BRONZE BUDGET BRIDE

"Looking back on the months gone by,
As a new year starts and an old one ends,
We contemplate what brought us joy,
And we think of our loved ones and our friends.

... Recalling all the happy times,
Remembering how they enriched our lives,
We reflect upon who really counts,
As the fresh and bright new year arrives.

And when I ponder those who do,
I immediately think of you.

Thanks for being one of the reasons I'll have a Happy New Year!"

By Joanna Fuchs

I hope your holiday presents include all of these...happiness, love and wonderful memories.

From my family to yours...have an amazing holiday season!!

How to show you got the love without breaking the bank

Summer wedding season may now be well and truly over, but in recent decades autumn and winter weddings have become more and more popular.

With smart-thinking couples planning their nuptials around big holidays such as New Year or Thanksgiving in America and Canada, the autumn’s big breaks in the national calendar are the perfect time to unite friends and family from far and wide.

But what do you bring in tow to show you care? Is it better to go for a feminine-edged gift? Department stores such as House of Fraser have a lovely range, but what about gifts for him? Is there such a thing as a gift that perfectly suits the couple as a whole? Are matching dressing gowns too twee?

So many questions, so little time and money to garner the right answers. One thing is certain – amidst all of these concerns is the growing hole in your pocket (and, potentially, in your mental stability…).

Short of making a scrapbook yourself, it can often feel like staring down the barrel of a very expensive gun when it comes to trying to find great wedding gifts on budget.

One great tip is to focus on a specific area. Wedding lists can be helpful, but even they have to be tailored around the particular store where they are based. If you want to say something special to the bride and groom, you can take inspiration from the items in the list without buying the exact thing.

Luxury dressing gowns may well be a bit too eye-watering…and a bit Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous – so why not go for simple pyjama sets in flannel or cotton? A lovely mix of the intimate and the gently humorous.

Kitchenware is also an excellent choice for gifts to please her and him. Solid, durable, well-designed kitchenware (rather than ‘dining’-ware) is an excellent, and cheaper, choice. Strong Le Creuset casserole dishes in teal and orange shouldn’t set you back any more than £80. That should leave enough money for your morning suit!

 

Have you been looking for Sky Lanterns for your wedding? Well, I did and I've found some at www.TheSkyLantern.com! You can buy a sample for only $1.00 but the regular price for each one is $3.00! The most popular color is white but you can also get Specialty Sky Lanterns but some cost a little more!



I am encouraging you to buy a sample of the White Sky Lanterns here before making a large purchase! They are incredibly beautiful but you may have to hire someone to light each one if you would like to release some at the end of your wedding reception!

This romantic wall applique is only $3.95 right now here at The Lakeside Collection. It is safe for any of the walls in your bedroom or any room in your house as a matter of fact and can be easily removed if you decide to move it to another room. Items like this one usually go out of stock quickly at The Lakeside Collection, so if you want it, you should get it as soon as possible!

Wishing a beautiful day to all the amazing moms! May God bless each and every one of you!

Find this dress and more like it up for bid at www.Facebook.com/MyLittleValise now through February 11th!

I am looking forward to 2011, to all the wonderful brides I'll meet and get to know even better.  I hope 2011 will be able to help even more Bronze Budget Brides than it did in 2011. Thank you all for making 2010 a special one and together we'll have a blas making things happen in 2011.

I'm wishing you all a happy,  healthy, wealthy new year! God bless you all.

Months ago while planning our Caribbean Theme Wedding Richard and I decided that we wanted to have a signature drink at the wedding since we would have someone serving the drinks that night! The drink had to be fruity so when I came across this drink, Blue Lagoon, I knew this was what we were looking for. I've mentioned it to you before but since then we've had a chance to try it...first here is the recipe:

Chalkboard paint! I hadn't heard of it since yesterday but I learn something new every day and I am always happy to pass the information on to you!

If you are interesting in making chalk boards for your wedding, then you can get a case of six (6) online here at The Home Depot but if you are sticking to smaller projects then buy a can of it at your local paint supply store. You can also find it online quite easily by doing a Google Search and hitting the Shopping tab. There you will see that it's also available at K-mart, Amazon.com, Buy.com and many more.

Before you begin there is a great tutorial here on creating a Chalkboard using the chalkboard spray paint that I am encouraging you to see. It not only shows you how easy it is to use but there are some great tips in it as well!



You may be saying I love the idea of making my own chalkboards but how do I use it? Well, you can buy frames from local thrift shops , Goodwill is a agreat place to start. Once you have a few then it's just a matter of removing the paper it comes with, spray the chalkboard paint on it as seen in the video and you've got yourself a framed, chalkboard sign!


You can use it to write your menu and have it displayed at your buffet table for guest to see all that's available!



How about spray painting some pots or even cups and plant some herbs to give to your wedding guests. You can write the name of the plant on each of them or even simply "Thank you" and I am sure your guests will love this unique gift!



The possibilities are only limited by your imagination! Just look at this amazing globe that someone made using the green and black chalkboard paint.



Look you can even turn plastic into a chalkboard surface...



...and you can use the paint to help you label buffets jars that you can find here at Save On Crafts for $12 for a set of three (3)!

For this project you may want to use the FolkArt Chalkboard Paint with a small, sponge, paint brush so your chalkboard surface is small and neat.



For your Fall Wedding next year, how about using this Chalkboard Pumpkins Tutorial to create mini chalkboard pumpkins to display your Table Numbers.

There is so much you can do with this paint and of course my favorite thing about it is that it can help you save money if used just right!