DIY Makeup Trial

I meant to do my Makeup Trial yesterday with my hair, but ran out of time as my mother and I ran errands to our hearts content...including picking up the best gift for my groom ever. More to come on that.

In any case, back to makeup. I originally considered having my makeup done, but then I realized that I am pretty darn good at it. Seriously - I have had a LOT of practice. Bridesmaid S and I were college roommates and she regularly would come plop down in my room for me to do her eyes for going out. Most of the weddings that I have been in I have done the makeup of the bride and some other bridesmaids. Besides, if I did it myself that meant that I could go crazy with my most favorite brand of makeup - Smashbox.

I was originally introduced to Smashbox cosmetics in a sorority philanthropy fashion show as a sophomore in college. They donated their service to make up the models, and then - best surprise of all - gave all of the volunteer models the makeup they had used. Yay!

Since then I have never been without my very favorite eye shadow - Eyelights in Beam.

Through undergrad and graduate school though - money was always a little less than flowing, so I always had to restrain from purchasing the rest of the makeup I had been handed at the fashion show.

BUT - this is our wedding. So, I decided to "jump on that hand grenade" and pony up the dough. (Tee hee hee) I had the best time at Sephora. I am so glad I decided to DIY. I am going for natural, but pretty and polished.

So anywho - long story short, I tried out my makeup today. Oh? You want a photo? Here ya go.

{Check out those relaxed curls - that my friends is what comes from sleeping in your wedding hairdo. Brunch attendees, expect to see this same hair style then.}

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6 days and counting!

Well - I picked up the fiance last night, and have been going nutso with projects in my blogging absence.

But, I had my hair trial yesterday at the Garage Salon and Spa and was so happy with the results! Of course, being a trial my stylist was quick to start out that it would not be as secure or as finely tuned as it would be on the big day, but she wanted to make sure we were on the same page...and yet I was pretty happy with it!

So happy in fact that I am going to share some photos :)
   

{Oh yeah - and I got highlights, but they aren't nearly as blonde as they look in the bright sunshine here!}

  

   

{See? Still red...no worries.}

   

   

  

   

   

Anywho - Yay! Things are getting exciting around here!

   

As I type this I am copying our readings for our readers (whoops, prolly should have done that a while ago) and the FH is upstairs folding and cutting programs, as my mom scurries to make her house as loving and warm (read: sparklingly clean and well scented, via Yankee Candle) as humanly possible for out wedding party guests and the brunch following the wedding.

   

6 days - wow.

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Wedding Jewelry!

I have been on a quest for wedding jewelry for quite some time. With the date change up and the chaos that ensued, however, it kind of fell by the wayside.

When I got to Wisconsin I suddenly realized - I have no jewelry to wear.

I set out on the town of Eau Claire looking for something that mixed pearls and "sparkle" be it diamonds, rhinestones, whatever (I didn't really care so long as it included pearls and some sort of "sparkle").

I scoured the mall and found, well, nothing. Being a girl from the south I am used to tons of pearl options, but apparently the pearl craze is just beginning here.

{Detour: At one store I witnessed a girl my age, a teacher, getting her first strand of pearls. So cute. The saleslady was commenting how when she started working there 10 years ago, no one wanted pearls, but suddenly it just ramped up...I think I may have helped the girl more than the saleslady, but I digress.}


In any case, I was looking for something with pearls and sparkles because I have been dropping hints for months that I would love, love, love these earring jackets that I saw at Spencer's Jewelers for a wedding present from the FH.

What is an earring jacket you may be asking? Something along the lines of this:

{This shows a diamond solitaire earring in the middle, whereas I would put my pearls in the middle.}

 

I fell in love with them around...um, November, but the FH contended that I had received enough jewelry that year to last me for quite some time {engagement ring, wedding ring, pearl drop necklace...sigh...he was probably right}.

 

So I let them fall by the wayside for Christmas, but like I said above have been dropping hints about them for a wedding gift.

In any case, while I have no idea if I will actually receive them wedding day, but I wanted to coordinate jewelry to match just in case, and hey if all else fails, I wanted to like it just as much, without spending as much.
 
Enter Etsy. Whew, how Etsy and its wonderful vendors have served me time and time again.
 
