Vinyl Guest Book

So, I love the idea that people sign a picture at the wedding leaving warm wishes. I think its a great way to help remember the occasion. But this is the coolest twist I've ever seen. Terry is a huge Elvis fan, so this seems so appropriate!


Believe it or not, this was from the Editors at The Knot.

His and Her Banking??

So, I always assumed that when I got married, we would join our bank accounts together and share everything. However, I ran across this article today on MSN that had differing opinions. So, here's the article below. Let me know what you think. I love advice!

By U.S. News & World Report

When Sharon Cotter married her first husband 35 years ago, she didn't think twice about combining all of their bank accounts and letting her husband manage their investments. Then, when they divorced after 25 years of marriage, she had no idea how much money they had or where it was.

"I will never let that happen again," says Cotter, now in her late 50s and about to remarry. She has two children and wants to protect their inheritances, as well as ensure she still has her own money in case something goes wrong in the new marriage.

"You have to protect yourself, no matter how much you love someone," says Cotter, a career-management consultant in St. Louis.

Like Cotter and her fiancé, more and more couples are dropping the traditional share-everything approach and keeping their accounts separate. Nearly half of married households have two or more checking accounts, up from 39% in 2001, according to the Raddon Financial Group. That suggests a rise in his-and-her bank accounts. Financial advisers point to later marriages, higher-earning wives and the prevalence of divorce as factors contributing to the use of separate accounts, while marriage counselors warn that split funds can lead to secrecy and distrust.

The trend toward separate accounts appears strongest among remarrying baby boomers bringing substantial assets and financial commitments into their new marriages.

"Typically, they will have 'ours,' 'mine' and 'yours,'" says Kathleen Miller, the author of "Fair Share Divorce for Women" and president of Miller Advisors, an investment firm in Kirkland, Wash. She adds that separate accounts are useful for paying the expenses of children from previous marriages, for example. Many second marriages fail because of money issues, Miller says. That's why she recommends that remarrying clients have an open discussion about finances and sign a prenuptial agreement.

Protecting yourself

In the case of divorce, separate accounts also serve to protect women (or men) who earn less money than their spouses, Miller adds. She recommends that a stay-at-home wife, for example, establish her own retirement account using a spousal IRA, which allows her to save money in own name, using her husband's income. Though retirement savings would probably be considered jointly owned in the case of divorce, Miller says it's still important for both partners to have some savings in their own names.

Candace Bahr, a co-founder of the nonprofit Women's Institute for Financial Education and the owner of an investment firm whose clients are predominantly divorced women, points out that marriages don't last forever.

"Even in the best marriages, one spouse is going to die. So it's still important to maintain your own identity," Bahr says. She recommends keeping assets, retirement accounts and credit in one's own name. If one spouse is completely responsible for the finances, the other is vulnerable in the case of death or divorce, she says.

Combining accounts slowly

Patty Sullivan, the owner of a gift boutique in Kansas City, Mo., decided to maintain her own account when she married her second husband eight years ago. Throughout her first marriage, which ended in divorce, she and her husband shared all of their money.

This time around, Sullivan and her husband, Bob, each came into the marriage with children and significant assets. To protect their children, they kept the money they brought into the marriage in separate accounts, with their respective children as beneficiaries, and created a shared account for money they earned after their marriage.

Eight years later, they use their shared money to pay for their children's weddings and other family expenses. "We don't want to draw lines," Patty says. But they still maintain the separate accounts, which come in handy when they buy each other birthday presents. The Sullivans also plan to draw from the individual accounts to fund their retirements.

Keeping some 'fun money' separate

Many advisers recommend separate bank accounts for all couples, not just those who are remarrying. "It's always best to have some separate accounts," says Sharon Epperson, the author of "The Big Payoff: 8 Steps Couples Can Take to Make the Most of Their Money -- and Live Richly Ever After." "It just makes it a lot easier if (couples) can have an account that they go to for their own purchases where they don't have to tell somebody every time they're making a purchase."

She practices that approach in her own marriage. Epperson's husband likes to make almost daily purchases from Amazon.com, for example. "I don't bother my husband about it. I know it's on his credit card," she says. On the same note, her husband doesn't ask her about the makeup and clothes she buys with her own money.

Epperson's advice does not change for couples in which only one spouse works; she says a stay-at-home mom, for example, should also maintain her own bank account, with a percentage of her husband's income funneled into it.

Says Epperson: "A stay-at-home mom who is not making any income should still have fun money," her term for individual accounts that go toward personal expenses. Similarly, if one spouse earns more than the other, equal sums should go into the individual accounts because they are based on household income, not each spouse's income, Epperson explains.

