Your Guest will go NUTS!

For my best friends wedding I create these cute little boxes of Cinnamon Roasted Almonds and Pecans. It is a simple recipe and fairly price conscious. Feel free to add your favorite nuts or change the combination. I purchased the little white boxes whole sale off the Internet, and the organza ribbon at a local craft store. Make the nuts according to how much you want to give per guest. For my friends wedding we gave each guest a quarter cup. After the nuts have cooled we placed them in small cellophane bags and placed them in the boxes with a little note that said "Thank you for being part of our special day!". I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my friend's guest did! (you can also include the recipe on a tag for a gift that can keep giving)

Cinnamon Roasted Almonds & Pecans
(makes 4 cups)

Ingredients:
1 egg white
1 teaspoon champagne or water
2 cups whole almonds
2 cups pecan halves
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon


Directions:
1.) Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Lightly grease a sheet.
2.) Lightly beat the egg white; add champagne, and beat until frothy but not stiff. Add the nuts and stir until well coated. Mix the sugar, salt and cinnamon. and sprinkle over the nuts. Toss to coat, and spread evenly on the cookie sheet.
3.) Bake for 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Allow to cool, then store in airtight container.

My Martha Callenge

Maybe I inserted my foot into my mouth, but either way this is now my challenge and my goal! While having tea the other morning with my mother I said "I'm gonna out do a Martha wedding". So here is the challenge, to have a wedding that looks like it popped off the pages of Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine. It shouldn't be too hard, however I will be doing this on a fraction of the budget that those weddings cost! Wish me luck and stay posted to watch for updates and ideas!

Now that looks sharp

For years I have loved the creations at studiosharp.com. Denise Sharp creates beautiful artisan sculptures out of antique and unique paper. The little boxes, crowns, and other party favors are so precious I wish I could buy them all! Add her special designs to your wedding. They would make lovely party favor boxes, or as seen in Martha Stewart Weddings winter 2007 as cake decorations.














http://www.studiodsharp.com/weddings.html

Get Lost in the moment

I just love this song. It's a typical country wedding song, however I love the words and how Big and Rich picked up on so many sentimental parts of a wedding ceremony. Maybe you will play it at your wedding?

Radiant Glow

Help that "I'm gonna be a bride" glow along a little bit by drinking Anti-oxidant Water Booster! One dropper full is the same as drking 15 cups of green tea. It is "an easy way to integrate powerful anti-oxidants to preserve younger looking skin, fight free radical damage and promote overall health." It is also 100% natural, caffein free, sugar free and calorie free. All the flavors are great! So drink up.

Visit http://www.drbrandtskincare.com/

Inspiration

Inspiration for your big day can come from any where. It is good to start with a theme or look so that as you plan everything comes together under that idea. For my wedding the inspiration is the stationary my fiance's mother gave me on her return from Italy. The beautiful Florentine paper was the same paper my mother gave to me when I was ten years old and I still cherish it today. The paper is gorgeous with its gilded gold and floral pattern. I plan on using this paper as the center piece of my invitations, color pallet and inspiration for a"La Dolce Vita" wedding. (or maybe Italian winter Garden?).





Find your inspiration from a specific dress, paper, china pattern, just about anything; image a Honey themed wedding with a warm yellow color pallet and very sweet party favors. It could even be your dog you purchased together as a couple! A harlequin black and white Great Dane would be a wonderful inspiration for a formal black and white wedding.

The Engagment

You can't have a wedding without an engagement. The engagement is a moment your future bride will remember always and share with everyone. It is important to make sure the engagement is meaningful and special. Engagements don't need to be extravagant, it just needs to embody her and the relationship you have with each other.

Three Tips for a Great Engagement
1.) Make it unique- popping the question at a fancy restaurant isn't original (unless it's the location of your first date) Pick a location/time of year/or event that is important to the two you. The courtyard where you first met and it was love at first site..the place you had your first kiss...or Chinese New Year where you were introduced

2.) Document it - Not too many brides have pictures of their engagement. If at all possible ask a friend or family member to hide at the location to take pictures. (they may need to wear a disguise!)

3.) Make it sentimental-Let her know you love her for her and that you cherish all your memories together. Hide the ring in a pocket of a scrapbook you created. Create a night of dancing to your favorite songs and end with your special question.


My Fiance planned a surprise weekend get away (since I complain I never get surprises!) He took me to Asheville, NC for a unforgettable weekend. We had a wonderful suite at the Grove Park Inn, champagne included! We did wine a tasting at the Biltmore and a Candle lite tour of the house. I'm in love with Christmas and historic homes. He finished off the evening by getting down on one knee and asking me to marry him! To finish off the engagement weekend we spent the next day in the Grove Park Spa.










Happy Engagement!