Bath & Body Works Online

One of my favorite product lines is Bath & Body Works. I could literally spend thousands of dollars there in one trip…which is why I don’t go very often.

Once I step inside the store and pick up my little basket, I am like a kid in a candy store. Everything becomes a “must have.” I have a hard time deciding between Warm Vanilla Sugar, Green Tea and Cucumber, and the White Tea & Ginger lotions. Instead of deciding on one scrumptious scent, I compromise and get all of them. Naturally, I don’t stop there. I usually get the body gels and then before long, the body splash somehow finds its way into my basket. It’s usually at this point that I a beeline for the register hoping to escape before I purchase anything else.

While at the register, I always fall victim to the seemingly innocent sales pitch, “Did you know that if you buy one more x, you can get a free y?” “Hmm, really? Well I’m already here so, why not?” Ding! More goodies. Before I know it, I’m adding more things to my already overflowing basket.

As you can tell, Bath & Body Works is dangerous for someone like me, which is why I am absolutely thrilled to discover that they now offer online shopping! Yes! We can finally be free of the in-store alluring scents. We can purchase the items we want and resist the urge of falling prey to their special offers. Well…sort of.

I did happen to notice that when you purchase any Signature Collection Body Care product, you get 50% off another Signature Collection Body Care product. So, yeah, I got a couple….and I also decided to try their new fragrance Black Amethyst (and I also received a free Lip Lacquer!). I’ll let you know what I think of it.

Okay, so maybe I’m not completely out of the woods with Bath & Body Works online shop, but it does have one saving grace. Unlike the mall, the online shop isn’t next door to Godiva chocolate…at least I’m spared that temptation, for now...

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Beach wedding

I have been reading up about theme weddings lately and I keep seeing “Beach” wedding themes everywhere I look. Originally from California, this concept isn’t foreign to me; however, I didn’t realize how popular beach weddings are in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

You can create a beach wedding theme (even if you’re nowhere near water) with just a few well used props. To help create the look and feel of a beach wedding, I’ve put together the a few items that evoke the feeling.

This is my first stab at a “board” so go easy on me.



(I have a feeling I will spend many hours on these in the future…)

The Groom's Enterance

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I recall a wedding I went to a couple of years ago. The venue was a vineyard. Naturally, my date and I got lost on our way to the wedding ceremony. As we pulled up into the driveway, we saw the groom standing near the entrance of the courtyard.

I felt terrible; I couldn’t believe that we missed the ceremony! I had a knot in my stomach as I made my way toward him. Just as I started to explain why we were late, the groom approached us and told how nervous he was. My date and I exchanged confused looks so I asked Mike (the groom) why he was nervous. He said that Angela (the bride) was running late.

I stumbled on my words, “Ummm, I’m confused. What do you mean she’s late?”

“She started getting ready a few hours ago and she isn’t here yet. She’s on her way.” Mike said nervously.

“So, the ceremony hasn’t started yet?” I inquired.

“No, not yet.”

At this point I had to ask him, “Then what the hell are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be doing groom stuff?” Mike laughed and replied, “I am.”

As I looked around for an answer, I noticed that all of the groomsmen were mingling with the guests, cocktails in hand. At that moment, Mike’s father called him over to him and Mike excused himself. My date and I blankly stared at each other for a few minutes before I noticed the open bar. I decided a glass of wine was exactly what we needed as we tried to make sense of what was going on. As we walked toward the bar, I was handed a program. The program explained it all…Mike was mingling with guests before the ceremony.

Once I understood what was happening, I stood back and watched Mike interact with the guests. He was talking with everyone and sharing his excitement for the day. By being privy to something that normally happens “behind the scenes,” I felt like I was a part of the event. It made the ceremony even that much more endearing when he saw her for the first time because I had firsthand knowledge of how he felt right before they exchanged vows.

To this day, four years later, I absolutely love this idea. Seeing the groom before the ceremony made a huge impact on me; I still recall the details of the pre-wedding ceremony. I highly encourage couples to borrow this idea - it will really make your wedding day even more memorable for you and your guests.

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts…

Wedding Karaoke

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Earlier this week, I discussed the differences between a wedding reception and a party. It may seem like a semantics game, however, there is a difference between the two. Receptions are very traditional events, whereas wedding parties are a little freer. One thing that you would never see at a wedding reception but would see at a wedding party is karaoke.

