Handcrafted: The Cure For The Common Wedding

Rainy Days

Since my site and I are having some metaphorical rainy days, I thought I'd find an umbrella to cheer me up a bit. Fox and Prince has custom painted parasols. They have monograms and thank you, and since it is custom, pretty much anything else you'd like a parasol to say. To the photographers out there, it would take very little time at all to use this as a prop while you are taking the other wedding day photographs. Then you could quickly turn them into "Thank You" cards for the happy couple. Send them off to the lab and they'd have them in hand by the time they are ready for their post wedding review.  It would be a nice inexpensive perk for your clients and would wet their appetite for more - win/win.

No Stinky Brides

As you may or may not know, my day job involves being a mom and running a household. With that I have recently turnedinto one of those crazy coupon ladies you hate getting stuck behind in a check out. Today my coupon world is bleeding over into my wedding world. Not too long ago Dove put the word out that they were launching a new deodorant and wanted bloggers to be their test market (very sly on their part). So I signed up, after all I have a blog and I already use Dove, so why not?

The trick to the new Dove is that it is suppose to decrease the amount of hair you see under your arm. I've sat on this for awhile because I wanted to make sure it worked. Well,this morningg I went to shave like normal and realized I didn't need to. That hasn't happened to me since I was 14.  I do want to mention that the smell was a little strong when I first got it, but after about a week I noticed that it wasn't nearly as strong. I am super sensitive to smell so it is not unusual for me to "air out" a product before I use it. So, that is a thumbs up from me. If you'd like a coupon you can visit their site for $2 off.

If you want to start being a crazy coupon lady too I recommend Coupon Mom, and big shout out to Thrifty Mama who helped me get a coupon for $75 off $100 at Old Navy last week. If you are in the south, you can't beatSouthern Savers. Anyone else have any great coupon sites they like to visit?

Almost, Nearly Perfect

Last week when I was talking about passports I mentioned that the idea came from a morning radio show that I often listen to. The show is called Rick and Bubba, and as you might can tell from the title, these guys don't shy away from stereotypes, especially when they are funny. They have written several books in the past, and today they have a new book out that I get to write about. It is Rick and Bubba's Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage.

This isn't really a book you turn to for wedding planning. It is however, a great gift for your groom. This is a very lighthearted approach to making a marriage work and some of the common problems couples run into. There are sections of great advise such as "The Ten Worst Ways to Say I'm Sorry" and my personal favorite, "I Thought You Paid the Gas Bill". For the ladies: this is a very quick read, sure to lift your mood, and behind the laughter, actually does give advice that will give you a new look on your relationship. For the guys out there: this is a great bathroom read - short chapters, funny, and light weight.
Oh, I should probably mention that these guys are very clean, but not even close to politically correct. In my opinion, it is all in good fun. For example, they list "likes red meat" as a good qualification for a wife. Yes, they know there are some great women out the that are vegitarians, the point is, if one of you adores a good steak and the other knows 1,001 ways to cook tofu, you might have a few conflicts coming your way.

Passport to Paradise

On a radio show I listen to in the mornings,  the topic of conversation turned to passports. One of the people involved with the show is about to take a cruise and has not yet received his passport and he was starting to worry. Since cruises are very popular for honeymoons I thought I better do a little research.

Effective June 1st you will need a passport to travel outside the U.S. no matter where you are going. This includes Mexico, Canada, and any of those little tropical islands. There is a stipulation that says if you get on a boat at a U.S. port and return to that same U.S. port then you will not need a passport. You can go with the old way of using a birth certificate etc. BUT WAIT! There is a catch. Many ports will not let you off the ship and back on without showing a passport. This means you could be docked in the Bahamas but not allowed to leave the ship because you don't have a passport. From what I understand, being able to get off the boat is key to cruise enjoyment. This also does not allow for emergency docking and ports other than where you started.

There is another less expensive option to a passport. Passports will run you $100 per person. However, there is also a passport card which is only $45. The card is more like a driver's license in size, but it is only good for "Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry." That means no airplanes and nothing outside North America.

Are the rule changes going to affect your honeymoon? For details about government travel requirements visit Travel.State.Gov 

p.s. check the name on the passport card pictured :)

And the Winner is...

Jenny! Congratulation Jenny. Check your inbox for an email from me.

As I was hoping, you all put together a great list to have in your emergency kits. Here is a rundown of the suggestions.
band aids - I suggest the clear type
tissues
safety pins
masking tape and/or white duct tape
lip balm
several mentioned Burt's Bees specifically, they have some nice travel sized packet that cover several needs
make-up including mascara and eyeliner for last minute touch ups
needle and thread kit, make sure you have white, black, and the color of your bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen suits
clear nail polish
oil blotting sheets
tide-to-go (: nice plug and good advice :)
mints
a snack with some protein to it
any prescription medications you or your groom need such as inhalers, epi-pens, and other emergency meds
a first aid kit is very important - someone is going to need headache medicine and stomach medicine- it is a given
I'd like to add in a few things.
Ponytail holders both large and small, hair pins, hair spray, a brush and comb, lotion (but something that soaks in quickly), DRESS TAPE - very important, a pair of comfy shoes such as flip flops, eye drops, nail file, a notepad and pen, bottled water and straws, a lighter, corsage pins, a hand mirror, tweezers, a swiss army knife, anything a girl might need in the bathroom ;) if you are having an outdoor wedding also pack sunblock
I know it is a lot, so get travel sized when available.

