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Monday, April 26, 2010

Getting Fit for Your Wedding

This week's Guest Blogger is Tamara from Tamara's Personal Training in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
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Every bride wants to look perfect on her wedding day. Selecting a dress that will make you look and feel great is an important first step. But what happens when you look in the mirror and notice trouble spots like saggy arms or unsightly folds in your back? What about the honeymoon? No doubt your bachelorette party has left you showered with gifts of barely-there undergarments and a skimpy little bikini to sport on the beach. But what if you’re butt doesn’t quite fit into that bikini, and you don’t feel confident enough to pull off that racy lingerie? When this happens it’s not uncommon for brides to try quick-fix diets to help them get in shape. Unfortunately, many dieting brides make fitness mistakes that not only prevent them from reaching their goals but also cause unnecessary stress and sometimes even illness. Those are two things no bride needs! Personal Training is a great way to get in shape just in time for that special day, that day when all eyes are on you.
Everyone who has tried knows that losing weight is no easy feat. It’s hard to get to the gym when you’re just not motivated, or maybe you have no clue where to begin. Not to mention, that huge sweaty guy checking you out while you try to find your way around the dumbbells. Talk about feeling uncomfortable! But is personal training for you? If you’ve tried to stick to a fitness plan more than once and have failed to succeed, chances are a trainer is just the person you need to talk to. A lot of people shy away from hiring a trainer because of financial reasons but they are well worth the investment. Think about the things you spend your money on now; clothes, hair, nails, tanning? Wouldn’t all that money be better spent to pamper a fit body that you are proud of? Personal training fees vary, so just like anything else, do some bargain shopping and look around. Outside of the cost though, it’s important to find a trainer you feel comfortable with, one you can connect with, and most importantly, one you trust to push you and hold you accountable to your goals. Taking that into account, paying a little extra for a trainer you trust is probably a smart move.
Hiring a personal trainer is a great idea for any bride trying to feel and look her very best on her special day. Furthermore, the changes it will make on your body will leave that bride healthier and more fit even after her special day has come and gone. Healthy and fit to raise a family, healthy and fit to start a new life with your spouse. Talk to a trainer near you today and see what they have to offer! It’s not a decision that you’ll regret.

Monday, April 19, 2010

What do our wedding traditions mean? http://ping.fm/lGU4X

Bucking Tradition

So much of a wedding is based on tradition and while so many brides say they want a non-traditional ceremony, when it comes right down to it they're still incorporating many of those time-tested elements.  Which will you incorporate and why?  Are there any listed below that you are determined not to include simply because of the traditional meaning?  Will you use them and create new meaning?  We'd like to know your thoughts!

Something Old – represents the bond to the bride’s family and her old life

Something New – represents the couple’s new life together

Something Borrowed – should be from a happily married woman so as to pass along that happiness

White Wedding Dress – symbolizes purity

Throwing Rice – believed to bestow fertility on the couple

Sharing the First Piece of Wedding Cake – creates a special bond of sweetness between the couple (Unless, of course, he smashes it in her face at which point the sweetness ends!)

First Kiss – represents the joining of their souls and the agreement to a lifelong commitment

Groom’s Boutonniere – A statement of love for his bride

Bride’s Flowers – promote good luck

Wedding Ring on the Third Finger of the Left Hand – denotes eternal love as the “vein of love” runs directly from the ring finger to the heart

Diamond Ring – symbolizes purity and strength

Veil – symbolizes a wife’s purity and modesty as well as submission to her husband

Lifting of the Veil – if the groom lifts it, it symbolizes his dominance. if the bride lifts it, she is presenting herself to him and showing independence

Child Attendants – signify innocence

White Aisle Runner – symbolizes God’s holiness and walking on holy ground

Unity Candle – signifies two families coming together

Arc of Swords – ensures the couple’s safe entry into a new life together



Last, but not least, if you get hit by a shoe, it’s good luck.  Who decided this?!

~ Jami

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Radiant skin for your special day! http://ping.fm/KmTEz

It’s your wedding day…put your best face forward!

It must be every bride’s nightmare that on her wedding day she will wake up with an enormous blemish on her face. The scrambling to camouflage that embarrassing third eye or begging the photographer to Photoshop your face is something that can be prevented so that you can be the radiant and glowing bride you have dreamt of! As an esthetician, brides come to me in a panic that their skin is dull, lagging, and scaly and they need help fixing it…but sadly by the time they come to see me (usually a week before the wedding for the makeup trial application) it is just not enough time for a quick fix. Here are some helpful tips on how to achieve the healthiest skin for a result you can be rest assured will help you sleep at night!
Cleanse twice a day with a non-soap based cleanser fit for your skin type (gel works great for oily skin, cream is better for dry skin). If you can only cleanse once a day make sure it is before you go to bed. While we sleep the magic skin fairy comes and helps repair the daily damage so it’s easier if she’s working on a clean palate.