I actually attended a wedding that had karaoke and it was a lot of fun! I think what made it fun was how the karaoke was incorporated into the day so it didn’t take over or disrupt the rest of the events.

The first person to sing was the Best Man. His use of karaoke was brilliant – his toast ended with the statement, “I hope that you two always…stay together.” As soon as he said that, the music began and he burst into song with Al Green’s “Let’s stay together.”

There were a few more speeches where no one sang and then the bride’s father sang Stevie Wonder’s “You are the sunshine of my life.” (There wasn't a dry eye in the house.) The “set” ended with the bride and groom singing “Summer Lovin’” by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. What made it fun was their inability to really sing well...they were just being goofy and having fun with it, which made everyone laugh. It set a great mood for the rest of the evening.

After the bride and groom sang, the DJ/MC announced that karaoke would be open to anyone who wanted to sing for the bride and groom at the end of dinner from 8:00pm to 8.30pm and after the cake cutting ceremony from 9:30pm to 10:00pm. I thought this was a great way to set the expectation for the karaoke - it was made very clear when people were invited to sing and it was scheduled during times when there’s typically a lull in the action.

So, what do you do if your Best Man doesn’t sing, you’re terrified of singing in public, and no one giving toasts is too in to it? You can stage the karaoke a bit by finding guests who do like to sing and asking them to perform during dinner...after that, you can follow as similar plan as mentioned above.

Wedding karaoke isn’t for everyone, but if think that you would would enjoy having this kind of entertainment at your wedding party, I encourage you to do it! It’s a lot of fun and it makes the wedding video all the more enjoyable to watch.

What do you think?

Wedding "After Party"

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Another recent trend in weddings is the “After Party.” Since most wedding receptions are only about four hours and are chock full of events (toasts, dances, cake cutting, etc.) most couples feel like they don’t have a lot of time to spend with their friends and family members. To address the “not enough time at the reception” issue, many couples are having “After Parties” as a way to extend the wedding celebration. I think this idea is a great way to have a more personal gathering while extending your wedding day. Plus, the exhibitionist in me loves the idea of brides being seen in their gowns outside the traditional “wedding day” events. Imagine being at a martini bar with your friends and seeing a bride and groom walk in with a few friends in tow…I would love it.

There are a few different kinds of After Parties:

1) Meeting at a bar where everyone pays his/her own bill
2) Meeting at a bar hosted by the bride and the groom
3) Private room at a bar, restaurant, or hotel with an open bar
4) Private room at a bar, restaurant, or hotel with a cash bar
5) Added events (band, DJ, dessert bar, martini bar, darts, pool tables, karaoke)
Obviously, the main differences between these options are cost and time spent planning. Once you determine your budget and you decide how much time you want to invest in planning, the rest of your decisions should be fairly easy.

Who to Invite
This is the easiest part - whoever is invited to the reception should be welcome to attend. I’m sure a lot of couples want this event to be more intimate, but unless you are only limiting the After Party to only the bridal party, you should not exclude anyone. Chances are those who you wouldn’t normally hang out with won’t show up for long, if at all. Being with only “your people” is not worth the risk hurting people’s feelings by not inviting them.

Communicate the Cost
Regardless of who’s paying, make sure it’s clearly communicated to all who are invited. It’s that simple!

Where to Go
Unless you’re feeling extremely adventurous, I would recommend going to a location that you have been to before so you know what to expect. Once you have an idea of where to go, make sure that it’s close to the reception location. You don’t want your guests traveling 20 miles to your favorite out of the way bar. Keep in mind that a few of your guests may have already had a few cocktails at the reception, so you may want to find a venue that is in walking distance or reasonably accessible by cabs.

Take Pictures
If you cannot afford to have your photographer or videographer document the After Party, be sure to purchase a few disposable cameras and pass them out. (Just make sure you place someone responsible in charge of collecting all of the cameras at the end of the night.)

I look forward to hearing about some future After Parties!

Mini Wedding Menu

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My friend, Keith, is getting married next year. He read yesterday’s blog and sent me an email challenge. He said that the wedding tasting menu that I came up with sounded great, but he would like to see something a little more “manly” on his wedding menu. Well, Keith, you’re in luck!

