UPDATED Dream Wedding

Today's blog hop from kelly's korner is part two of the show us your wedding series. Since I am single I will share my dream wedding. I found some amazing inspiration on the style me pretty blog. Enjoy! Oops sorry technical difficulties with the images. I will try and get some up here ASAP! Alrighty I went out of town for the weekend last minute so I am finally updating and fixing this post! My dream wedding is mostly white with deep purple. Here are some boards I LOVED to give you the idea.

DIY Wednesday

Hello my fellow bloggers and blog followers. Starting today we will be intorducing a weekly segment call DIY Wednesday. Every Wednesday the Swanky Blog will be bringing you fabulous DIY party tips! They will be for weddings, baby shower, and tons of other swanky events. If you have a DIY project you would like to share with the Swanky Blog readers, leave a comment or email me brandy@swankychicks.com to be featured on DIY Wednesday!

Today's DIY project comes from the Style Me Pretty Blog, and Abby Larson.
"One of our readers, Rachel, sent me THE cutest pictures of her handkerchief save the dates and I had to share. Especially since it goes with our shabby chic theme for the day.
Here’s how she did it!
I’d previously seen handkerchiefs and other bits of fabric printed on and really liked the idea of texture. I also wanted to create a keepsake. I ended up scouring ebay for about a month, collecting vintage handkerchiefs. In the meantime, I created a vintage-y layout using our silhouetted profiles. Once I collected enough handkerchiefs (and washed and ironed them, too!), I used the Yudu (which is apparently trying to be the next gocco) to hand screen the 165 handkerchiefs.
Once they were dry and ironed, I tied them to some cardstock I had custom printed on one side with a pair of lovebirds and on the other side with a little heart pattern I created for our wedding suite. The single men received a white handkerchief on the patterned background, while couples and women received patterned handkerchiefs on the lovebird side facing up. I hand-lined some kraft envelopes using paper from a scrapbooking tablet. I created a custom label that tied into the whole design and finally sent them all out." After reading this blog posting I did a little research on the Yudu and I am obsessed! I must have one. The Yudu is an at home screen printing machine. All you need is a computer and a printer, and you will be on your way to screen printing all sorts of goodies in no time. I have so many ideas, here are a few from the yudu site.



Look at this adorable pirate themed birthday party!

Bows and More by Gracy Lu

I know we have been on weddings for the last few days so here is a posting for my swanky babies. My girlfriend Elaine entered her daughter Paisley in one of those cutest baby contests. Btw why do they make it so hard to vote for those sweet little babies!!?? Miss Paisley was wearing the most adorable headband in her cutest baby picture, and I knew Swanky Babies just had to have it! After tons of emails and seeing even more of these to die for bows and headbands I am proud to share with you Bows and More by Gracy Lu. The designer is a proud mommy of two adorable babies and a Christian. I love working with WAHM's and I love meeting like minded strong Christian women!
Bows and More by Gracy Lu designs are a mix of traditional and the unexpected. She pairs gorgeous silk flowers with, decadant broches and feathers. I have yet to find a childrens bow that was more high end and classy. The feathers add just enough whimsy and the crystal broches up the wow factor. Bows and More by Gracy Lu are a must have for every little girl.
It gets even better all of her designs are handmade and available for adults. She specializes in custom and bridal pieces for women.
These bows photograph so well, grab one before your next family photo for your baby girl. How chic would your bridemaids look in headpieces custom made for your wedding? I know Iam already dreaming one up to go with my dream wedding gown!
We are in the process of adding Bows and More by Gracy Lu to Swanky Chicks line of boutique products. Email or leave me a comment letting me know what you think! If you can't wait to get yours email me to get started on a custom order. brandy@swankychicks.com

Something Blue

Like I said on Friday I am slightly addicted to Kelly's Korner and especially last Friday's wedding dress blog hop. I found some of the most breathtaking gowns, and creative ideas at the other blogs. I fell in love with this creative and very sentimental way to incorporate something blue into your wedding day. Over at Livin Life in the ATX Jenna's stepdad embroidered her petticoat in blue with the bride and groom's names. How sweet of her stepdad! I don't know too many men who would even think to do that, let alone have the ability to get it done. You could have any number of things embroidered in blue on your petticoat from your names, to your wedding date, to words of inspiration. Thanks for the great idea Jenna! Do you have a creative way that you incorporated something blue into your wedding day? Leave a comment and share it with us.

