Wedding: Bridesmaid Shoes

I really wasn't too strict on how my bridesmaids should look. I don't have a preference for hair, jewelry, or shoes. As long as they have the dress on the day of, we're good. I gave my bridesmaids the option of wearing whatever shoes they liked in a color that complimented the green apple dresses. Just so they weren't left too much in the dark I did suggest unforgettablemoments.com. They are a dye-able sister shoe company with Payless Shoes. They have a range of colors to choose from. Being a sister company with Payless you know they will fit most budgets too. Only set back is there are not that many styles to choose from. The good thing though is Payless has some of the shoes in store, so if you did want to try on the fit and see what colors look like in person you can go to the store and see. Just go to the front and ask the sales lady for the book of colors for Unforgettable Moments. I think we're going with the Rich Mocha to compliment the apple green. Great for prom season coming up too!

Wedding: Bridal Shoes

I've been looking for green wedding shoes for quite some time. I wanted to have a pop of color under my dress with my shoes. But I haven't been able to find the perfect shade of green. I came across these Green Apple Electra Pumps by Nina on zappos.com and I got all excited, until I try to order and they are all sold out of size 7. Typical.

So I opted for white shoes. I wanted something with a little bling since I wasn't going to have that "color wow factor" anymore. I searched around zappos.com until I found these pretty pleated pumps by Coloriffics. I'm a frugal lady. I get it from my mom who wouldn't let me buy anything growing up unless it was on sale. So spending $80 on a pair of shoes I will probably wear once, (bc who really wears white shoes?) was a bit steep for me. So I googled the shoes to compare prices. And I'm glad I did. Of all places Sears.com had them. I was pleasantly suprised by their evening shoe selection at Sears. Who knew? They have brands like Coloriffics, Caparros, and Benjamin Walk. I perused the site until I found these. They are similar to the Coloriffics with the pleats and bling but at a cheaper price. So I was sold. Hooray for google searches!

PS. I also went to a Sears store to see if I could try some on. They don't carry half of what they do online, in stores. So needless to say we didn't see any Evening/Wedding shoes there.

Currently Obsessing Over: Olive Juice Mary Janes

jazmin mary jane via olivejuicekids.com

How cute are these! Ugh...can't stand it. Once again too rich for my blood, but soo cute for the little one.

Currently Obsessing Over: L of L Kiss Lock Wallet

The Liberty of London prints @ my favorite place Target def scream Spring. I really want this Lock Kiss Wallet. The pattern is coated cotton which means I can just wipe it clean. I lug a lot of stuff around in my wallet. Right now my current wallet is actually a clutch I bought from NY&Co. awhile back. So its sorta silly, I have a clutch within my huge 8lbs purse, a purse within a purse really. I like the added Kiss Lock section of the wallet...more for me to stuff up my wallet with ;) Sadly, most Libery of London stuff has gone quickly. I can only find the blue print in stores and not the poppy pink as pictured. I wanted a L of L teapot also, but those too were sold out within days both in stores and online. The search continues for poppy pink...

Wedding: Floral Shop Dress

Last summer I posted about how I wanted a happy, perfect, tea dress for my rehearsal or shower from Sohomode. She still has her shop open and her dresses are still lovely, but I ended up buying the Floral Shop Dress over at modcloth.com. I do feel bad for not helping out an independent shop, but hey we are in a recession and it was $30 cheaper and included free shipping. That and I was a bit worried about Sohomode's fabric selections and how it would all come together in the end. Either way I still got a happy tea dress to wear somewhere for my wedding :)

Wedding: Dress Search Part 1

As far as wedding planning goes, right now I am searching for my "it" dress. Unfortunately, I want my dress to be a big surprise for everyone except my lovely mother and bridesmaids, so I won't be posting pics of what I have been trying on. That and the fiance does occasionally read my blog (such a supportive fiance isn't he?). I will be posting and sharing my experiences though. Hopefully it helps other brides in the area figure out where they want to shop.


My first stop I went to was Pure English at Hilltop, in La Promenade shopping center. I knew I was going to a higher end boutique that sold designer gowns but I'm glad I did. I am glad I got that movie-esque experience of trying on wedding dresses where the attendant helps you in and out of the gown. Mind you at Pure English you change in front of whoever you bring, so you may want to keep that in mind :P The sales lady was very helpful but she seemed a bit short tempered with my daughter. So I suggest not bringing little ones. I did find a wonderful, wonderful dress. But of course it is more than I am willing to spend. So beware if you do want the quintessential dress shopping experience do visit a higher end boutique. But be careful, you very well may fall in love with a dress out of your price range.


Secondly, I visited David's Bridal. The ladies were sooo friendly. I suggest going to their website and adding dresses you like to your "Wish List," then print it out and hand it to your sales lady on the day of your appointment. I did this and the process went by so much faster. I already knew that I liked all the dresses on the list so I wasn't wasting time with dresses that just weren't what I was looking for. Once she got an idea of my style she felt comfortable enough picking dresses in the store for me and she did quite a good job at it too. Keep in mind David's Bridal is off the rack, so yes it is much cheaper but you are getting what you pay for. You may be buying a dress that hundreds of other ladies have tried on so you want to keep in mind the cost for alterations like bead tightening and such. But I was pleasantly surprised with their selection and prices. Unfortunately, none of the dresses really got me overly excited, so for now the search goes on.

Flea Market Shopping...with kiddos

This past Saturday, Carmie and I did some flea marketing at a good sized flea market that was happening at one of the nearby high schools. So I decided it would be a good idea to post some easy guidelines to flea market shopping...with kiddos. Learn from my mistakes and be more prepared than I was. In my defense it wasn't a planned shopping excursion. I was planning to just go to the bank when we passed it by on the road and I couldn't help myself :P

Most these tips are pretty common knowledge but I still wanted to help out those who have never gone flea market shopping or are still new to it.

Tips for Flea Market Shopping with Kiddos:

1. Mind the weather. Of course I decide to take my toddler flea market shopping on one of the hottest days in weeks. It was mid to upper 90s that Saturday.


2. Don't forget the stroller. There may be a lot of walking involved based on the size of the flea market you are attending. And there may be a lot of waiting for your kiddo if you're like me and like to over analyze each purchase :P


3. Bring snacks. Lots of water for warm summer days and treats to keep their little hands occupied around all the valuables being sold.


4. Hit bigger flea markets. Mamas know that time is a valuable thing. So I suggest looking in the paper to find larger sized flea markets that'll be more worth your time. You don't want to be taking your tot in and out of the car visiting smaller markets. Plus, larger flea markets tend to have more family friendly facilities like bathrooms and food booths. The booths who sold candy last Saturday were a Godsend for keeping Carmie's tears and whining at bay. Haha.


5. Get your child involved. We made sure to break into Carmie's piggy bank for some change she's earned from cleaning her room. She had fun picking out little toys and trinkets.

and remember these General Flea Market Tips:

1. Bring comfortable walking shoes.


2. Bring lots of loose change and small bills


3. Don't be afraid to negotiate or haggle prices
   (especially on items that have seen better days)


4. Look at how you might be able to use items in different ways than intended.

With that being said I found this lovely vintage crate last Saturday. I plan to use it when I start to do craft shows as a display, but for now it'll house my little trinkets and/or craft supplies. I also picked up a few pieces of costume jewelry. The locket is one of my fave finds. Hope this helps a bit for you newbies out there, good luck shopping!