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Not excited about a big white dress, but still want to give a subtle nod to tradition? How about an LBD {little BLUE dress} as your something blue? This gorgeous little number from Claire La Faye would be perfect for a beach or courthouse wedding...and you could wear it again and again and again...
via www.etsy.com
OK, so I know I've been on a lingerie kick lately, but seriously...where can I get one of these?
Photo by Felix Lammers via pinterest.com
Yesterday I shared details about my {sexy} Etsy theme party. In case you missed it, we're going from room to room in the house, exploring sexy themes in honor of couples everywhere who are celebrating their everlasting love lust this Valentine's Day. We started in the boudoir and have now made our way to the kitchen for a sexy snack.
Aphrodisiacs have long been touted as a natural way to boost sexual desire...chocolate, oysters, champagne, figs, honey, bananas, asparagus...they've all been heralded as ingredients for love at some point or another. Although there is no scientific fact that aphrodisiacs work, why not try a few and see what happens? For more info about the science and lore of aphrodisiac foods, check out this great blog called Eat Something Sexy.
In the meantime, take a peek at this sexy virtual dessert buffet. I've searched {sexy} Etsy for the finest, most sophisticated, most luxurious aphrodisiac foods...and created a sexy dinner menu to go with them. Scroll to the bottom for links to all the shops and my sexy menu with recipes. Bon Appetit!
BITTERSWEET DARK CHOCOLATE
CHOCOLATE + POMEGRANATE
POMEGRANATE + RED WINE
FIGS + HONEY
HONEY
HONEY + BANANA
BANANA + VANILLA BEAN
VANILLA BEAN
VANILLA BEAN + CHILI PEPPER
GINGER + HABANERO + CHOCOLATE
GINGER
CHAMPAGNE
SEXY DINNER MENU FOR TWO*
Chilled Raw Oysters on the Half-Shell with Champagne and Caviar
Strawberry Avocado Salad (recipe)
Grilled Salmon and Asparagus Spears (recipe)
*For best results, diners should feed each other by hand...
Bittersweet Chocolate Shortbread | Belgian Dark Chocolate Pomegranat Bark | Red Wine Pomegranate Reduction | Brown Turkey Fig Jam with Raw Honey and Cinnamon | Pure Raw Honey | Honey Banana Jam | Vanilla Banana Jam | Balsamic Vanilla Bean Reduction | Thai Habanero Butter Caramels | Ginger Habanero Fudge Sauce | Ginger Shortbread | Champagne Painting
PSSST, there's more to love...If you like honey, you might enjoy this post.
In honor of couples everywhere who are deeply, madly in love lust...I've decided to throw a progressive {sexy} Etsy theme party. Here's how it works...each day the party moves to a new room in the house to explore a new sexy theme. You show up, explore the themes, get inspired...passion ensues. Sound good?
Today's party starts in the boudoir and features {sexy} Etsy lingerie finds inspired by famous pinup artist, Alberto Vargas. Whether you're shopping for Valentine's Day, your honeymoon or for something sassy to wear under that pure white wedding gown of yours, you're bound to find a perfect fit on {sexy} Etsy. Check out all this luxurious, vintage-inspired lingerie and tell me you're not picturing yourself as the next Varga girl.
When you're done drooling over the stunning photography, be sure to visit the links at the end of this post to shop till you drop. Have fun and I'll see ya tomorrow in the kitchen for some sexy food! XOXO Cindi
SHOP TILL YOU DROP:
Hopeless: Silk Bow Garters and Pink Garter Knickers {Also be sure to check out the seriously sexy Spokes 'n' Daggers blog.}
MajoRey: Ruffled Floral Mask {Spend $100 or more and get a free item, free shipping on select items. See shop for complete details.}
La Lilouche: Red Satin Corset Bra, Black Lace Mask, Silk Backless Bra {Take 15% off until 1.31.11 with code: MYVALENTINES}
Naughty Naughty: Lace Skirted Thong {Free lingerie bag with orders of $30 or more, free shipping with orders of $100 or more...see shop for complete details.}
Toad Lillie: High Waisted Cut-Out Silk Panties {Don't miss Toad Lillie's blog for vintage couture inspiration...gorgeous!}
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Psst...there's more to love. If you liked this post, you will LOVE these ruffled silk tap pants.
Would you? Could you? On your fingers? On your toes? An icy blue mani may not be for everyone, but even the most traditional bride can rock a blue pedi.
