What if...

What if Judge Napolitano’s speech, the one many say is the reason Fox News cancelled his show, wasn’t in question form?  This is what it would look like.

My Wedding Palette

I'm hot and heavy into wedding planning right now and the wheels have been set in motion.  The venue is secured, the date has been set, the dress is being made and the invitations have been sent.  These pictures are the basic palette for the wedding.  We are going to have the most amazing photographers, I am just thrilled about them!  David Burton's Italian wedding editorial has been inspirational in terms of the feeling we want our event to evoke, glamorous & romantic yet easy-feeling and a ton of fun! 

Although planning a wedding has never been something I looked forward to doing, wearing my wedding dress and marrying my true love has been.  In the midst of the stressful budgeting, (dis)agreeing upon dates and locations and divvying up bride/groom job assignments, it is far too easy to lose focus of the reason for this whole event.

Now that the dust has fallen (not quite settled, but at least not up in the air), I am starting to get really excited again and I'm realizing how amazing my wedding, and my husband, is going to be.  Wedding planning is hard on couples.  You learn so much about how the other deals with stress and how he/she deals with you in the midst of it.  Knowing that my fiancé is keyed in on the health of our relationship first and foremost is completely comforting.  His gung-hoeness (best term to describe him sometimes) & initiative in undergoing premarital counseling reminds me that I did a fantastic job choosing a husband.

top right image via Chrisman Studios

We decided on a Mexico wedding at a fantastical hacienda at dusk, in a courtyard lit only by candles.   We also decided to be more vigilant in showing our concern and support for one another in times of pressure and increased stress.  It's said so often but heard so infrequently, patience and communication are at the heart of a happy and secure relationship.

Images with appropriately sourced links can be found HERE

All done up for New Years - Inspiration

New Years Eve is all about glitz and glamour but I thought I'd offer some more subdued yet equally glam ideas to the usual face-glitter and sparkly sequin dresses.  I am really loving the idea of a relatively natural face, bold lips and fancy fur...  Faux fur makes you feel ultra glamorous and very grown up, the cold weather makes it appropriate and with bare shoulders or more pale colors, it's a super flirty look.  The bright pink or sultry deep lip with a neutral, dewy face is a fresh, sexy way to bring in the New Year!

I'm also really into these big braids & messy pull-back jobs that are so hott right now... I think I may do something similar to this on Saturday night... What are you guys going to do for your New Year's look?!

Images via Style.com, Vogue (twice), Art of Wore, Peace, Love, Lipstick & The Beauty Parler

Party Dresses

I just love the "anything goes" approach to holiday attire.  The brighter and more shiny, the better.  First and last dresses above are from ASOS.

I have been described as gaudy in the past (which I have  always taken as a compliment) and I truly appreciate the permissiveness of overembellishments:) Topshop dress and shoes, both low and high heels.

I'm loving this colorful Disc Bandeau Dress by Rare Opulence**

It's all about finding unique accents that are bit more demure than your typical prom dress. I love the cut-outs and sequin shoulder details of the above dresses.  The long one is from Topshop and the green and red ones are from ASOS.

Never be afraid to do something a little bit different, it is always appreciated and so refreshing! Balance and proportions are the most important things to keep in mind when dressing; you can pretty much do anything as long as you get those two things right.

Hello Thursday

Good morning everyone!  I have been a bit swamped this week with work and extracurriculars.  I'm sorry I haven't had much opportunity to say hi.  How are you all doing? Getting ready for holiday travels and the partying that is sure to take place this weekend?  I have a very busy weekend coming up but busy weekends are always more enjoyable than busy weeks.  The weather has been lovely and the holiday spirit is in the air...

I love my Pinterest feeds, they always make me happy... here are my favorite images today from my favorite Pinners...

images via the following Pinterest boards where appropriate links can be found: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Fact of the day:  The first 10 amendments to the Constitution – what we know as the Bill of Rights – were ratified 222 years ago today.

Irony of the day: Your toothpaste contains the WARNING:  “Do not swallow,” and “in case of accidental ingestion, contact the poison control center immediately.”  However, there is no warning on our water and each 8oz. glass contains a quarter of a milligram of industrial-grade fluoride, the same amount found in the serving of toothpaste that the FDA warns should not be swallowed by children. (more info here) In fact, we are told to drink eight 8oz. glasses of water a day, that is 8 times the amount that the toothpaste tube warns is poisonous if ingested.  Hmmm... Something doesn't make sense.

Every state in the US has fluoride in their water, most states have over 50% of the population consuming it. Here in DC, 100% of the population on public water supply systems receives fluoridated water.