Monday, September 28, 2009

GIRLY MONDAYS by jasmine schoch


Hair Care Myths, Debunked

Yes, You Can…
Wash your hair less often. For those with extremely oily hair who shampoo twice a day, cut back to once; if you shampoo daily, try every other day. It takes two to three weeks for your scalp to adjust the amount of oil it produces. If your hair feels uncomfortably oily in the meantime, wear a ponytail or a thick headband―and think about what you’ll do with all that extra time in the morning.

Use just two shampoos. You might have heard that hair can become “bored” with a shampoo and conditioner if you’ve used them for too long. And it’s true that hair can seem lifeless after a month or more of the same routine. A buildup of conditioners may be the culprit, says salon owner Johnny Lavoy, but “the good news is that you don’t need to fill your bathroom with four bottles of shampoo to rotate every week. Using a clarifying shampoo twice a month or so should correct the problem.”

Eat your way to healthier hair. If your hair is looking more like a wire fox terrier’s than a champion golden retriever’s, you should consider your eating habits. Biotin, a B vitamin found in many whole grains, liver, rice, milk, and egg yolks, “is a key vitamin to make your hair stronger,” says dermatologist Marianne O’Donoghue. Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins E and A can also have an impact on the overall health of the scalp. They can be found in fish, vegetables―oh, and kibble.

Source:

http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/hair/hair-care/hair-care-myths-debunked-10000001587771/

Monday, September 21, 2009

GIRLY MONDAYS by jasmine schoch





Accessorize

1. A Wrap

Why choose it: You're looking for extra coverage for a strapless gown or you just want an insurance policy against a September chill.

What to consider: Options range from the simple (a white pashmina or cashmere cardigan) to the ornate (a beaded shrug). You may want to swathe a satin gown in a panel made from the same fabric. Ask your dressmaker to order extra material from the same dye lot as your dress, as colors can vary slightly. Standard silk, chiffon, and lace wraps are sure bets, too―and with any luck you'll have an accessory you'll actually wear again.

2. A Headpiece

Why choose it: Many women don't feel fully bridal without a veil, a tiara, or some other adornment.

What to consider: If you go the veil route, try on a variety of lengths and shapes with your gown to see what complements it best. (In general, longer veils are considered more formal and shorter ones have a slightly retro feel.) At veilshop.com, you can design your own veil in three clicks. Just choose your desired style, length, and trim. Tiaras, silk flowers, vintage combs, or pearl and crystal hairpins can also add a special touch. Find options at perfectdetails.com.

3. Jewelry

Why choose it: To complement your neckline or simply to add sparkle to your Big Day.

What to consider: You don't want jewelry that steals the show. The pieces you purchase (or, better yet, borrow) should enhance your gown, not compete with it. So if you're wearing a dress with an elaborately beaded neckline, a necklace of any kind could be distracting. Diamond studs, pearl earrings, or a delicate diamond bracelet would work well instead. On the other hand, a wide-set portrait neckline begs to be completed with a pendant or a pair of chandelier danglers.

4. Shoes

Why choose them: Unless your ceremony involves sand, you can't exactly go barefoot.

What to consider: Heel height. Ballet flats or kitten heels are the safest call, but higher heels can also be comfortable if you choose a stacked or platform heel. Browse styles of flats at frenchsole.com. And visit myglassslipper.com for heels. Dyeing shoes the same color as your gown is the easiest way to guarantee a match, but you can also try buying a metallic pair. Ivory dresses tend to go well with gold shades; truer whites work better with silver tones.

Source:

http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/weddings/dress-attire/wedding-dresses-upgrade-your-dress-with-accessories-10000001706240/page5.html

Friday, September 18, 2009

I'M IN LOVE by jasmine schoch

Love for the Guests!

What better way to express your love and gratitude to your wedding guests than through practical and unique wedding favors:







Source: http://www.beau-coup.com/personalized-lip-balm-wedding-favors.htm

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Funny save the date


I thought this was a very cute "save the date" from a couple who was planning to wed in Jersey. haha Im glad we live in SB. xo -N

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Tweet Tweet- Nico


Hello Love Birds !! Follow Nico on Twitter!!
NicoDesignsSB!!
Hugs and Loves to alllll!!xoxo

Monday, September 14, 2009

GIRLY MONDAYS by jasmine schoch









How to find the Perfect Dress for your Body Type

1.If You're Pear-Shaped

Look for: A skirt that gradually flares out in an A formation from the natural waist to the floor, highlighting the narrowness of the midsection and floating away from the hips and thighs. (Sturdier fabrics, such as duchesse satin and taffeta, are especially effective, since they won't cling.) A spaghetti-strap bodice or a V neckline will also showcase a more slender upper body.

Keep in mind: A classic A-line silhouette lends itself to formal weddings, but it can also be dressed down when made from a more casual fabric, like eyelet lace or raw-silk shantung.

