Whatever Weekend – Whimsical Weddings

Okay, so that’s a lot of alliteration in the title.

Really, though, a friend of mine is planning a wedding, and it has me all nostalgic!

Tom and I have been married nearly 5 and a half years now.

Photo by Tom Thompson

Our wedding was outdoors, with simple fall decorations (lots of plum and green,) and a laid back, picnic-style atmosphere, with a pie bar instead of wedding cake.

Photo by Tom Thompson

Mmmm pie.

It also makes me nostalgic for our friend Tiinia’s wedding. She and her husband, Kevin, were married on the haunt grounds where the work on Friday the 13th. Costumes were encouraged, and the style was a delightful combo of horror and glamorous vintage.

My friend, Tessa, is planning a simple, elegant ceremony, and an Alice in Wonderland themed reception. I’m so excited to help her with decorations for the reception! I’ve loved Alice since I was a little girl, and the possibilities are practically endless.

So, I’ve been working on some inspiration boards on Polyvore.com, a site where you can create your own boards for fashion, beauty, or just for fun.

Here’s some inspiration for her bridal and ceremony style:

Then there’s the reception:

We’ll be thrifting for tea cups, saucers, and pots, clocks, rabbits, and mushrooms, next week.

If you’re planning a wedding, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Keep a check list, and focus on marking one thing off at a time. Here’s a great list that helps you finish each to-do in time: The Knot Wedding Checklist.

2. Create a budget. Once you’ve decided what kind of venue you want (indoor or outdoor, formal or relaxed, etc.,) the kind of food you want to serve, and your wedding style, start working on your budget. If you don’t have all the money you need right now, open a savings account that you can add to each pay period to pay for upcoming costs. Use The Knot Wedding Budget along with your checklist.

3. Ask for help. Ask reliable friends and family to help with tasks you know they can manage. If you have a crafty friend, ask them to help with decorations. If you have an aunt who loves to bake, have her make edible favors, or even the wedding cake if she’s that awesome. Delegate responsibilities to your groomsmen and bridesmaids, like tailoring and dry cleaning, and the bachelor/bachelorette parties. You might feel the need to have your hand in everything to make sure it’s perfect, but it will be worth your sanity (and your beauty sleep!) to accept others’ help.

4. Enjoy your engagement. Make it a point to date during your engagement. Take time away from planning (turn off your electronics if you need to,) and just spend time with your significant other. The engagement flies by, so treasure every second!

Married? What was your wedding like? Any inspiration photos? Any advice you’d like to give brides to be?

Share the Love,

Chelsea

Friday’s Favorites – New Year Sparkle

Hope you all have had a great holiday season! Now it’s time to get ready for new year celebrations, whether they be a big party out with friends, or a quiet celebration at home. Sparkle is always appropriate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share the Love,

Chelsea

December of Giveaways – Week 2!

Our week 2 winner is Julie of Coco and Cocoa!

To enter to win Week 3, go here.

This week’s giveaway is this adorable red vintage sequin bow ring:

The ring is made of a vintage sequin and beaded applique, carefully backed with matching felt, and attached to an adjustable metal ring base that fits most sizes. A great cocktail ring for holiday parties!

It’s Easy to Enter: 

1. If you don’t already follow us on Pinterest, follow us here.

2. Pin the “Pin It to Win It” image to any of your boards on Pinterest. If you don’t have a Pin It button on your toolbar, use the one at the end of this blog post.

3. Comment on this blog post with your Pinterest username.

You can enter a maximum of once a day by completing steps 1-3.

The Week 2 giveaway will last through Sunday, 12/15/13. Open to US residents. Winner will be randomly chosen, and announced Monday, 12/16/13, on this blog page, our Facebook and Twitter accounts, and the winner will be contacted via the email listed with the account they use to comment (if possible.) Winner must respond via email (buymelovestore@gmail.com) within 48 hours, or another winner will be randomly selected.

