Great Website for Hair Accessories and More

Most brides are on the never ending search for beautiful and affordable hair jewelry to adorn their locks as they make their way down the aisle. Hair Comes the Bride is the answer to that call. In addition to hair styling services, they have a great on-line boutique with hair pins, tiaras, clothing, veils and more. These items are nicely priced, allowing something for every budget.

New Cupcake Store in D.C.

Yesterday, Penny Kara opened her cupcake shop in D.C., Hello Cupcake!

Located at 1351 Connecticut Avenue NW, between N Street and Dupont Circle, Hello Cupcake offers cupcakes with whimsical names such as Velvet Elvis, Rootbeer Float, and Prima Donna. Inside the little shop there are pink chandeliers, flowery walls, and decorative jars of sugar and sprinkles. With a price point of $3, they are priced snugly amongst their competitors, Georgetown Cupcake and Cake Love. They also offer vegan and gluten-free delights, providing no reason to pass on these delicacies.

Enjoy!

On Search for the Area's Best Cupcake

Yesterday, I sampled another of the area's cupcakes, Georgetown Cupcake. I tried Vanilla squared and Lemon Blossom. Located just off M Street, on Potomac, near the Georgetown Mall, the shop was small...one table, and a beautiful display of cupcakes on three tier silver stands. All of the icing was perfectly piped in a tube on each cupcake with a little garnish on top. The cupcakes were yummy, but small (about 2.5 x 3 inches). I accidentally left the Lemon Blossom in the car last night, which gave me a mild heart attack given the cost, but it was still in place and a little harder then yesterday, but still surprisingly good.

My daughter and I enjoyed it for breakfast this morning.

Being in the Baltimore area, I have bought many a cup cake from Baltimore Cupcake Company. They have delighted guests at parties and showers I have thrown and weddings I have planned. They are without a doubt very good. I have mastered how to keep them fresh as I have been disappointed the next day to find stale cup cakes. Get an air tight dish and place them in there and do not refrigerate them. In fact, all of the cup cake companies will alert you not to put them in the fridge. The shop is too cute, with paraphernalia, cupcake stands, candy, and other goodies and is located in Federal Hill, but off the beaten path down Fort Street. I have had everything from Key Lime, to Vanilla, to chocolate. They are all good.

A couple of weeks ago, I was delighted to have the chance to taste cupcakes from Cake Love. The staff person was really helpful in my decision for which flavor to go for. I selected chocolate and vanilla for my in-laws, my husband, and I. We ate them later that night, after following strict instructions to let them thaw after being refrigerated. To be honest, I was disappointed. They bordered on stale and were not moist. My mother-in-law did not enjoy hers either, and I asked my husband later how his was and he said he did not like it. I wanted to like it, but it was not the yummy treat I expected. The shop is located in Canton, off Boston Street near the Can Company. I like to think because they were in the fridge at their shop they were not as moist and will return for a redo.

My next venture is to taste Couture Cupcakes. The latest arrival on the cupcake scene. Stay tuned. Given the cost of these treats (from $2.75 to 3.25 plus tax...in DC a heaping 10% ouch), definitely do your own taste tests. The only positive of the small bites is they will have less of an impact on my waist line. Although, I have to admit that after one I am satisfied. I guess they have mastered how big they have to be to not disappoint.

Try some cupcakes today...whether for a shower, a hostess gift, a surprise for a friend, or a carefully planned order for a celebration, this is so much more than a trend and truly a nice way to end a meal or just enjoy on its own.

Sarah Albert from America's Next Top Model Weds in B'more

Sarah and John wed at The Evergreen House in Baltimore last weekend. Read about all of the details, including the butler passed mint julep cups...oh so cute, at their photographer's blog, Regiti's Photography.

For those looking for a wedding site, Evergreen is a fabulous option if you love the tradition of a tented reception or who want something a bit different such as having the reception in the Carriage House. Located away from downtown near Loyola College and the Roland Park community, the Evergreen House is worth the visit.

The tented reception is for those with a nice budget as you have to provide your own tents (for your guests and the caterer), tables, chairs, linens, a dance floor, and more.

Also stay tuned for Sarah on the cover of the next issue of Engaged Magazine, a beautifully done magazine featuring in-depth coverage of real weddings.

Enjoy!

Great Wedding Website

Have you visited the Wedding Planning Audiocast website ?