2. If You're Busty

Look for: A dress with a scooped neckline. It will open up your face and display your décolletage without showing too much cleavage. If you love the look of strapless gowns, choose one that has a slight dip along the neckline, like a sweetheart, rather than a style that goes straight across (which will make your bust appear even larger and more shelflike).

Keep in mind: Fabric on the bodice that has a sheen to it (such as organza, satin, or silk) will add volume and call attention to your chest. Material that is ruched will have the same effect.

3. If You’re Plus-Sized

Look for: An Empire dress with a skirt that begins just under the bust and flows into a gradual floor-length A-line. Make sure the Empire seam does not start on the chest and that there is no pleating of the fabric, which is reminiscent of maternity wear. The dress should play up your shape; if it’s too loose, it will add pounds.

Keep in mind: Find fabrics like satin that provide structure, rather than anything too flowy. If you love the romantic look of airier fabrics, choose a gown with a stiffer base, then add an embroidered tulle overlay.

4. If You’re Apple-Shaped

Look for: A dress that cinches in at the smallest point on the waistline, then flares out into a gradual A shape. Opt for a bodice with a lot of texture to it―think ruche or lace detailing―that will camouflage and fit snugly, creating a corsetlike effect. The most slenderizing neckline for you is one with a deep V, which will draw eyes toward the vertical, not the horizontal.

Keep in mind: Avoid trumpet dress styles, which emphasize the area where your body is widest and flare out at the legs and the knees, where you are most slender.

5. If You're Tall

Look for: A simple silhouette. The strategy is to emphasize your natural shape, so every aspect of the dress―the lower waistline, a floor-sweeping hem―needs to reflect your longer proportions. If you're wearing long sleeves, they should go past the wrist. You don't want to look as if you've borrowed a gown from someone shorter than you.

Keep in mind: Because you are statuesque, you'll want to err on the side of simplicity when it comes to embellishments. Too many bells and whistles, like ruffles and rosettes, can come off as cutesy, particularly on a tall person.

6. If You’re Straight-Lined

Look for: A dress that will create curves where you don’t have them. Try a sheath dress in a wispy charmeuse that’s cut on the bias; the curving side seam will give you a va-va-va-voom silhouette. Or look for a ball gown that cinches in at your natural waist and descends into a full, flowing floor-length skirt: It will capitalize on your slenderness and camouflage a lack of hips.

Keep in mind: If you have a small bust, look for a bodice with some ruching to create volume.

7. If You're Petite

Look for: Trumpet, sheath, and modified A-line gowns. Find a style with a waistline above your natural waist, to make the lower half of the dress (and therefore you) appear longer. The fabric is up to you―you can pull off a high sheen. But the detailing should be small (no huge bows) and limited to the bodice, to draw the eye upward.

Keep in mind: Be wary of dresses with a dropped waist, which will make your legs seem nonexistent, and ball gowns―it's easy to get lost in that voluminous skirt. Also, avoid anything calf-length, which will make your legs look short.

8. If You're Small-Chested

Look for: A ruched bodice. Extra fabric up top will help fill out your upper body and create the illusion of curves. Lightly padded halter styles will also do the trick.

Keep in mind: The right bra will always provide a nice boost, but as many wedding dresses are strapless or backless, your undergarment options may be fairly limited. Instead, try self-adhesive silicone bra cups by NuBra (available at nubra.com).

Source:

http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/weddings/dress-attire/wedding-dresses-how-to-choose-perfect-dress-for-your-body-type-10000001706135/index.html

Friday, September 11, 2009

I LOVE Jenny Yoo-by Nico

"What is the collective vision of the bride and her bridesmaids? In a time where tradition is emphasized, weddings as a result, have become more intimate, holding a special meaning for both the couple and those who care for them. I have created a special line of bridesmaid and occasion dresses that evolve with the footsteps of today’s changing times." — JENNY YOO

I freaking Love Jenny Yoo, Here are just SOME of the frocks in her amazing new collection. SO Cute and Flirty! I Love you Jenny!!!


sooo hot!

Flirty Flirty!


Sexy Sexy


CA-ute!!

Why cant I be a bridesmaid?


"always a bridesmaid and never a bride" - Who the hell cares when you're wearing these cute dresses?????

Love this one!Its sooo Madonna's Material Girl Video.. The 80's are back ya'll!