Blending different spending styles

When Kellie and Dan Mercurio, in their 20s, married in 2006, they knew they wanted to have at least one joint account so as not to deal with the question of who pays for dinner. But the Charlotte, N.C., couple also decided to keep separate accounts for personal expenses, such as a new jacket for him or manicures and haircuts for her.

"Having multiple accounts that serve different purposes is a good way to segment out record-keeping," Dan says.

It also prevents disagreements over how to track spending, the couple says. Kellie, a manager at Wachovia, likes to keep a record of each purchase by saving receipts, while Dan, a financial sales manager at the bank, prefers to keep just a general sense of how much money is in his account.

Despite their separate accounting, the couple say they do not keep secrets from each other and generally talk about all of their purchases. "(Having individual accounts) just provides a little bit more freedom. If she wants to splurge on something, she can do it without asking me," Dan says.

Preserving financial independence

"Today people are mating and re-mating much further down the path," says Manisha Thakor, a co-author of "On My Own Two Feet: A Modern Girl's Guide to Personal Finance." "That's why the financial three-way is gaining more traction." The financial three-way is Thakor's term for having a shared account as well as individual accounts for each spouse.

A survey by TheNest.com, a Web site for newlyweds, found that 60% of respondents, mostly young married couples, planned to keep at least some personal spending accounts separate.

"Part of that partnership is recognizing each other's independence. It's a smarter way than throwing all of (your money) in one pot," says Riann Smith, the deputy editor of TheNest.com. "You aren't looking over each other's shoulder and saying, 'Why did you spend so much on those shoes or that golf weekend?'"

"Women find (having their own account) empowering," says Jean Chatzky, the author of "Make Money, Not Excuses," a personal-finance guide for women that advocates separate accounts. Since more women than ever earn their own money, she says, they want more control over how they spend it.

"You need to be able to get coffee without checking with your spouse," says Chatzky, which she says is easier to do when one has her own bank account.

Avoiding money secrets

Despite the enthusiasm among personal-finance advisers for such a system, marriage counselors often see separate funds as a harbinger of marital problems. "When people insist on keeping their own account, that speaks volumes about their feelings," says Jack Singer, a clinical psychologist in Laguna Hills, Calif. It often suggests a lack of trust about another aspect of the relationship, he adds.

Singer does, however, suggest setting aside money for certain costs, such as those related to children from previous marriages, in a separate fund. It might be easier, both logistically and psychologically, to pay those costs out of a separate account that's funded once a year instead of doling them out from joint accounts each month, he says.

Cotter worked with a lawyer on a prenuptial agreement, to lay out how her and her new husband's separate accounts will work. Says Cotter, "The lesson I've learned is whether I am single or whether I am married, I still need to take care of me and not expect anyone else to take care of me."

It's that time of year!

Its the time when I get to take an additional 30% off all permanently reduced merchandise at Dillards!! I'm so excited! I think I'll be shopping this weekend, so I can buy fabulous things like this:

Save the date

So, I found this amazing save the date today that made me really want to steal the idea and use it as my own. But I'm pretty sure mine would not be as clever.

Here is the link for what they did. From the link there is a PDF picture that shows you what it is.

I can't tell you anyore

The Veil...

Now, I like to think of myself as a very traditional bride. I am afraid of going to 'modern' for the wedding in fear that 10 years from now, I will look at myself and laugh. hard.

But, I do have a major crush on the birdcage veil. I feel it has a very vintage feel that is waay classy.

Here are a few pictures...Do you think I can pull it off?

Engagement Pictures

So, my fabulous friend Julie just had her engagement pictures taken by this wonderful photographer, and I wanted to share!!

They took pictures in some really odd/amazing places, like an old ghetto hotel off division street, a tire shop, and oh, the Rangers ballpark.

The company is called Phose Photography, and here's the link!

You Jump, I Jump Jack

Well, it's no secret that one of my favorite tv shows of all time is Gilmore Girls. However, what you may or may not know is my favorite episode. (silly, I know.) This episode has the coolest event I've ever seen. Its all these rich kids take a weekend away to the woods, where its been decorated to an 'out of Africa' theme. Everyone is dressed in a white/cream color scheme, with old style tents and lanterns and wooden tables with simple cotton cloths and white long candles with silver candleabras. Simply wonderful.

On the second day of this adventure, everyone dresses is formal wear, and there is a full day of events, which end with jumping off 7-stories of scafolding with nothing but cords and an umbrella.

The food for the event would include lots of fruits and cheese, wine/champagne, and other, wonderfully made warm dishes, that you would find in the 1940's. (quiche??)

