Let’s be honest, ladies. Even though the bride is being pampered, the bridesmaids are primping and the Mother of the Bride is doting, us girls are still the ones who hold it together on the big day. “Leave it to us!” we say! Have we ever known one of the groomsmen to swoop in and say, “I have tissues over here!” to the MOB? Nah. If you are part of the wedding party, here are the items you shouldn’t leave without…

1. BAND-AIDS: Fix the ring bearer’s boo boo or a bridesmaid’s blister.
2. BREATH MINTS: Chewing gum doesn’t look good on anybody.
3. CLEAR NAIL POLISH: Stop that run in your stockings…or the MOB’s stockings, anyway.
4. BOBBY PINS: Dancing messes up your up-do.
5. TISSUES: Daddy’s little girl is getting married!
6. DEODORANT: Someone’s gonna need it.
7. WHITE NAIL POLISH: *If the bride has a french manicure. If not, pack their color.
8. LOTION: No ashy elbows or knees in those pictures, ladies!
9. ASPIRIN: It’s gonna be a looooong day.
10. COMPACT MIRROR: For quick touch-ups.
11. HAIR SPRAY: Can someone say, “Flyaways?”
12. ANTACID: See #9.
13. DRINKING STRAWS: Sip drinks without messing up your lipstick.
14. LINT ROLLER: The boys will probably need this…and not a single one of them will bring one.
15. SNACKS: For Heaven’s sake please don’t forget to eat!
16. EYE DROPS: See #12.
17. SAFETY PINS: Last-minute fix to any misbehaving outfits or boutonnieres!
18. STAIN REMOVER: If the worst should happen, BE READY.
19. WATER: Make sure everyone stays hydrated. It’s best for pics AND the next morning :)
20. STATIC GUARD: Especially with light fabrics like chiffon, this is a must!
21. SEWING KIT: Emergency button repair.

Now every bride & every wedding is different, so you might want to add or subtract items, but this should give you a good idea of what you need to manage the madness! Hope this helps!

OHMYBAJEEZUS THAT RING IS PERFECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW – amidst this blizzard, these two are smokin’ hot!






Photos by Studio This Is.

There’s still time to squeeze in some Holiday DIY! Who would’ve thought plastic pipes could look so festive!?


Head on over to Today’s Nest to get the step-by-step tutorial :)

Got your eye on a sapphire engagement ring a la William & Kate? Here are some tips to help you pick out the best quality stone…

First thing you should know is that sapphires aren’t graded like diamonds, with the 4 C’s. They are graded in the three categories of HUE, SATURATION and TONE. Below is a chart that helps you visualize the color variances in these categories.

SPEAKING ABOUT SAPPHIRES:

HUE: When referencing a sapphire’s hue, phrases like “greenish blue” and “very slighty greenish blue” can be used, similar to how you would describe the color of a diamond as being “very slighty yellow.”

SATURATION: Terms of grey are used to help describe the saturation of color in a sapphire, based on a scale from weak to vivid. Think of it as intensity. The more grey there is, the weaker it is. The more blue, the more vivid or intense it is.

TONE: My tip for analyzing tone, is to try imagine your gem as being black and white. Ignore the blue and just look at the light or darkness and imagine where it would fall on a grey scale.

Now that you know these helpful hints, you can go out and get that sapphire of your dreams! Well, you know, if it fits in your budget and all…details, details :) For more information about choosing your sapphire, click here.

Well there’s no stopping it now – the Holidays are right around the corner!