Another trend in wedding food is finger food. Actually, I’m noticing this trend everywhere lately. I can’t think of many restaurants that don’t have a “slider burger” or something similar on their menu. Whether it’s gourmet finger food or the “mini food rage,” I have some suggestions for a fun mini wedding menu:

· Brushetta
· Cheese cubes
· Chicken or steak kabobs (who doesn’t love meat on a stick?)
· Chicken strips
· Finger sandwiches
· Fresh Oysters
· Fried calamari
· Gourmet fish sticks
· Mini cheeseburgers (I know you saw that coming a mile away)
· Mini chili cheese dogs (in miniature version, they’re considered upscale, go figure!)
· Mini cocktail wieners
· Mini cold cucumber sandwiches
· Mini corn dogs
· Mini grilled cheese sandwiches
· Mini hot dogs
· Mini peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
· Mushroom tartlets
· One bite nachos
· Peapod with shrimp skewers
· Pork or chicken Asian dumplings
· Potato skins
· Single bite pepperoni and pineapple pizzas
· Sushi rolls
· Swedish meatballs
· Toasted ravioli
· Tortilla roll ups

As you can see, there’s no limit to your wedding menu! Be creative and make sure that you select things that you like and that reflect your personality. Keith, the mini chili cheese dog has your name written all over it!

What do you think?

Tasting Menus

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It takes me an eternity to order food in a restaurant. Very rarely am I able to make a snap decision about what to order. I’m not indecisive in other areas of my life, just when ordering food. I have too many choices on the menu or not enough; everything sounds great or nothing sounds appetizing; I’m unfamiliar with a particular type of cuisine and afraid to try something new because the last time I got sick for two days, etc. Often, I don’t want to commit to an entire plate of one flavor no matter how great the flavor may be. To compensate for my lack of ordering decisiveness, I usually try to get my friends to order appetizers for dinner so we can sample different things, go for tapas, or I’ll ask my boyfriend to split entrees. Naturally, I’m also a fan of testing menus.

A recent trend in weddings is to have a tasting menu as opposed to a traditional full course meal. Tasting menus offer smaller portions of several dishes as a single meal. Typically entrees are chosen thematically and highlight a type of cuisine or they take advantage of fresh seasonal ingredients.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Following is an example of a tasting menu taken from Michael’s Catering in Phoenix, Arizona.

First Course
Lobster Ravioli in Chardonnay-Tomato & Mussel Ragout
Chalone Estate, Chardonnay, 2000

Second Course
“French Onion” Braised Beef Short Rib Cannelloni with Taleggio Cheese
(Continue First Course Wine Selection)

Third Course
Cinnamon Roast Duck & Foie Gras on Sweet Potato & Apple Tarte Tatin Alehery Summit, Premier Cuvee Pinot Noir, 1999

Fourth Course
Aged Balsamic Roast Beef Tenderloin on “Potato-Mushroom Risotto” & Porcini Sauce
Arrowood Merlot, Sonoma, 1998

Fifth Course
Almond & Cranberry Brioche Bread Pudding & Amaretto Ice Cream
Enola Hills Late Harvest, Sauvignon Blanc N/V

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wow, I’m getting hungry just reading that! Keep in mind that your menu doesn’t have to be as sophistic as the one above. You can select a variety of options that appeal to you.

For example, off the top of my head, here’s a menu with some of my favorite dishes:

First Course
Butter leaf lettuce with walnuts, grilled chicken, and strawberries with a poppy seed dressing
Prosecco

Second Course
Steamed chicken Asian dumplings, served with peanut sauce
Rodney Strong, Chardonnay

Third Course
Rissotto with peas, prosciutto, and mushrooms
Kris, Pinot Gringo

Fourth Course
3 oz beef filet and sweet potato french fries
Orogeny, Pinot Noir

Fifth Course
Tiramisu
Cappuccino


See? It’s easy to put a tasting menu together – all you need is a little creativity and a flexible caterer.

So, what does your tasting menu look like?

Are you Planning a Wedding Reception or a Party?

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While wedding receptions and wedding parties both adhere to a schedule, wedding receptions are far more traditional. Wedding receptions follow a conventional schedule whereas parties are a little more fluid. Receptions focus on customary events that occur in a time-honored linear path succession whereas wedding parties are much more open.

