{Belated! Beauty Tuesday} Those Messy French

So sorry for yesterday's absence; I was dashing about town all the day long and my routine obligations completely slipped my attention. As today I also have many busy things to do, Beauty Tuesday will take the place of Wednesday's innate wedding (ahem. I already had my beauty post all planned out...and weddings take much more time than I have on my hands at the moment...).

As anyone who has followed my blog - or my life, for that matter - would know, I have had long hair and short hair and everything in between. During my junior year, my favorite style to throw my mid-length strands into was a French twist. It's classic and sophisticated, and a whole lot less complicated than most people expect. My good pal Brontë volunteered her gorgeous hair to model a messy version of this simple updo.

Begin with second-day hair in your natural texture.

 Brush hair out completely.

 Brush all hair to one side.

 Pin loosely into place.

 Gently tease hair toward bobby pins. When I say gently, I mean it! Use a light touch section by section and it'll give you rough texture all over instead of a clump in one spot.

 Hold all your hair together and roll in toward the center of your head. Tuck the ends inside the roll and pin into place. Yes, you'll probably need quite a few pins.

Make sure all the pins are hidden underneath the twist.

Brush lightly over each side of your head to smooth any weird bumps. You can pin the twist tighter to keep your head from looking oblong, but don't smash it down to your scalp. It should feel comfortable. Leave a few strands out to keep your style from looking too constricted.

Happy twisting!

{Wedding Wednesday} the Fourth

       This week I began my very first Institute classes at Utah State University. While I'm not attending the school itself yet, I love being on campus and can't wait to start next year! One of the two Institute classes I'm enrolled in is called Preparing for a Celestial Marriage. I know, I know. It seems like I'm going overboard with the whole thing. But this class is mainly focused on self-improvement, becoming the right person for the right person, and maintaining healthy relationships, which I believe are important skills for anyone and everyone. So, in honor of the 15-week learning process that I'm so looking forward to, I must make it clear that marriage is a whole lot more important than the wedding itself.

       As an observant child watching my parents take care of our family, fight, separate, divorce, date other people, and then both get remarried, my view of marriage was sufficiently whipsawed by several different forces. Over the past few years I have found within myself the deep desire to sort through my positive and negative experiences and figure out how to properly acquire and maintain healthy relationships of the romantic and non-romantic type. At this point I would not imagine professing to have even an adequate knowledge of the necessary tactics for stabilizing a marriage, but I know I'm on my way to it.

       I have expressed concern for the general lack of years' experience currently requisite to obtain a marriage license. I have also made it known that this concern is due largely to my own unpreparedness, rather than a reflection of those already making such decisions. I have also tried to get the point across that I am very happy with myself and where I'm at in my life. Today I learned that I do not have to plan out the next ten years of my life, because there is hardly any chance of every single one of my plans turning out the way I expect it to. Heavenly Father just doesn't work that way.
     
       However, goals are vital and excellent. So, right now, I'm setting the goal to learn all I can and improve myself to the point where I will be worthy of an eternal marriage. Not everything will be perfect, and it may be that my course of life will go in an entirely different direction than I am working toward right now, but I am satisfied in the knowledge that I am moving forward. With every little decision I make, I can choose to do the right thing and consequently be happy. This is what pushes us along, dear friends. Make the small choices with an eternal perspective in mind.

       What a tangent. Here's the wedding.

The dress: Marchesa. One of my very most beloved designers, any of their magnificent gowns would have been suitable. The crocheted panel adds visual interest to an otherwise clean Grecian silhouette.

The flowers: Cream carnations and lavender. Carnations are sweet, pretty, and cheerful, while the lavender bud is unexpected and quiet. The perfect bouquet for a pleasantly shy pair of lovebirds.

The cake: Inventive and modern, this confection's ruffles certainly cater to the bride. I love the creative fading and actually appreciate the small size of the cake. Of course, the lavender sprig ties everything together.

The playlist: Triumphant and mellow all in the same pretty package. The seventh song is in YouTube video form. It was just too beautiful to pass up.

Happy drooling...

{Wedding Wednesday} the Third

       I'm sure since last Wednesday you've been in an absolute panic, expecting me to readily announce the engagement of at least three of my closest friends. Guess what? No such luck. Our youth is still safe and sound. However, I've been really looking forward to designing a wedding this week. It's mightily soothing to my soul! Prepare yourself a nice cup of peppermint tea (it helps with tummyaches, if you didn't know) and enjoy. The playlist is especially good this time around.

The dress: Monique Lhuillier. I'm a sucker for allover lace, and this gown's simplified silhouette creates the perfect backdrop for a gorgeous floral overlay. Long-sleeved wedding dresses are increasingly more difficult to come by these days, and I believe they add a lovely sophistication to the piece.

The flowers: Pink and orange peonies. Bright, feminine, and vivacious, these precious blooms liven up the mood and provide a splash of excitement against an otherwise white layout. Could you ask for more?

The cake: A modern ombre cutout design gives the simplest cake a bit of an edge. Ahem. I'd lose the crab apples and stick on some of our pink peonies instead. Not to judge those who like crab apples on top of wedding cakes...

The playlist: Young and fun (yet quite palatable). That stunning dress needs to be injected with some energy, but we're not going to break out the dubstep and LMFAO just yet.

1. "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain

2. "Always On My Mind" by Phantom Planet

3. "Hey Mama" by Mat Kearney

4. "Build Me A Girl" by Andy Grammer

5. "Sympathique" by Pink Martini

6. "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls

7. "Save The Last Dance For Me" by Michael Buble

Happy living!