Emergency Giveaway!

I'm breaking a couple of my blog rules today, but it is for a giveaway, so I think it's okay. After I got done posting about emergency kits this week I saw an email from the people from Tide-to-go. They make little travel sized versions of the Tide-to-go and have put together this really cute survival kit for one of my readers.

The Tide to go mini is small enough to fit into a man's suit pocket or even our tiniest evening bag. Also included is a nail file block, brush/mirror combo, scope, Pantene hairspray, a lip shine from Victoria's Secret, and the pouch it is all packaged in. The pouch itself is pretty awesome. It is a roll bag that you can use as a makeup bag or to carry your jewelry when you pack for your honeymoon.

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment with one must have item for you wedding day emergency kit. I'll pick the winner with a random number selector. You have all weekend to enter. The winner will be posted Monday. Please only enter 1 time. Extras will be deleted.

As for the rules I am breaking, this is a big cooperate product, but really helpful and not something that you can find on the indie market. Plus, free is always fun and by the end we should have an awesome list to help build your own emergency kit. If you don't win then visit the Tide site for a $1 off coupon on Tide to go.

The Tools Make the (Wo)Man

I'm in the middle of a big DIY project and I want to share a couple of tips with you, but first I have a little update. My emergency kit got passed around like crazy this weekend. I felt like MacGyver when one ballerina broke a shoulder strap and I came to the rescue with a safety pin. I dug the top to an old karate gig out of my closet and it was perfect for covering dresses while snacking. It didn't mess up her hair or her dress and was think enough that a spill would not quickly soak through. The only thing I forgot...my first aid kit. Thankfully the only thing that was needed was some headache medicine for me.

This week I am taking on a fun paper project. There is cutting, printing, folding, and assembly invovled. If there is one thing I have learned with all my DIY projects it is that the better your tools are, the better your finished product will be. I finally broke down and bought a bone folder to make my folds neater, and I'm kicking myself for not getting one sooner. I once had an artist tell me that the only thing you can produce using amatuer tools is amatuer work. So, if you are having trouble with a DIY project, you might want to make sure you are using the proper tools before you give up.

EMERGENCY!

This week my daughter is having a ballet recital and that means it is time for me to put together one of my famous emergency kits.It has taken me years to perfect it, but I've got it down to a science now. There are a couple of things that no emergency kit should be without. My personal favorite is a small and simple Swiss army knife. Make sure it is one with the little scissors. It might not be very girlie to carry a knife, but I use mine all the time. I love the new ones that have a flash light and usb on it.

Masking tape comes in handy more often than you would think. During a rehearsal you can put a tiny piece of tape on the floor to help your bridesmaids hit their mark. I actually taped up the hem on an angel for a Christmas play once.

Make sure you cover all the bases with pins. There are safety pins, bobby pins, stick pins, and ink pens. Throw in a few paperclips for good measure (I fixed the falling table skirt of a buffet table with paper clips one time)

This last one is a little controversial. It involves the type of hairspray to bring. Usually, I use very light hairspray if any, however when it comes to a performance, or wedding, I gofor the hardcore, ozone killing Aqua net. I have tried various alternatives but nothing holds up to a whirlwind day like the stiff stuff that comes out of those cans.

That is by no mean the full list of what goes into my kit, but I think it covers the things I use the most.

Check and Double Check

Recently we had a friend find out that her marriage was not 100% legal. It was a bit of a shock to the couple, but being easy going people, they decided to find it funny and have since taken care of it. The problem stemmed from the wife not going through the process of getting a new social security card after the wedding. It was really more of a paper work issue, but legally the federal government did not recognize her marriage. This is an important lesson, especially for brides who are not changing their names. A marriage license is not issued by the federal government, and is not a federal document. If you want the feds to recognize your marital status, which is important for many reasons, you need to make sure you take a copy of your marriage certificate to the Social Security Administration after the wedding.

While I'm on the subject of documents I might as well remind you to check you state requirements before you stand in line to get your marriage license. Some states require a birth certificate along with your drivers license. There is always a fee, so take your check book. Also, if either of you have ever been married before you must take a copy of your divorce decree. If you have been widowed, then you will need a death certificate to prove it. Some states still want blood tests. Go to your state's website to research everything you will need. Also, if you have a wedding planner they should be well versed in the requirements and be able to help you through them.

Alive and Typing

I'm back. The surgery went well. Thank you for the well wishes and good thoughts while I was out. Laying in bed all week has given me a good tip to share. If you are going to have surgery, schedule yourself a pedicure a day or two before the procedure. It will serve two purposes. 1. It will help you relax and give you a time out from stressing, and 2. in the days ahead while you are lying in bed with nothing better to do than stare at your feet, you will have something pretty to look at to cheer you up. My surgery, as most are these days, was laproscopic, so it will be a few weeks before I am bending at the waist. People will tell you that you will be on pain medicine and not care what your toes look like, but it is just not true. Be sure to pick your favorite bright color. Everything goes well with hospital gown blue.

If you have a female friend or loved one heading for surgery and want to do something nice for them you can set a pedicure for them. Skip the manicure because you can't wear fingernail polish in the hospital, it messes with the heart monitor they put on your finger. Also, a small bag with lip balm and a great hand cream with little or no fragrance to take to the hospital. Even if they aren't staying more than a few hours, hospital air is very dry and these little luxuries and really perk you up.