After the wedding ceremony, most wedding receptions follow this traditional schedule:
1) Guests arrive at location
2) Cocktail hour while wedding party has photographs taken
3) Guests are seated
4) Bride and groom arrive and are announced
5) Champaign toasts
6) Meal
7) First dance
8) Dancing
9) Cake cutting
10) Dancing
11) Bridal Bouquet and garter toss
12) The couple leaves for their honeymoon destination

A wedding party would look more like this:
1) Bride and groom greet guests at location
(They saw each other before the ceremony and had their pictures taken so they are able to be there when guests arrive)
2) Cocktail hour
3) Champaign toasts
4) Tasting Menu
5) Cake cutting
6) Choreographed first dance
7) Bridal bouquet dance
8) Karaoke
9) The couple and a few invited guests go to an “After Party”

I’ve already discussed a few elements of the wedding party, including seeing each other before the ceremony, choreographed first dances, and the bridal bouquet giveaway.

Stay tuned this week to learn more about tasting menus, the after party and (yeah baby!) wedding karaoke…

Specialty Dance Songs

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A lot of people refuse to participate in “specialty” dance songs because they’re afraid to look foolish. The truth is we all look ridiculous when doing these dances. No one is immune from it - I don’t care how James Bond debonair a man looks in his tuxedo, it’s impossible to be suave when doing the Chicken Dance. And you know what? It's okay.

I have a confession. I love these songs! I think they’re great way for people to loosen up and have a little fun. Yeah yeah, you don’t want to look dumb. Get over it! Recapture some of the silly spontaneity of childhood. Think back to when you were a child… did you are care how you looked when you ran as fast as you could? Did you care about how you looked when you were playing tag? Did it even enter your mind that your hair was getting messed up when you rode your bike? How about jumping on a trampoline…I know I didn’t care about my form – I just wanted to see how high I could jump.

It seems that when we grow out of childhood, we lose that unabashed joy in being caught up in a moment. We become more concerned about our image and what other people will think of us than we do about simply having fun.

Whether you’re planning or attending a wedding, I cannot encourage you enough to seize the opportunity to get up and dance as if no one is looking when you hear these songs:

· Bunny Hop
· Can’t Touch This
· Conga
· Electric Slide
· Hand Jive
· Hokey Pokey
· I'm Too Sexy
· Locomotion
· Macarena
· Play That Funky Music
· Shout
· The Chicken Dance
· The Electric Slide
· The Hokey Pokey
· The Twist
· Thriller
· Walk Like an Egyptian
· YMCA

These songs give us permission to act silly, laugh at ourselves, and have some fun. Go ahead and shed your adult inhibitions and reclaim that joy of childhood! I double dog dare ya!

This is My Message to You-ou-ou

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If you’re truly clairvoyant (or have been reading my blogs this week), then you’ve probably already guessed that today’s topic has to do with wedding songs.

If I were going by a truly linear thought process, the next topic would be interlude music, however, I’m not covering interlude music. I am skipping ahead to the reception music.

Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of interlude music. I think this has to do with my juvenile tendencies. Every time there is a pause in a wedding ceremony for the interlude music, I get the giggles. I can’t help it (I have tried!). I can’t help but snicker when the “action” stops for a song. It seems so contrived…things are moving along and then suddenly, the wedding officiate steps aside, music begins to swell, and the bride and groom are left standing there staring awkwardly at each other. It’s just so unnatural. I mean, really, how often during your day do you stop what you’re doing to listen to a song? I can’t recall the last meeting I attended where everything halted so we could look at each other and ponder the words to “Wind Beneath My Wings.”

So, yeah, I’m skipping the interlude music and going straight to the music at the reception.

If you’re not tied to a certain genre already, I would highly recommend reggae. A DJ friend of mine mentioned this to me years ago as great “filler” music. The music lover in me considers reggae more than just filler.

In addition to its contagious musical attributes, Reggae is based in a strong spiritual foundation that carries a message of love, hope, tolerance and unity. It’s one of the few musical genres that appeals to audiences of all ages; it transcends age, race, and economic demographics – it simply speaks to our souls. Its 4/4 time rhythmic pattern has a calming and somewhat hypnotic effect…it’s almost impossible not to smile and tap your foot or move your body to the music.

“When music transcends the boundaries of art and becomes a lifestyle then to call it great would be an utter disrespect. The unapologetic ingenuity and absolute class of Reggae Music certainly makes it worthy of being termed Magical.” - Stanley Thompson

I can understand if some brides are hesitant to take my advice, but trust me on this one and don’t worry ‘bout a thing, ‘cause every little thing gonna be all right.