Considering that we have, ahem, 3 weeks to the wedding, I was sure that I wouldn't be able to get anything in time.
 
I was looking for simple, classic and lovely. I fell in love with many necklace designs, but worried that they would be too much when combined with earrings, a hair flower and a veil. That is a lot of accessories.
 

Like this one from luxedeluxe

 

{Truth be told, this one was a close contendor anyway for being purchased, but since her maker is located in edinburgh, scotland - there was no way to get her here in time, while remaining cost effective. sad day.}

 

Luckily, I found another design that was simple and that I also loved and whose designer was willing and able to work within my tight schedule. Enter EricaBapst and her lovely design "My one and only" {how appropriate, non?} 

 

and look! Matching earrings!

 

 

  

I convo'd Erica and let her know the situation and she let me know that she would have them in the mail to me within 24 hours of my purchase. Go Erica.

 

So folks, there it is, the winning jewelry.

 

I will try not to be too sad if I end up not wearing those earrings ;) 

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pssssssst...

wanna know a secret?

I know you do.

The J.Crew shipment came.

And while the shoes from the crew are lovely - the fiance thinks they look "too everyday" and likes the Kate Spades more.

{picture me here doing a quiet victory dance the second he turns his back, and again later in the shoes...my shoes...my wedding shoes!}

The choice is made.

Photos to come with my next pedicure.

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Guess what...

...arrived today? I'll give you a hint.

They came with their very own bag that looks like this:

and they are cute. Very cute.

Reserving judgment until the J.Crew shipment comes in.

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I have been productive...

...and doing my part to stimulate the economy.

Saturday I bought:

20 of these

 

50 of these

  

{to be sprayed copper, of course}

and today I bought:

these

  

and these

   

and this

  

{possible Rehearsal dress!}

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Today's Dilemma

Lately I have realized that I have been putting off making decisions about my attire, beyond the dress, on the day of the wedding. It is time to buckle down.

I know I want Navy shoes. For a long time, I have wanted THESE Navy shoes:

This is the Kate Spade Gali Shoe. I have loved them for a long time.

Sadly, they are still $351.00.

The green ones have gone down in price, but of course, not the blue.

I have a hard time rationalizing this purchase, even though I love them so much - but when else in life will I be able to rationalize this price on shoes?? All of the comments say how comfortable they are, and that they also ordered them for their weddings (in white and ivory, mostly). Even the fiance has sanctioned the purchase...so why do I still hesitate? (Probably because I have an ongoing wedding budget in my head).

Today, I stumbled across these lovelies from J.Crew:

The Nicolette strappy heel.

These babies are $188.00, but there are promos often enough which could make them an even better deal. They are a quarter of an inch higher than the Kate Spade's...which may make a difference in a 12+ hour day. But, I may be able to get more use out of them after the wedding.

There are also some more options on Zappos, mostly from a brand 'rsvp' that all range from $65.00-$79.00. They are cute, but the reviews don't seem to be that great regarding comfort...and they are all something that I feel like I would buy for any-day wear. I don't know that they would make me feel all that 'bridal'.

So here is the dilemma - do I go with the dreamy bridal shoes, the practical midrange, or the cute, but not comfortable, affordables? (I feel a little like those people on House Hunters must, when the host boils their choices down to select catch phrases).

P.S. I could also always order them all and see what I like best in person? Who has ordered from Zappos?

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Good News!

{is it wrong that now the Wicked soundtrack is running through my head??}

I have scheduled a dress shopping excursion at Bella Bridal Boutique in Woodbury, MN for one of the appointments over the holidays, and they have both of the Sophia Tolli dresses I liked.

If I decide to go with a dress like Zarah then these will both be necessary for the reception

 

{via Weddingbee Pro, Oh My Deer!} 

  

{via Our Labor of Love} 

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Party Time!

We just received our invitation in the mail for our first wedding related event - an engagement party!

A's mom and sister are hosting this event for us on the eve of Black Friday {for all you non-shoppers, that is the Friday after Thanksgiving}

Last weekend I had the extreme pleasure of shopping in Atlanta with some girlfriends and found this lovely dress on a serious sale at Banana Republic which I plan on wearing to our party:

It even has pockets!

Love, love, love.

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