I'M IN LOVE by jasmine schoch


An Extravagant Proposal

My girlfriend was expecting to go away for the weekend and she has been looking forward to this trip for about a month. That morning when she got up I told her that we were not going. I explained that we had been together for 2 years and that i had planned something much better. I handed her 2 envelopes and explained that she had appointments to have her nails done and than to have here hair done. When she got all that taken care of she was to return home. After she left I placed some more instructions and an evening gown and accessories that i had purchased earlier in the month on the bed. The instructions simply said I will pick you up at 5pm sharp. At 5pm I arrived at her place and picked her up dressed in a tux and riding in a limo. When she came down i gave her 2 white roses and placed a strand of pearls around her neck as a gift for our anniversary. The driver took us to a wonderful restaurant were ate and wonderful meal and toasted our time together. Afterward the driver took us to a park I had chosen way ahead of time. At the park I had a friend set up one of the benches close to water fountain among lots of flowers with a white table cloth, a pillow for her to sit on, 2 dozen red roses a bottle

of champagne and glasses and an assortment of flower arrangements and candles. I also had arranged for a photographer to be present who was pretending to shoot pictures of a friend on site. Upon our arrival we walked around the fountain and admired the beauty and as we approached the bench, I escorted her over and set her down and handed her the roses. As she was attempting to take it all in I got on one knee and presented the ring and before i could get the whole question out she was saying yes and shaking all over. We opened the champagne and enjoyed the moment. After a while i let her in on the fact that a photographer(she never even noticed them) was taking pictures of the whole thing as it unfolded. She was completely surprised by the whole thing and never even saw it coming..After all the pictures at the park, we went to our favorite hang out where i had all of our friends a coworkers show up to celebrate with us..As a side note i will also say that I asked her Father for his blessing, and as he did say yes but we set it up so that my girlfriend thought that he had to think about it and he wanted to talk to us both about it. She knew i would not ask her to marry without her family's blessing so the little act kept her from even suspecting it was coming..

Source:

http://www.best-marriage-proposals.com/Proposal.asp?proposal=329

Lanterns!! by Nico

I Love incorporating candlelight into my events. Love drippy, ambient candles. Lanterns are a great way to add height, and texture to your design. Candle Lanterns are also great for outdoor wedding, cause if the wind picks up, you wont have to continually bug your wedding coordinator or caterer to chase after them all night when they blow out!(They have their own jobs to do!) Here are some cool examples of some lanterns to add style and flair to your centerpiece or dancing area.

I LOVE LOVE this table with the abundance of paper lanterns over the long feasting table! HOT!


Elegant Hanging Silk Lanterns..


Lantern Centerpiece... On a budget?



White Moroccan lanterns.. Love the modern take on this ethnic touch



Lanterns to light a walkway. A great thing to do when people are drinking!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Label Whore: Something Blue ( for your feet)

Want to incorporate old school tradition of "something old, something new, something borrowed, something BLUE"? Without being Tacky. Here are some HOT blue pumps to make you feel like a Diva on your special day!



Check out these Hot Christian Louboutin Glitzy open toed pumps. I LOVE these!


Love These Manolos!!



John Galiano...



Loves the Prada..


More from Christian..


For more on these fun pumps please visit the following websites:
www.christianlouboutin.com
www.prada.com
www.manoloblahnik.com
www.johngalliano.com

Monday, September 7, 2009

GIRLY MONDAYS by jasmine schoch



10 Wedding Attire Questions:

1. How do I ensure that my dress will look its best on the Big Day?

Two words: Handle carefully.

Put off picking it up from the shop for as long as possible. (Forty-eight hours before showtime is ideal.) It should be given to you in a garment bag. At home, take it out immediately and hang it from the highest possible point, so the train and hemline don't touch the floor.
Traveling? Return the dress to the garment bag and repeat the process later. When flying, ask if you can carry it onboard―or you'll risk tying the knot in your tracksuit.
Should anything happen to stain or wrinkle the dress, don't take matters into your own hands. Trying to dab out even the lightest smudge can leave water marks, and ironing a fabric like tulle can transform it into a burnt, crispy mess. Call your bridal salon for help or, if you can't reach it, the nearest cleaner.

2. Which white will work for my skin tone?

With more than 200 shades of white to choose from, the only way to know which one looks best on you is trial and error. Contrary to popular belief, few wedding dresses come in pure white―which is a good thing, because pure white washes out all but the richest and deepest skin tones. Most women will end up with a gown in the ivory family that flatters their skin tone. Keep these suggestions in mind:

If you're fair-skinned, look for ivory shades containing yellow undertones.
If you have a pinker complexion, choose creamy undertones.
If you have olive, yellow-based, or dark skin, select champagne or off-white shades.

When you think you've found the right shade for you, confirm with the salesperson that the color of the sample gown you tried on hasn't been altered by wear and tear.
 