Either way, I have always loved this and wanted to create an event where everyone can experience this. Now I understand money is an object in this circumstance. But if the friend I love (which shall remain nameless) will allow me to pull off this event for her Graduation party...it would be the coolest party of the century, especially since she's wanting to have a classy, outdoor affair. The only catch, make everyone wear white/khaki cotton....

So, look at the picture and tell me, do you love it??


Also, there is a really great picture that I could not import here. Click HERE to see it.

I Love....

Green Bouquets....

From the Fabulous Martha Stewart Weddings...

Cake Freak

So, today I discovered a cake decorator in Arlington that could possibly pull off 'the' most fabulous gun cake of the year!! (I'm trying to convince myself...) Either way, If there is a way to pull of an 'ace of cakes' cake, then I would be on cloud nine.

This company is called Cake Freak and here are some of my faves from their website!

Flower Arrangements

So now that I've officially changed my colors to Black, White, Charcoal Gray, and Pale Pink, I feel that I should take extensive effort to make sure that I find the coolest flowers anywhere (as well as everything else that pertains to a wedding). So, here are a handful (or two) of pictures that I found for your daily eye candy. All the pictures were from theweddingchannel.com

My First Etsy Find

So, today I learned of a new website that has everything homemade and vintage. There were lots of great finds on there, but I wanted to show off my favorite. These are prints of a wedding picture or even simply words to a song that you love, that were created as art and printed on canvas.

Now I dont know about you, but I think this would be the coolest thing to have a 16x20 canvas piece of custom art displayed in our new home. There were many prints from this website that I could show off, but this one is definitely my favorite. I hope that the photographer we get will be able to capture a great picture like this! (I have no doubts!)

Click the picture for the link!

Badgley Mischka Shoes

I think I've officially stumbled on the perfect pair of Wedding shoes I've ever seen in my life!! These beautiful shoes are from Badgley Mischka white Costa Shoes, for only $200 at piperlime.com.

I love them. I want them. The question is...how do I afford them??

A Gun Grooms Cake??

Well, there are many things pertaining to the wedding that my fiance must smile and agree with whatever I say. (I have been planning this wedding for 10 years...) However, a few weeks ago he came to me with what I could tell to him was a brilliant idea. A gun grooms cake. I was/am mortified. How the heck am I going to pull this off without it being tacky. So, along with my pink shoes and amazingly inexpensive gifts, I am now on the hunt for a non-tacky gun grooms cake.

Here are a few I found online. Opinions please!!




This officially makes Drew's Cowboy's Football Cake a 'piece of cake.'

Dancing with the stars

I love singing...especially from Rascal Flatts. And I love dancing...especially from my favorite DWTS pro, Julianne Hough. This clip is of her dancing to the new Rascal Flatts Song, Here Comes Goodbye. It really makes me want to dance well...and look as good as Julianne does...

Bridesmaid Dress Designer

These are some new favorite bridesmaid dresses, found by the one and only Julie. I think she is considering using them for her wedding in October. Either way, they are fabulous and I thought I would share them with you. The designer is Alvina Valenta. Are they worth the $300 price tag though??

Bridesmaid's Gifts

I have many, many ideas for gifts for my favorite girls. The only problem with that, is that I can't afford them all. Boooo for that. So, it's the thought that counts right?? Many of these would work for birthdays, Christmas, or any wonderful holiday in between. (I'm pretty fond of I Love Jordan day, which is any day!!)

I will be sharing these ideas with you periodically, so expect random gifts!

The first is one of my absolute favorite clean fragrances, Clinique Happy. They have a gift online where you can create your own bottle of Clinique Happy by uploading a picture. The price isn't too outrageous, considering its perfume. And I think it would be the perfect personal touch to a gift. The price tag for a bottle is $52.50 for a 3.4 ounce bottle.

Uppercase Living

After my monogrammed wall art post, I got an e-mail about another company that sells wall art. It's called uppercase living and it looks amazing. Plus, the products are much more reasonably priced. I looked through the online catalog and found many, many items that I thought would be amazing in my apartment! If you need to distract yourself, this would be a great website to do so with!!
So, whaddya think? Is it worth buying? Or having a party with them?

Feet Candy

I am always on the lookout for new, updated summer sandals. Now, to me, flip-flops are a must have. But other than that, I need something a little trendy. But I think I've found them! Steve Madden created these great sandals that are a little bohemian, yet colorful and fun. The style name is Sanfrann and there are multiple colors (including zebra print) and are reasonably priced at $49 at Dillards.