Good luck, and happy pinning!

Share the Love,

Chelsea

Friday’s Favorites – Baby, it’s cold outside!

The view from our living room.

If you’re in the DFW area, you’re most likely at home, because the schools and businesses are closed due to the unusually icy weather dramatically labeled the “Icepocalypse.”

So, it’s the perfect time to snuggle up with a book or movie, a cuddly blanket, an animal or two, and maybe even finish up some Christmas shopping online.

You can enter to win this week’s pin it to win it prize, a handmade fascinator from our Etsy shop:

Some members of our team are having special sales for the occasion. Just enter code ICEICEBABY at checkout. (I love the coupon code!) Receive 25%  OFF a purchase of $15.00 or more from Buy Me Love through Sunday!

Plus, if you make a purchase from any Etsy Fort Worth team member this month, you can enter to win a prize package worth $100, plus coupons for January!

Order from our shop and receive 15% OFF your purchase in January.

Take a look at some of our favorite Etsy Fort Worth member items that make perfect gifts! (Click to view the listing.)

 

Tuesday’s Treasure – Have an uncommon holiday!

Have someone on your “nice” list who dances to the beat of a different drummer? Let our latest Etsy treasuries guide you to unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for the season!

For nomads:

For glam rockers:

For horror movie buffs:

Cyber Monday: Shop JuJu Eyeball today and receive a free gift!

Happy Cyber Monday, everyone!

Today is the last day to receive 20% OFF your entire purchase from our Buy Me Love shop – enter EFWHOLIDAYS at checkout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, purchase something from our JuJu Eyeball shop today, and receive a free gift!

Share the Love,

Chelsea

Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday – Where to Shop & SAVE!

So, if you’ve watched the news or have been on any social media site lately, you’ve probably witnessed, and possibly participated in, the disappointment many have felt toward the companies who have decided to open, and even have mega-sales, on Thanksgiving this year. So, if you’re looking for a way to encourage big businesses to allow their employees to spend the day with their loved ones on Thanksgiving, the obvious choice is to not shop there on the holiday.

You can even go a step further, though, and not have to sacrifice awesome discounts and deals, by supporting local, small, and/or handmade businesses! You see, there’s this nifty day beyond Thanksgiving and Black Friday called Small Business Saturday, on which small businesses around the world participate in giving Black Friday worthy deals to their customers. To top it off, most of us small business people have websites and online stores, and can participate in Cyber Monday, a day when we can all stay in the comfort of our own homes (and, let’s be honest, pajamas,) and still find good deals on merchandise that we may not have been willing to fight the crowds for during the big, in-person shopping extravaganzas. The best part is that if you buy from small businesses online, you’re more likely to find more unique and personal items, and you can still have a less stressful shopping experience while you help your local economy thrive.

As for us, we’ll be offering 20% OFF your entire purchase from Saturday, 11/3, to Monday, 12/2 in our Etsy shop! Simply enter EFWHolidays at checkout to receive your discount. Not only that, but most of the members of our Etsy Fort Worth team will be offering various discounts or free shipping, too, and we’re all using the same discount code to keep things easy. Click the image above to view a list of the participating shops, and their special offers.

We wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving, and a happy holiday shopping experience!

Share the Love,

Chelsea

December of Giveaways – Week 2!

Today begins our second giveaway!

This week, enter to win this sparkling vintage sequin bow ring:

The ring is made from a vintage applique, attached to an adjustable metal ring base that fits most sizes. The back of the bow is carefully covered with matching felt for a soft, finished look. Perfect to wear at holiday parties!

How to enter:

1. Now through Sunday, 12/15/13, follow us on Pinterest.

2. Then, pin this giveaway to one of your boards by using the Pin It button on your browser, or the one at the end of this blog post.