Show Us Your Life- Wedding Dress

I have been following a blog from an adorable southern gal named Kelly, of Kelly's Korner, for a few weeks now. Every Friday she hosts a weekly blog hop called show us your life. I am totally addicted and decided to join in on the fun! This weeks topic is show us your wedding dress and for single girls like me your dream wedding dress. What a perfect topic for the Swanky Blog to join in on! So here we go my dream wedding dress, and let me tell you I have been dreaming about it for as long as I can remember. Sometimes it changes but it is not often too far from my thoughts. Probably a little more than the normal single girl since I am surrounded by beautiful wedding things everyday. My years of experience (always a bridesmaid never a bride :) ) have changed my mind on what I thought I wanted. No strapless, everyone does it, I want to be different, and I don't want to keep yanking it up all night. No crazy extravagant ballgown skirts, no matter how great that 8 ft train is going to look in your bridal portraits. They are too heavy, and if your bustle isn't just so, it rips out and you spend half the night holding up your skirt so you don't fall over it dancing. I am thinking simple, elegant, beautiful. This first one I know goes against my last comment but it is beautiful.

I have been crazy about Jessica Simpson's dress that she wore when she married Nick Lachey :(

I think those of you that know me might be surprised by these choices. Most people would probably expect me to choose a lavishly expensive gown dripping in jewels with yards and yards of silk. I actually have a folder at home with magazine clippings I have collected over the years of dress I absolutely heart. But here they are I spent some time browsing the gown on Brides.com this morning to find these.

Brides Against Breast Cancer is an organization that every Bride to Be should know about. Check them out at bridesagainstbreastcancer.org. I posted about them several months ago after my "someday to be sister in law" as I called her got her wedding gown from them. Designers and brides donate new and gently used dresses which are then resold at fabulous prices to brides to be. All of the proceeds go to charity. The Making Memories Charity makes a wish come true for women who have been diagnosed with metastatic(terminal) breast cancer. I have long been a breast cancer advocate and never new how close it would hit to home. A few followers that have been with me for a while may have noticed that my posting fell off at the begining of the summer. I normally don't blog about my personal life. Well unfortunately my mom was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at the very young age of 48. Check out the swanky chicks home page we are hosting a benefit in her honor next month. I will be blogging with more details soon. I was such a huge supporter of this charity before but even more than ever I love sharing what this wonderful organization does for families like mine.

Bridal Shower Games

The modern bride does not always want to play traditional bridal shower games. In fact the last several bridal and baby showers I have been to have had very few or none at all. I spent a little time today searching the web for unique bridal shower games that even a modern bride would love. Some of these yes are old favorites but they get a good laugh out of the group and some are a little naughty for a younger crowd. They all guarantee a good time, and you would be surprised what your mom and her friends think is just as funny as you do!

Pick up a few little prizes for the winners of each game you play. A little competition always gets people involved. Candles, Stationary, Bath and Body products are always a hit and you don't have to spend alot. You can even tie the prizes in with your theme. A Scoop of Love Ice Cream scoopers to spread the love,

for a beach theme wedding Ocean Breeze Shell Scented Soaps.

Swanky Chicks has hundreds of favors that make a great little Thank you gift or prize for your bridal shower games.

DIY Games

1. 20 questions- This is an oldie but a goodie and the answer range from sweet to hilarious. Put together a list of questions for the groom, about the bride and their relationship. The more personal and tailored to the couple, the funnier the answers.
Ex. Where/When was your first kiss?
Where/ When did you meet?
What is the most adorable thing the bride (or groom) does?
What is the most annoying thing the bride (or groom) does?
What is the weirdest habit the bride (or groom) has?
Have the groom answer all the questions before the shower and see how many of their answers match.