Invitations

I need help. There, I admit it. (probably for more reasons than one!) But this time, on invitations. I see many, many beautiful ones, but I can't seem to decide on just one that I love. There are so many themes and colors that I love. Through my love of blogs, I found myself looking at some of the most beautiful invitations I've ever seen! If only my tiny budget allowed....


Let me know what you think. What style should I go with? A modern approach, or a more classic, cursive one. I just don't know.... Opinions PLEEZE!!

Either way, these fabulous styles are found through float[PAPERIE].

WiiMotes

Well, one of my favorite things about my Wii is my Wii fit. I stumbled across this gadget across one of my favorite blogs, FitSugar. They are snap-on weights for your Wiimotes that can make any game a little bit harder. The weights come in a 2-pound and 4-pound size.


They are on pre-order right now, and 30% off their price tag, which would make it a great gift for anyone, or potentially a great wedding gift!

Monogrammed Wall Art

I love monograms. In all honesty, probably a little too much. I would love for the theme of my wedding to revolve around monograms. With that being said, I just discovered Monogrammed Wall Art. I think it would be Perfect to put up in the bedroom or living room of our new 'married' place.

The only problem with this fabulous art is the price tag, which is about $120. So now I'm officially on the lookout for a more reasonably priced version. If anyone has ideas, please share!!


This particular art is from Dabney Lee At Home Collection. You can check our her website HERE and the link for the wall art HERE.

Bridal Survival Kits

I L-O-V-E DIY projects. I feel like they are a great way to infuse personality into a commercialized project. Plus, I think people enjoy a gift more when its hand made. In any note, I will probably have many fab DIY projects on my blog. So this is the first.

It's a Bridal Survival Kit. These are perfect for bridesmaids. Any and every bridesmaid who sees a cute groomsman will need a breath mint, or a napkin just in case barbecue sauce gets spilled on a dress, or band-aids for blisters in the beautiful, yet painful heels. Either way, fabulous.

The kits are from one of my favorite wedding blogs -- 100 Layer Cake.

And for the template to design your own: Click Here.

Glamour Shoot

So, I'm thinking that the coolest wedding present ever to my new husband (only 295 days from now) would be a 'glamour shoot.' The photographer is Jessica Hicks -- which might be one of the photographers shooting my wedding. And these are her words of describing the pictures...

"The Glamour Package is an intimate shoot for his eyes only. This is an opportunity for us to showcase your beauty in a sophisticated, yet sexy, way. This session will take place in a private location of your choice. After your session we will work closely together to create a one of a kind couture album."

I'm in love....

Her website is: http://www.jhicks-photography.com/#

Bridesmaids Color Palette?

Martha Stewart sends me e-mails daily. Probably because she thinks I'm fabulous. Or because I signed up for her mailing list. Either way, I feel blessed to get these e-mails. Well, the one for today included a color palette instead of a single color for the bridesmaids. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Please share your opinions.



On another note...my quest for pink shoes continues with another fabulous pair of Valentino pumps. This link takes you to the aqua equivalent at Saks Fifth Avenue. However, I don't even want to know how much they cost! ($695) And for those interested, the bag is from La Regale.

The New Piggy Bank

Well, this morning I stumbled onto the coolest idea for a piggy bank in the history of the world. Its a piggy bank that looks like an electrical outlet. Here's how the website describes it:

"A very simple modification to a standard electrical coverplate changes its function from one of consumption into conservation. A standard junction box behind the face plate catches your coins and saves them."

http://www.oboiler.com/plugs/plug.html

Black, White, and Camel Palette

Well, If my wedding wasn't going to be in the winter, I would l-o-v-e this color scheme. I wish I could have lots of weddings so then I could use this. Either way, its so fab.


This is from one of my favorite wedding blogs ever!! I get waaaaay too distracted on it.

http://www.swsmag.net/

Bridesmaid/Flower Girl Dresses

So, I am officially in search for the most fabulous bridesmaid dresses / flowergirl dresses on the planet, and I think I've come close to finding them. However, with the title of 'most fabulous' also comes the outrageous price tag. These dresses retail online for about $270. And while my girls love me dearly, I'm not sure if that's in their budget. (If I were in their shoes, I would probably not be willing to pay that much.) But if you are imagining the dresses in a charcoal gray or plum color, maybe these could be worn again... :)




I also found some of the most adorable flower girl and junior bridesmaid dresses from the same website.



The website also has the most UH-mazing bridal gowns as well. Pretty much, I'm in love. Almost as much as my fiance, okay maybe not. Anyways, I love your opinions. Please tell me which is your favorite!

Their website is www.watters.com