3. How do I make sense of all the different fabrics out there?

You can find descriptions of common fabrics at fabric.com, but your best bet is to get your hands on the real thing, either at a bridal salon or a fabric store. Fabrics have individual strengths and weaknesses, depending on your priorities.
Some materials, like silk duchesse satin, are best for providing support and structure, while gauzier, transparent fabrics, like organza and tulle, are better for achieving a romantic, ethereal effect. (It never hurts to ask if you can order your dream gown in a different fabric.)
Want to save some money? Check out rayon blends, which have the look of silk without the expense.
To get a sense of how a fabric will behave over the course of your wedding, bunch it up tightly in your hand. If it’s wrinkled after a minute or so, imagine what it will look like by midnight.  

4. Is it possible to get an inexpensive dress that doesn’t look cheap?

Nobody ever has to know that you got a great deal on your wedding dress. The single most important factor when it comes to clothing is the way it fits: If a gown is perfectly fitted to your body, it will look like it was made for you by a Parisian couturier, no matter what it cost. So if you’re on a tight dress budget, plan to put a significant portion of it―half, even―toward the services of an expert seamstress.

Other than that, keep an eye out for telltale low-quality work: Does the beading look flimsy? Are the seams shoddily finished? If you spot a flaw that can’t be corrected easily, move on to the next mannequin. 

5. Are there any pretty alternatives to traditional wedding dresses?

Yes, plenty. If you vastly prefer the clothing you see in regular stores to what’s in bridal salons, then that’s where you should shop for your wedding-day attire. Some popular options:

A skirt suit in a light color, which is a sophisticated look that flatters most body types. (Make sure that the cut is very feminine, so you look like a bride, not a CEO.)
A two-piece skirt-and-top combination, especially if it is made from a silky fabric or has beading.
Baby-doll and tube-style dresses in any color are cute and playful for more casual affairs.
When in doubt, a stunning black number never fails. 

6. How can I incorporate parts of a family gown into my dress?

Odds are, you probably don’t want to wear your great-grandmother’s dress down the aisle as is. But, luckily, there are other ways to bask in the sentimental value of an inherited gown. Try these tips:
If the basic structure appeals to you, have a seamstress shorten or lengthen the dress, removing or adding features as you see fit.
Harvest lace from an old gown to create your veil or an overlay, or have the lace made into a rosette on your dress. The material can also be turned into the base for your bouquet, used for a sash that you can wear around your waist, or appliquéd onto the bodice of your gown.
If the styles are too different to blend, you should consider taking both dresses to a quilt maker after the wedding and asking her to combine them into an heirloom that you can pass down.

7. What do I need to know about undergarments?

So much attention is paid to the outside of the dress, it’s easy to forget about the crucial infrastructure.
Ideally, look for a gown with a built-in corset, which makes for the best fit. (If yours doesn’t have one, ask the salesperson whether you should have a corset put in, or consider an alternative, like Spanx or some other type of controlling undergarment.)
Make sure underpinnings are as close to your skin tone as possible so they won’t suddenly become visible in certain lighting.
Try on undergarments with your gown and examine yourself in the mirror from every angle. Better yet, have a trusted helper take digital photos of you. While you may glance at your rear end for only a few moments, it’s what everyone will see during most of the ceremony. 

8. What’s the word on trains: How long is too long?

Almost anything goes―just remember that you’re the one who’s going to be wearing the thing. Your choices range from no train at all to a full-tilt royal train, which extends back for more than nine feet and is probably best suited to brides with an HRH before their names.

If you’re looking to make a dramatic entrance but would rather not require the assistance of a small army, opt for a four-foot chapel-length train. (Detailed illustrations of train lengths are available atweddingsolutions.com.)

Whatever train length you prefer, ask your dress retailer if it (a) is detachable, meaning you can ditch it after the ceremony, or (b) will need to be bustled at the base of the bodice. If it needs bustling, ask to see what that will look like, since that’s how you’ll be spending the majority of your time. 

9. Is it OK to wear white for a second marriage?

Absolutely. The notion that second-time-arounders should sheepishly tiptoe down the aisle in a color that advertises their lack of “purity” is hopelessly outdated. It’s your wedding day, and if you want to celebrate by wearing a white ball gown, by all means, go for it.

That said, many women do view a second wedding as a welcome opportunity to step outside the box. It’s like an automatic license to break the rules: You may be happier opting for a stunning ready-to-wear ensemble or may finally have the guts for a scarlet, backless evening gown. As long as it looks bridal (read: special enough to make you stand out from your guests), the sky is the limit. 

10. What attire should the groom wear?

Whatever his choice, all the groom needs is to distinguish himself from the groomsmen. These are three classics:
A tuxedo: A penguin suit is still the gold standard for formal late-afternoon and evening weddings. Tie options include the classic bow tie, the wider ascot, and a standard necktie, which feels the most modern.
A morning suit: With a cutaway jacket and matching striped trousers, this ensemble fits a formal daytime wedding.
Standard business suits in black, gray, brown, or taupe are appropriate for almost any semiformal affair.

Source:

http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/weddings/dress-attire/wedding-attire-questions-00000000009750/page3.html