3. Finally, comment with your pinterest name (the name that appears at the end of the URL for your boards page.)

The winner will be chosen randomly based on the comments made, and will be announced here on this blog post on Monday, 12/16. Winner will also be announced on Facebook and Twitter, and the winner will be contacted by the email address associated with the account they use to comment below.

Open to US residents. Enter up to once a day throughout the week by repeating steps 1-3. Voting will close at the end of the day Sunday, 12/15.

Good luck and happy pinning!

Share the Love,

Chelsea

Another Week Away Giveaway!

9/23: Congratulations to our randomly selected winner, Cheryl Pullen Navalinsky!

In light of all the loving support we’ve received in the Martha Stewart Living American Made competition, and the deadline for the first round of voting being extended another week (and two days, to be precise,) we’ve decided to hold our very own giveaway!

Each time you vote for a nominee in the competition, you enter to win prizes from MSL, like an American Express gift card. Now, every day you vote, you can enter to win prizes from us, too!

Vote now through 9/22/13. One lucky winner will be randomly selected on 9/23/13 to win this fantastic prize package of unique, American made gifts, a value of over $60.00!:

1 $25 Etsy Gift Card; 1 Luchador Mask Pillow by Studio Longoria; 1 Bamboo Calendula Bar Soap by Clover Hollow Soaps & Sundries; 1 Blue Rhinestone Bracelet by Leslie Anne Levine; 15% OFF Your Next Purchase at Buy Me Love or JuJu Eyeball on Etsy; 1 Surprise Gift From Our Store, Buy Me Love!

Two Ways To Enter:

1. This step is mandatory. Simply vote for us, using any number of your 6 daily votes here:

Then, comment that you voted below, and include the total number of votes after you voted UPDATE: No need to keep track of the total number of times you’ve voted, personally! Just include the total number on the screen after you’ve voted for the day. For example, if the number is 2,222 before you vote, and you vote for us 6 times, the total you’ll include in your comment will be 2,228. Easy peasy. Sorry for the confusion! Please leave only one “I voted!” comment per voter per day, not one comment per vote. For example, if you use all 6 of your votes on our profile (wink, wink,) there’s no need to comment 6 times – just comment once.

2. For extra chances to win, you can Pin this giveaway on Pinterest , and leave a comment below up to once a day that you pinned, including the pin URL. (After you pin, click the “see it now” button to copy and paste the pin’s URL into your comment below.) This entry method is completely optional.

IMPORTANT NOTES: If you leave more than one “I voted!” comment, or “I pinned it!” comment per day, only one of each of those comments will count toward your chances of winning. You do not need to have a WordPress.com account to enter. This contest is in no way affiliated with Martha Stewart Living/MSL American Made, or Etsy. Contest valid only in the Continental U.S.

How To Know If You Won: 

The randomly selected winner of the prize package will be announced in this post on 9/23/13, and we will also contact the winner via the email address listed on their account. If you do not have a valid email address listed on the account you use to log in/comment, you must leave your email address in your comment(s.) (The $25 Etsy gift card will also be emailed to the winner.) If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, we will choose another winner for the prize package.

Thank you for supporting our small, handmade, and American made business, and good luck to all our voters!

Share the Love,

Chelsea & Karyn

We need your votes!

It’s that time! We entered this year’s Martha Stewart American Made competition for the chance to win anything from a gift basket full of goodies to $10,000 for our business and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to New York for the expo to display our work. You can go directly to our profile here:

I’ve had a late start reminding everyone of the competiton, because Mom’s been recovering from a knee replacement. It’s been almost three weeks, and though they made mistakes at the hospital with her medications, and she’s had a bad reaction to the pain meds they prescribed her, she’s finally feeling better and on her way to rehabilitation! We’re both excited to start building up our business after a long road of health struggles and other obstacles, and look forward to having our own studio workspace together.

We’ll keep you updated on the voting process, and if we win, we’ll share every step of the way with you. Please share the link to our profile with your friends – thank you for voting!

Share the Love,

Chelsea