soles, ankles, between the toes and fingers, wrists, and palms. Rinse with the juice of one lemon diluted in 1 cup warm water. Dry off with a soft, fluffy towel

Get the Look~Spring 2009 Smoky Cat Eye

cat eye

FACE:
For this look, the skin was smooth and flawless. Start by applying PHOTO FINISH FOUNDATION PRIMER all over using fingertips, then apply HIGH DEFINITION HEALTHY FX FOUNDATION using FOUNDATION BRUSH #13. Warm CAMERA READY FULL COVERAGE FOUNDATION on the back of your hand, then blend under eyes and over any imperfections using CONCEALER BRUSH #4. Give cheeks a natural bronze flush by dusting on FUSION SOFT LIGHTS in BAKED STARBURST using BLUSH BRUSH #16.

 

EYES:
Using DEFINER BRUSH #15, apply a soft wash of CREAM EYE LINER in MIDNIGHT BROWN, making a thin line starting at the first lash and thickening as you reach the outer corner, winging up and out slightly. Fade color out to the outer corner – there shouldn’t be any color in the inner part of the eye. Blend EYE SHADOW in BRAZILIAN BRONZE over the liner using CREASE BRUSH #10. Using DOUBLE-ENDED SMUDGER BRUSH #20, sweep CREAM EYE LINER in MIDNIGHT BROWN along lower lashline, focusing the intensity at the outer corner. Add sultry definition by softly blending EYE SHADOW in WALNUT in the outer corners, and sweep along lower lashline using DOUBLE-ENDED SMUDGER BRUSH #20. Complete the eyes with a coat of BIONIC MASCARA.

 

LIPS:
Balance dark eyes with a creamy nude lip – apply PHOTO FINISH LIPSTICK in ELEGANT, followed by a dab of LIP ENHANCING GLOSS in CRYSTAL.
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Yummy Mousse from Tartelette

What good would the up coming holiday be if I could not use it as a chance to talk about sweets? None! Valentine’s Day is all about chocolate and sweet concoctions. That is very evident when you check out Tartelette’s blog! The following sweets are for the person with a true sweet tooth. They are a combination of chocolate and sweet and silky mousses. They make me hungry just looking at them! Plus, if you check out the site Tartelette tells you just how to make them. Yummm!!!!!

Chocolate

Milk Chocolate & Chestnut Mousse Verrines,Nougatine Cups with Vanilla and Star Anise Mousse, Chocolate Espresso Mousse Cakes , and Chocolate Tuiles and Bailey’s Cream

Blooming Love~ Kids Table Place Cards

sucker

If you are having kids at your wedding, it is always nice to set up a kids table with fun crafts and coloring pages. You could make this place extra special by giving them their own custom place cards. These place cards are beautiful and contain a special surprise in the center. A sucker! What kid would not like that?

 

How To:

 

With just a little TLC, colorful hearts flourish as the petals of a new flower variety –one with a lollipop center and stem.

 

1. Use card stock to make a half-heart template about 3 inches high and 1 1/4 inches wide. Fold a 12-by-3 1/2-inch piece of construction paper in half vertically, and trace four half-hearts along the fold.

 

2. Cut out hearts; unfold.

 

3. Stack hearts; punch a hole 1/4 inch up from bottom. Position petals to form a flower, making sure holes line up. Secure by applying glue around holes; let dry. Write name on a petal. Insert lollipop.

 

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To Good Fortune

 

fortune cookies

Here is a super cute idea from Martha Stewart.com. These are felt fortune cookies that hold a special not a a little treat for your guests. This would make a great favor idea. You can add a special thank you note to on the strip of paper and a special treat inside. These would be really cute for a shower, wedding, or even bachelorette party. Simply change the wording on the strips of paper to meet the needs of the event. For the wedding shower you could have the cookies filled with fun facts about the bride and groom. You could also make it into a game for a bachelorette party and fill the cookies with truth or dares. The options are unlimited. Be creative!

Felt Fortune Cookie How-To

1. Using fabric shears, cut a 4 1/2-inch-diameter circle from a piece of felt. Cut a piece of matching ribbon slightly shorter than 4 1/2 inches. Using wire cutters, cut a piece of floral wire slightly shorter than the length of ribbon.

 

2. Using craft glue, affix the wire to the middle of the felt circle. Glue ribbon on top, covering the wire. Let dry 30 minutes.

 

3. Fold the felt circle in half, using the wire as a guide, so ribbon is inside cookie. Next, angle the sides toward each other, bending the wire at its halfway point and forming a fortune-cookie shape, as shown.

 

4. Assemble the fortune cookies. Carefully peel back one flap of the felt cookie, and insert a paper fortune and a few candies. Fold the flap back over to close cookie around contents.
For video how to click here!

Pretty ‘n Pink

Pink and black make a beautiful combination. Especially when they combined with the polka-dots! I love the details in the tie and the cake. This makes for a very modern look.  I also like the small details such as the coffee beans with the flowers. Coffee beans make a great filler for flowers and plus they smell really good.

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I Love Cake!!!

 

cake

If you are having a Valentine’s Day themed wedding or simply want to remind everyone of your love, then this cake is just for you. The beautiful fondant details are hard to resist. I love the hugs and kisses layer! Or how about those cute little hearts? It is really a great design and the various shades of pink make this cake spectacular!

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