Look what they have to offer:

• Listen to the advice of these top leading wedding planning event specialists like Mindy Weiss, Colin Cowie, David Tutera, and Jung Lee.
• Enhance your beauty with advice, and tips from these leading celebrity make up artists.
• Connect to the most popular wedding blogs
• Get help creating your color palette by looking through their color boards like the one above
• Get eco-chic wedding planning guidance and much more!

Sexy Wedding Gift for Him: Boudoir Photography

Ladies, are you wondering what to give your hubby-to-be as a wedding present? Consider having a sexy photo shoot (at a place of your choosing) complete with professional make-up and hair do.

Balance Photography, in Maryland, offers boudoir photography complete with a professional photo shoot and a hard bound, coffee table book for your beloved to peruse at his leisure with a collection of the best shots from your three different looks that they can help you create. This will be one gift he will never forget and will cherish forever. Visit their website for more info: http://www.balanceboudoir.com!

Custom Save the Dates

Looking for something truly unique and one-of-a-kind for your save the dates and you have a nice stationery budget? Go to Etsy's website to order save the dates with cartoons of you and your beloved or scenes of the wedding location or city you are getting married in.

The designers will do drawings from a photograph or any other type of symbol or logo that is important to you. This listing is for design only. The image will be digitally sent to you for you have printed at your local printers.

Check it out! http://www.etsy.com/

Vow to be Eco Chic When Planning your Wedding

Many people are constantly looking for ways to take care of our planet, so that it can be enjoyed for generations to come. Planning your wedding is a perfect time to minimize your carbon footprint if you have not already been doing so. Below are some suggestions from easy to those that take a bit more effort for those who vow to go green when planning their nuptuals:

• Seek out stationers that offer recycled paper and/or print with vegetable based inks. There are many beautiful and affordable options. Or look on the web for sites or stores that offer luxurious tree-free and 100% postconsumer recycled invites that you can print yourself or have them do it with their own vegetable based inks.


• Having a casual celebration: Ask your caterer if you can use biodegradable plates, flatware, and napkins.
• Use flowers from a friend or family member’s garden that you have admired to create aisle accents or cocktail table arrangements.
• Ask your Maid of Honor (or others planning your shower) to send shower invitations out by e-mail and think of earth-friendly favors to give out such as soy/beeswax candles, miniature flowers for planting, or other delights.
• Ask your caterer if they can use locally grown ingredients or organic foods and to purchase local wines. Also discuss their recycling plans for items used (like cans and plastic bottles) from your wedding.
• Donate uneaten/untouched food and flowers after your wedding or reuse centerpieces at your day-after activity.
• Look for pastry chefs that use vegan and/or organic products.
• Look for make-up artists that use organic make-up.
• Create a video to be emailed to all of your guests instead of sending out invitations for those of you who really want to make an impact. Companies like (E-Clips - http://greenvite.net/) can help you create a beautiful and highly personal, yet waste free way to announce your wedding. Do this for your save the date or be bold and do it for your wedding invitation. Sadly, many people lose invitations anyway, but can always go back to an email!
• Re-use your alter arrangements as escort or guest table centerpieces or create other double duty arrangements to be used at the ceremony and reception. Ask your floral designer about floral options that are seasonal in your area and do not have to be shipped from another country.
• Buy less stuff and rent items from the Wedding Planning Boutique instead of spending money on items you likely may not use again. We have all types of votive candle holders, vases, and other items that are often hard to find and costly to purchase! Ask friends and family about items that they may have from past weddings or other events that you may use.
• Forego the paraffin wax candles (those commonly found) and opt for beeswax or soy candles.
• Find wedding-related items on E-Bay, Craigs List, and other sites where people give away free items or put things up for sale.
• Wear a dress with natural fibers: organic cotton, wool, hemp, linen, or silk; look for dresses without toxic dyes and where the cotton was grown free of pesticides. You can also benefit from beautiful gowns that others have worn by purchasing one from Second Time Around Bridal Shops, Vintage Shops, Thrift Shops, Flea Markets, and of course from family members.

Here are some websites with other earth-friendly wedding suggestions:

http://www.greatgreenwedding.com/default.php

http://www.green-weddings.com/

http://www.rawganique.com/organic-hemp-wedding-clothes.htm

Those are my tips! Let's all do our part!