{Wedding Wednesday} the Second

       With limited access to a computer and the attention span of a seven-year-old inevitably comes the inability to blog with any sort of consistency. But hey, I'm back for Round Two of Wedding Wednesday!

       I'm hoping and praying for a job at one of the several bridal salons in our area, for a few acute reasons. To begin with, a week or so ago I began to have persistent dreams about my friends getting hitched. At first, it was terrifying because it's the looming truth. Kids get married so young around here! There are voices in my head taunting, "Peer pressure. Peeeerrrr pressuuuuurrrre." I was constantly in a fret pertaining to these night visions until I started to realize how unnecessary all this stress was. Sure, I know I'm majorly unprepared to find a mate at the current moment, but the thing is (drumroll please) I don't have to! And for those youngsters who are doing just that, they are profoundly blessed and I wish them the best of luck.

       Once my psychosis began to clear up, through the nervous haze beckoned to me a call to understanding. What the heck! I love weddings. Hence, Wedding Wednesday. As industrial as the ready-to-wear market is, I'm not passionate about it. What I truly enjoy and excel in is designing evening and bridal wear. The fantasy aspect of dressing up is abundantly fulfilling to me, not to mention the look on that girl's face when she knows she found the right piece (one I've seen in the mirror plenty a time). Fellas may not get it, but it's crucial and I'll stand by that! So, my fingers, arms, toes, legs, and eyes are crossed for consideration in the field.

       This week's dress: St. Pucchi Couture. Yes, I am entirely serious. I'm a proud supporter of avant garde, and this feast of pleated ruffles is executed with unbelievable taste. A touch of black may be pushing it for many, but I think with the right details it sets a stunning example for the entire wedding to revolve around.

       The flowers: Black dahlias and white roses. The dahlias aren't really black; the burgundy tint gives an opportunity to add grape and wine-hued accents to your decor without straying too far from the black-and-white theme.

       The cake: Classy as a cake could possibly be. I love the minimalism of only five black ribbons on an all-white cake. Just substitute the greenery on top with one of our top-notch black dahlias and we are in business, baby.

       The playlist: Old-school, yo. Vintage things hold a particular romance that can't be manufactured in quite the same way, and there's such a sincerity to music from days gone by. A good omen, if you'd like your marriage to be a timeless one.

1. "It's Magic" by Doris Day

2.  "A Kiss To Build A Dream On" by Louis Armstrong

3. "Moon River" by Audrey Hepburn

4. "Fly Me To The Moon" by Frank Sinatra

5."Puttin' On The Ritz" by Fred Astaire

6. "It Don't Mean A Thing" by Duke Ellington, with Ivie Anderson

7. "Dream A Little Dream Of Me" by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

Happy swingin'!

{Wedding Wednesday} the First

       I'm a really goofy kid. I'll always be the first to admit it, cause it defines a big part of me! But I can also be as pathetically girlish as they come. Floral prints, bows, lace, high heels, love songs, fluttery eyelashes, curled hair, puppies, brown paper packages tied up with strings, and sweet, sweet romance are all etched into my heart like the names of every boy I've had a crush on since kindergarten (there must be hundreds by now!). One distinct personification of my sugary nature is the fact that I love weddings. Everything about 'em. The dress, the flowers, the lights, the food, the dancing...and, of course, the ceremony itself.

       Having just graduated from high school and its dramadramadrama dating scene, I'm looking forward to dating with less strings attached. However, I've been seeing more and more engagement photos of kids who graduated within three short years of me! And some even belonging to my classmates! I'll be honest: it terrifies me. This girl is not ready to be a wifey, no matter how many times Grandma says it while I'm cooking dinner and cleaning the house. Sure, I'm preparing for it, but there is no way I'm getting hitched this quick. Patience, friends. Patience is a virtue.

       As averse as I am to actually tying the knot at this time in my young life, I do so much enjoy seeing how other people put together their own matrimonial events. It's supposed to be the most important day you'll ever have, so you might as well make the most of it! Now, once we've figured out the Which Man to Marry dilemma, the things I care most about (at this point, anyway) are the gown, the flowers, the cake, and the music. Is that bad? I sure hope not. Cause from now on, every fourth day of the week is Wedding Wednesday, and I'm pretty sure that's all I care to cover. One wedding a week. Sit back, relax, and delight in the fun.

       The dress: Reem Acra Spring 2012. Abstract and affectionate, this gown maintains a feminine softness while exuding cutting-edge confidence with a chill, breezy undertone. I love the red accent, but the royal crown may be a bit much. I'd go with a mid-length, single-layer veil.

       The flowers: Naturally yellow, Teddy Bear sunflowers are just so happy! And a red tint gives this bud a richer feel, instead of looking rather like a large dandelion.

       The cake: Simple and to-the-point. I would maybe add another tier on bottom and then a few of the sunflowers here or there. Red velvet with a buttercream frosting makes the most sense to me.

       The playlist: Sweet without being sappy. At one of Brittnie's ballroom performances, I observed a couple's waltz to "Faithfully" by Journey. Don't get me wrong - I'm maniacal over the song. But the cheesy routine made me crazy! So we're headed for a more laid-back vibe.

1. "Let It Be Me" by Ray LaMontagne

2. "Daughters" by John Mayer

3. "Can't Buy Me Love" by The Beatles

4. "Double Trouble" by Jack & White

5. "Look After You" by The Fray

6. "1901" by Phoenix

7. "Give Me Love" by Ed Sheeran



Happy daydreaming [OR] planning [OR] reminiscing!