Tone your skin after cleansing! On the technical side of things, your skin has a natural pH balance around 5 on the pH scale…product, environment, and temperature all do things to throw the pH balance off. Keep bringing your skin back to home base in order to maintain proper function and product efficiency.

Exfoliate! This is my passion and I firmly believe so many skin issues can be cleared up with exfoliation. Exfoliating removes the dead cells that just sort of hang out and cause issues. Imagine the crust at the top of a volcano…once the magma (bacteria) heats up and wants to get out you’re going to have quite the show on your face.  If you exfoliate you are removing the dead cells so that you will have less blemishes, and acne. Your cleanser will be able to penetrate into the pores better and the underlying cells will have a chance to live and breathe! You are giving life to something hidden under the surface essentially. You will want to exfoliate twice a week – be sure not to over-do it though as over-exfoliating (daily) can cause small tears in the skin. Also, be careful when winning packages from medical-esthetics offices that offer microderm abrasion kits etc. Do your research on the effects and keep in mind the side effects before agreeing to the procedures.

Moisturize – even if you have an oily complexion. If you deny the skin moisture it will essentially freak out and try to overcompensate for what you are not giving it – hence the oil slick! If you have an oily complexion just pick out a moisturizer that is oil-free so that it is lighter. Be sure to apply moisturizer before your skin gets that dry and crackly feeling so that it can penetrate and get to work faster!

Those tips are just the ‘outside-in’ guides, so keep in mind all lifestyle factors (inside-out) as well and incorporate healthy habits because after all you really are what you eat! Drink plenty of water, eat foods rich in healthy fats (avocado, fish, nuts, dark leaf veggies and bright colored fruits), and get moderate exercise to purge toxins out!

Don’t be afraid to ask your esthetician questions about your skin – it is the most important day of your life and we want to help you look phenomenal!

~ Brooke (licensed esthetician & owner of b.scrubbed natural face and body exfoliants)

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Think Outside the Shoebox

Cinderella wore a glass slipper.  Custom slippers of silk and pearls were created for Princess Diana and Queen Victoria wore a pair of white satin ballet-style slippers for her wedding in 1840 to her cousin Prince Albert.  I give Cinderella and Queen Victoria both a thumbs up on their stylish, even if impractical, selections.  In my opinion, this was one occassion when Princess Diana missed the style boat.
...Purchase your own Cinderella Slipper

Many brides today are still following tradition with a white or ivory gown for the walk down an aisle, but wish to interject a bit of personality into their otherwise restrained ceremony.  Wanting more than the dyed-to-match-the-gown shoe, stylish ladies opt to express themselves with their shoes.  What a great excuss to shop for endless hours for that perfect accessory!


Thinking outside the wedding shoe box opens up a world (think Internet!) of resources.  The first thing you might want to ask yourself before embarking on this ultimate shoe shopping excursion is whether comfort is important to you.  Remember, you always have the option to change shoes between the ceremony and reception (Yeah! Two new pairs of shoes!).  Kiwi makes a special cushion that can be inserted into the shoe under the ball of your foot which eases the pain often associated as your foot slides to the front of the shoe, but there are many options for ensuring you're able to make it through and enjoy your last dance.  Consider ballet flats (With a bit of support or your feet will still fatigue), shoes from comfort brands such as Aerosoles, and even wedges, which are not only popular at the moment, but also are easier on the footsies.  Flipflops and sandals are options for beach weddings as well as this lovely beaded band, similar to one a previous client of ours wore for her Mexican beach wedding.

Wedding Shoe Tips:
~ Think comfort first (Don't roll your eyes at me!  You'll be in these shoes for several hours.)
~ Shoe shop late in the day, when your feet are swollen a bit.
~ Consider vintage or resale.  If you're hoping to wear your shoes again, think about a design that has a less traditional wedding look.
~ Wear them around the house to break them in and to get used to the shoe.
~ Using concrete or sandpaper, scuff the sole so that you have better traction.  You can also purchase and adhere a slipguard.



Random information about the history of wedding shoes:
~ Catherine de Medici was one of the first brides in history to wear high heels down the aisle.
~ Queen Victoria was the first to wear a white gown and shoes.  Until then, blue was the color of choice.
~ In England, a sixpence was tucked inside the shoe for good luck.

... Select a lovely vintage shoe

Match your theme...
Fun Sneakers for comfort...
Queen Victoria's lovely slippers