2.Famous Couples Matching Game. Put together a list of famous celebrities that are a part of a couple, list only one half of each couple. Have your guests fill in the blanks with the name of the other half of the celebrity couple.
Ex. Tom Cruise ___________ (answer: Katie Holmes)
Calista Flockhart __________ (answer: Harrison Ford)

Buy it Online
1. Pin the Macho on the Man. This is a naughty version of pin the tail on the donkey that is great for bridal showers and bachelorette parties.

Join the fun, and share your favorites. Leave a comment with your favorite bridal shower game.

Ali Landry's Daughter Estela Wearing One Posh Kid and it's available at Swanky Chicks!

Hey y'all I am so excited to share one of our products has been getting some celeb love! We love One Posh Kid and are proud to carry Wendy's line of couture baby gear.

Happy 2nd Birthday Estela!
Ali Landry's Daughter, Estela was spotted wearing our One Posh Kid Cupcake Couture Birthday Dress at the beach on her 2nd Birthday in Malibu on July 11, 2009! There's also a glimpse of her wearing the dress in OK Magazine too! You can get one for your Swanky Baby at Swankychicks.com.

Martha Stewart Teams up with Grandin Road

I know we are still sunbathing, spending weekends at the lake, and have the a/c cranked way up. Fall is only a wish for now, especially for those of us in the 110 degree desert. That is unless you are Martha Stewart and Grandind Road, they have teamed up to bring an amazing collection of Halloween Decorations. That's right it landed in my inbox today, Halloween decorations. Halloween is my second favorite holiday right after christmas so I have spent the last half hour browsing these awesome decorations and dreaming about which ones I have to have. Martha is debuting 4 collections, Perfect Parties, Glittered Elegance, Spooky Silhouettes, and Eerie Illumination. Here are a sampling of my favs from her new collection for your viewing pleasure. I can't believe I am even thinking about Halloween. Get back to your summer after looking at her sneak preview. I just couldn't help myself though, I LOVE Martha.

Super spooky invites have a lifelike human finger enclosed to scare the bejeezes out of your guests!

Mad Scientist invites will set the mood for your spooky party.

This weeping willow stands 5 ft tall!

Martha's glittered chandeliers and pumpkins make a spooky and elegant tablescape.

Bring the spooky party theme together with witch's brew and swamp cider beverages. These labels attached to your bottles.

Baby Shower Decorating Ideas

Hello to my fellow bloggers. I was again browsing blogs today and noticed I had been getting some blog love from tickledpink2bme.blogspot.com and boy does this girl know where to find cute blogs! Her blog favs are quickly becoming some of my new favs. I was so excited to find that she had linked to the Swanky Blog! We made her list of favs too. Believe me we are in some great company. Please surf on over and check it out. She brings daily party decorating inspirations to her readers. I was so impressed with some of her adorable parties that she inspired today's blog.

The first inspiration is from a princess birthday party. Tiara stickers and tags were used as napkin ring holders and cupcake decorations. Swanky Chicks baby shower themes come with coordinating personalized stickers! Use your coordinating stickers/tags like in this inspiration photo for adorable table decorations.

Our second baby shower inspiration is a sophisticated yet whimsical use of color. Bright pink, orange, and brown bring a modern twist to a traditional baby shower. Who said you have use pastels for a baby shower. This color combo is perfect for the modern mommy-to-be.

Swanky Chicks even carries an adorable favor to match the theme. Our Love-sicle scented soaps coordinate perfectly, and will give you that extra finish touch that takes your shower from ordinary to extraordinary!Sweetness on a stick looking good enough to lick! But don't unless you want your mouth washed out with soap! This tantalizing treat another infinitely creative design from Kate Aspen is a fun favor for guests to take home and enjoy. Features and facts: Glycerin-soap "popsicle" includes three favorite flavors- strawberry pink, vanilla and orange
The wooden popsicle stick and heart-shaped "bite" in the soap add realism to the design
Round sticker on cellophane says Love-Sicle Popsicle Soap
"Love-sicle" is wrapped in cellophane secured by a pink ribbon imprinted with faux stitching
Popsicle soap measures approximately 4 1/2" h x 1 1/2" w x 1/2" d