Let me just say, there are 100 million options out there for save the dates and wedding stationary. So much so that it’s completely overwhelming. When I started browsing Minted, I saw that they had plenty that ranged from totally silly to traditional and formal, and very affordable pricing, too.
While I love pinterest and choices galore, sometimes it’s easier to just have less to choose from! And while a lot of bridal magazines suggested matching the tone/feel of the Save the Dates to that of your invitations to the actual wedding, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to be a little more fun and a little less formal.
If you do try out Minted.com, they have a great refer-a-friend program where you get $25 for a referral and so does your friend. And don’t forget to sign up for their mailing list; I ended up getting a discount on my order and free shipping codes too!
What do you think, do your Save the Dates match your wedding invitations?
I know it’s the journo-nerd inside me that refuses to believe magazines will die. It’s just like everything else in life and really, all they need is to evolve. It’s not enough to be a print publication these days. To stay current, magazines need to infiltrate your life with their brand and personality via the iPad, Twitter, online, live events and anything else they can think of. One of my favorite magazines, NewBeauty, has gone as far as introducing their brand as a retail concept, and I’m love, love loving the idea!
I wish I was in the LA area for the Grand Opening of NewBeauty at Fred Segal on March 15, which featured the products available in NewBeauty magazine right then and there for beauty junkies to sample and try out in real life. Forget having to run into the store after reading a review of the latest-greatest night cream, NewBeauty prefers instant satisfaction so consumers can test out and get advice from beauty experts in real life. Now this sure is one way to engage your readers in real life! Check out the video and pics below:
While it won’t take much convincing for me to splurge on a pair of shoes or fabulous bag, I’m a total penny pincher when it comes to jewelry. It’s fun, it’s trendy and can totally change your outfit but I don’t find myself dropping tons of cash unless it’s for very classic pieces.
Suffice it to say, I’m loving today’s budget jewelry find, t&j Designs. The pieces in the collection are classic and modern and at totally affordable price points.
Although not normally my style, I was totally smitten when I received these crystal bauble earrings in the mail to try out. They’re perfect for date night or to spunk up any jeans-and-a-white-tee outfit. (P.S., they’re on sale for just $24!)
Check out these other pieces that would be oh-so-fun to stock up on:
t&j:Tiffany and Jen
Tiffany & Jen, the founders of the line, are sisters and also fellow fashion bloggers. You can check out Jen’s passion for fashion and food on her blog, Red Soles and Wine, and Tiffany’s style blog, I am Style-ish.
Dishes that are easy to make+delicious are really some of my favorite kind. Which is why pasta is a pretty common dish around my house, and this one is one of my faves:
It can be cooked in under 15 minutes, and I tend to experiment with what I have around the house for fresh ingredients. This one was made with shrimp, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes and basil. Some fresh mozzarella is great for this recipe too.
That means doing whatever you need to do for that perfect spring break body and stocking up on some swim essentials for poolside glamour! Last year, I rounded up some of Arizona’s top swimsuit stores. This year, I’m excited to hear Everything But Water is opening up a location at Kierland Commons. Of course, this means a fabulous fête is involved with cool giveaways.
It’s a fun way to spend some of your Saturday afternoon, don’t ya think? Will you be stopping by?
I love the easy breezy look of this maxi dress from Victoria’s Secret and the bright floral print is right on-trend for spring. It’s effortless beach style at its best!
Every beach bunny needs a cute tote to store essentials like sunscreen and fashion mags. Tory Burch not in your budget? This straw tote from J. Crew is wallet-friendly and chic.
Admittedly, my Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet is my favorite beach accessory. As soon as I saw this designer Nook cover from Jonathan Adler, I hatched a plan to make it mine.
I’m a sucker for a fitted cotton t-shirt and this coral graphic tee from Kate Spade is great for spring. Pair this casual look with flats for the ideal sightseeing outfit.
Wide-leg jeans are a nice break from the ultra-skinny look, which can feel restrictive after a spring break margarita or two. This pair from Banana Republic is laidback but still sleek.
Spring fashion is the perfect excuse to pair bright colors with, well, bright colors. The bold blue dots on this Marc by Marc Jacobs bangle are just the right touch.
Electric blue and deep violet make for an eye-catching color pairing in this dress from Express. It’s a versatile dress that’s extra feminine – perfect for a night out!
The hand-woven leather lattice in this Cole Haan clutch adds an extra dose of texture to this nighttime outfit, while the solid color keeps it from going overboard in print.
When you’re strutting in high-rise heels, having support is priceless. The touch of elastic in this slingback from Jessica Simpson is extra secure and the neutral hue tops off the outfit.
Hi everyone! I’m Brookelyn from Best of Bklyn, and Marlene asked me to do a guest post while she was away!
Since it’s prime wedding season in Arizona, I thought I’d share a few outfit ideas for the various types of weddings and their corresponding sartorial conundrums. Back in the day, there were so many style rules when it came to dressing for weddings, but these days, pretty much anything, except for white, goes. You can usually get a good idea of what type of wedding you’re heading to by looking on the invitation, and I’ve picked three common invitation “cues” to go off of.