For the ultimate splurge, check out Chanel's Riva blue:
If you're looking for a more earth-friendly alternative, be sure to check out hot brands like Rescue Beauty, Spa Ritual, Priti NYC and Zoya for non-toxic, cruelty free, vegan nail polish options in all the trendiest colors. (Via The Alternative Consumer)
Image sources: shoestringloveheart.tumblr.com via The Paris Apartment and Chanel via beaut.ie
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*UPDATED 2.2.2011 Just spotted another nice round-up of non-toxic polish on Feel Good Style.
What's not to love about this feathery luxe headband? It makes me think of what Marie Antoinette might wear for casual Friday. I love it for a wedding because in addition to being stunning, it also makes a great something blue...
This one of a kind piece has already sold, but you can shop the rest of the collection at www.shopbando.com You'll find more pieces like this in the Black Label collection, but the bridal collection is truly stunning too.
And yes, the model is the beautiful Alison Sudol from A Fine Frenzy...who you may remember from this wonderful Lost Things video.
Not really wedding related, but...I spotted these Viktor and Rolf tulle gowns on Bouquet of Tulle Roses and had to share. What do you think? The one with the hole in it kills me... XOXO, Cindi
Oh how I love a good time suck! Pinterest caught my attention last week and I have been hooked ever since! What is it, you ask? Pinterest is a social photo sharing site that acts like a virtual bulletin board. Users can "pin" their favorite photos from anywhere on the web to create "boards" based on any theme imaginable. Users can also "follow" other users and check out their boards. It's kind of like a visual Twitter, only with photos instead of 140 characters.
I'm loving it for organizing all of the amazing photos I find on the web that I normally have to bookmark in my web browser...always forgetting what the link was for in the first place. Now I can visually bookmark the good stuff and see it all at a glance.
Brides, you will want to check this out...there are already a ton of amazing wedding boards and many of the major wedding blogs are already on the scene posting more wedding porn than you can shake a stick at! You can use this site to create boards and collect images for your own wedding planning inspiration.
There's just one catch...Pinterest is currently in beta only, so you have to be invited to join. You can still check out all the amazing content, but you won't be able to actually start creating your own boards until you've been invited to join or until the site is opened up to everyone. So...visit the site, check it out and if you like it...request an invitation.
I've already started quite a few boards, so feel free to follow me and see what I'm loving right now. Or click on any of the photos in this post to be taken to those boards... Enjoy! XOXO Cindi
P.S. If you end up creating some boards, be sure to share your links in the comments below so we can all follow along.
Colored petticoats are nothing new. Ladies have worn them off and on throughout the ages as fashion trends have dictated. Who could ever forget Mammy's rustling red petticoat in Gone With The Wind? These days, however, they are mostly spotted on brides.
Yesterday, I shared some blue crinolines in my Monday Morning Blues post, so today I thought I'd share a few easy tips for how to dye your crinoline or petticoat any color you want. This is such a fun way to personalize your look and add a flash of unexpected color. I so wish I had thought of this when I was getting married!
As far as choosing a dye goes, you have a few options. Store-bought dye is cheap, easy to find and comes in a wide range of colors. The downside is that it is usually loaded with toxic chemicals. Homemade dyes are all-natural, non-toxic and easy to make, but are less predictable so you may not get exactly the color you were going for. And generally speaking, plant-based dyes work best on natural fibers and may not be appropriate for all fabrics.
Homemade | If you want to learn how to make your own plant-based dye, check out Crafting a Greener World for an easy tutorial. Pioneer Thinking also has an informative how-to that includes a very useful color chart.
Store Bought | If you prefer to go with a store-bought dye, Rit has a great website with lots of info about dyeing techniques and even a color formula generator to help you create exactly the right shade. Once you have the recipe for your chosen color, just follow the directions on the box to dye your crinoline in a washing machine, bathtub or sink.
No-mess iDye is another super easy option for 100% natural fabrics. (There is also an iDye poly for synthetics) All you do is toss the packet in the washer with your fabric, add some salt or vinegar depending on the material and then send it through a wash cycle. Interestingly, the packets are not actually paper, so they completely dissolve in water. Look for it in your local craft store or find it online at Fred Flare.
Proceed at your own risk... With any dye, know your fabric's fiber content and follow the directions exactly to avoid botched jobs and stained bathtubs.
To find out how a few real brides fared dyeing their own petticoats, be sure to visit That Bride to learn about her Adventures in Crinoline Dyeing and A Backyard Wedding for some great tips on how to soak up any extra dye in your washer and dryer.
Lastly, don't forget to let your bridesmaids in on the fun! How smokin' is this group? You can see more pics from this awesome wedding over at Rock n' Roll Bride. Will you be sporting a colored petticoat?
Images Sources: Pink, Red, Orange, iDye, Hot Pink, Bridal Party