It’s become increasingly popular in the past few years to take weddings outside, especially in climates that are conducive to doing so, like Arizona is in the springtime. Weddings that are outside are typically slightly more casual, and definitely lend themselves well to more creative-type outfits.
I love the hue of this bright Topshop dress paired with this contrasting BaubleBar necklace. Before you think I’m encouraging you to read a classic play during your friends’ nuptials, that “book” is actually a great Kate Spade clutch- it’ll definitely be a conversation starter during cocktail hour! As far as shoes go, for outdoor weddings, wedges are always a good bet– you don’t need to aerate the golf course! These DVF ones are the perfect neutral for this otherwise bold ensemble.
As you probably know, black tie means formal. While you can usually get away with wearing a very fancy (read: embellished) cocktail-length dress, an evening-length dress is always a safer bet. Plus, how often do you get to wear a long dress? Since you probably don’t want a closet full of ballgowns, I’d buy one “black tie” gown that’s a classic, as this J.Crew one is. You can change it up with accessories as years go by, but you only have to buy one dress– your bank account will thank you! This clutch is also a classic– you could pretty much use this tiny Bottega bag for any fancy occasion you have for the rest of your life, and no, I’m not exaggerating. These Badgley Mischkapeep toes add just the right amount of sparkle and are pretty fabulous; they’ll look perfect peeking out from underneath your dress. Jazz up the classic neckline of the dress with a stunning oversized crystal necklace like this one from BaubleBar.
While a lot of “rules” for wedding dressing have gone out the window, you still may want to cover your shoulders when a wedding is in a church. If you’re not sure what’s appropriate, ask the bride (in advance!) or a friend that’s also attending. As far as dressing classically goes, Kate Middleton is the perfect example to look to. This Issa dress is the dress she announced her engagement in in a slightly brighter hue, and would be perfect for a wedding, too. These gold snakeskin Kate Spade pumps are like a dressier version of your classic nude pump- they’ll elongate your legs, but these are a touch more dressed up! Since weddings are inherently more formal occasions, add a little sparkle with a fun clutch by Anya Hindmarch and small (but sparkly!) earrings from BaubleBar.
Thanks for reading, and I’d love it if you’d stop by my blog, Best of Bklyn! Thanks for having me, Marlene!
My fiancé’s father and brother have been staying with us for a few weeks, which means dinnertime around here is like feeding a family of six! And what packs a punch easier and better than many other meals? Lasagna. Ooey-gooey-meaty-cheesy-mouthwatering lasagna. Yum.
I had actually never made a lasagna before and decided to give it a go, recipe-free. I figured, having mastered the art of spaghetti, a lasagna could not be far off or difficult to master.
I was right. And picked up a few savvy tips along the way.
I new I wanted to make a traditional spinach and cheese lasagna with meat sauce layers. For that, you would need:
A box of lasagna noodles
Fresh spinach (a handful or so)
1 container low fat ricotta cheese
1 egg
Parmesean, freshly grated
Package lean ground beef
Tomato sauce of your choice. (Two jars or more at least)
Freshly grated mozzarella
Add salt and some olive oil to a pot of boiling water. While it’s heating up, mix together your egg, spinach and ricotta cheese. You can also add a few tablespoons of parmesan cheese to the cheese mixture.
I brown my meat while boiling noodles. If your pot isn’t big enough or you’re worried about sticking, boil a few at a time. They are ready fairly quickly so I ended up boiling noodles in between layering.
Important: Grease a cookie sheet with some Pam, preferably butter flavor, to lay your noodles on in between the layering phase. This way they won’t get dry or stick together!
I season my meat with two garlic cloves and my all-purpose go-to, Adobo.And for this particular dish, I used Pomi Pomodoro e Basilico sauce. I had never used it before but it was chunky and had some great flavor. Plus, these sauces are all natural and fresh with no additives.
When your meat and some noodles are done, start your layering! One package of lean ground beef and the ricotta will yield two meat layers and one cheese layer. Don’t forget to reserve some sauce for the top of the lasagna. Bake for 20-25 minutes and then add freshly grated mozzarella and bake some more.
Boil Lasagna noodles according to package directions.
Grease a cookie sheet with butter-flavored Pam. Lay noodles on sheet when done.
Brown package of lean ground beef. Add salt and pepper to taste and two garlic cloves.
Add tomato sauce and parmesan to ground beef.
In a mixing bowl, mix spinach, ricotta, parmesan and 1 egg.
In a casserole baking dish, start by spreading tomato sauce along bottom. Then, add first layer of noodles.
Next, add a layer of meat sauce. Layer another tier of noodles on top and then add your cheese mixture. Continue layering until you have used all of your noodles, meat and cheese.
Finish off the final layer with some additional tomato sauce.
Bake, covered, for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, sprinkle some grated mozzarella on top. Continue baking 20 minutes.
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