Wedding Trends: Bouquet Decorations

Monday, January 31, 2011

Now we move onto a truly pretty element of the wedding: the bouquet. Today I'll only be talking about the bouquet decoration. As weddings become more original and couples take more charge with their own DIY touches, each detail of the wedding is becoming more ornate and thought out. Proof of this is that bouquets themselves have decorations now. They can span from simple white satin ribbon enveloping the flower stems or more intricate designs including feathers, pearls or photographs. Designs are differing greatly as originality and uniqueness abound. No matter what though, the overall trend is a return to classic elegance and intricate, yet simple designs. It's a rejection of clean cut modernism and a new emergence of old-fashioned simplicity and delicate beauty.
One piece finding its way into the majority of bouquet adornments is jewelry. This is a wide field, but because it is a classy occasion, usually only high-end and sentimental jewelry is used. A classic item now being repurposed for the bouquet are pearls. They make for a beautiful decoration that match any color and most designs. Obviously, it would be hard to pull them off with fabric such as linen, but anything is doable if you use some ingenuity and true design expertise.
Another classic and sentimental element returning is the brooch. I think I love this adornment the most, because it can work on any color and on minimal or ornate designs. It's also an old-fashioned touch that never goes out of style and a perfect way to add your 'something old'.
A new way of incorporating jewelry into bouquets is to simply tie a small bracelet around the bouquet. It can be gorgeous if done well. Bracelets with hearts dangling from it around your bouquet will only add to the sweetness of the day and the simple elegance of the ceremony.










As originality increase, so does the use of new decorations. One design beginning to become popular is the use of feathers. This is a new and truly unique bouquet design, and actually has quite and old-fashioned feel. It beckons the feel of the days when boas and feather headbands were popular in the 1920's. For a very classic elegant feel, this is a great option.










Lastly, no matter what the theme of your wedding is, be sure to include the season into your motif. If you incorporate your bouquet in this, use elements specific to the season (and possibly the location). For spring, use flowers that are in bloom. For summer, a homey, unique option is to use small amounts of wheat. For fall, use leaves changing colors or dark berries. And for winter, consider using pine branches, ornaments, or ivy. The season doesn't need to rule wedding motifs, but it shows consideration for your date and location to use elements of both.











As I said above, bouquet designs are increasing in originality all the time. One thing that I've realized above all is that regardless of motif or wedding colors, white always wins. The majority of bouquets that I see involve white lace, ribbon or other fabric. I love seeing new ideas, but also homage to traditions. This may be due to the return of old-fashionedness, but above all, for bouquets, the trend is white in some way. A truly imaginative bouquet would be to find a new way to include the traditional white, but that seems almost impossible :-)










Bouquets are one of the details of a wedding that is entirely the design of the bride, and is becoming a showcase for her personality and style. Use ideas, but truly use your originality to make them your own, and just remember that white and elegance never go out of style.
















































Want to see your wedding highlighted on Inspiring Pretty? Just submit it to us for review here. Then be sure to check out our new Wedding of the Week every Saturday!


Friday's Fab Etsy Finds: Celebrating Groundhog Day With Etsy

Friday, January 28, 2011


Every February the country anxiously looks toward Punxsutawney, PA in hopes of predicting the near future. I am talking about Phil, the famous groundhog and his infamous shadow. Will he see it, or will we have any early spring? We will soon find out this Tuesday. But unless you live within 50 miles or so of good ol' Punxsutawney, chances are this underappreciated holiday is barely on your radar. For shame, I say. Why not embrace it as an excuse to celebrate the whimsy in life? And where can you find whimsical, celebratory Groundhog Day supplies? Why, Etsy of course.

Groundhog Day Button Set
You can make your own prediction with these cute little button pins. Don the cloud if you predict an early spring and the sun if you predict a long winter. Or wear them both if you are feeling ambivalent, but still want to get into the spirit of things. These pins are about one inch in diameter and features the seller's own original artwork of our beloved Phil. At $4 for the pair, this is a find that makes celebrating Groundhog Day fun and affordable.

The Cutest Groundhog Soaps
Now you can think of Phil and his fateful appearance every time you wash your hands. Just stock your bathroom with these little groundhog-shaped soaps. What's even better is that you can choose from lots of yummy scents like Chocolate Cherries, Tahitian Vanilla and 7Up Pound Cake. They come wrapped in cello bags and a bow. And at $6 for a set of 3, you may just want to start a new tradition of Groundhog Day gift giving.

Happy Groundhog Day Rubber Stamp
This rubber stamp will add a little festivity to your daily paperwork. Ideal for teachers and small businesses, emboss assignments or out going mail with this little guy to show you attention to detail. It sells for $8.50.

Punxsutawney, PA Postmark
Here is another stamp that will add just the right amount of Phil to your February 2. Adorn out going paperwork or the inside of a greeting card or handwritten note with this iconic emblem.

Groundhog Letterpress Card
What's up... Groundhog card - letterpress printed
Here is a fun, casual way to reach out to someone special. This accommodating letterpress card makes mention GH Day, but also leaves room for other topics of discussion. It sells for $4 for one card and matching envelope.



Valentine's Day Cookies

Sweetheart Sugar Cookies
What You'll Need:
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. meringue powder
  • Pink sanding sugar
1. Preheat oven to 350. Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer at medium speed until fluffy. Add egg, beating until blended.
2. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating just until blended.
3. Divide dough into 2-equal portions; flatten each portion into a disc and chill 10 minutes.
4. Place one dough disk on a heavily floured surface, and roll to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Repeat procedure with remaining dough disk.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cool on baking sheets 5 minutes; transfer to wire racks, and let cool completely (approx. 30 minutes).
6. Whisk together meringue powder and 2 tbsp. water. Brush cookies with mixture, or dip cookies in mixture, and sprinkle with sanding sugar.

For a fun touch, make both big and little sized cookies!

Valentine Puzzle Cookie

What You'll Need:
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/2 lb. confectioners sugar, sifted
  • 2 1/2 tbsp. meringue powder
  • 1/4 cup water
  • red or pink food coloring
1. Preheat oven to 350. Beat sugar and butter until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla.
2. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then add to butter mixture. Mix well.
3. Place a handful of freshly made dough between two sheets of parchment paper, then roll to desired thickness. Repeat with rest of dough. Place rolled dough and parchment on cookie sheets and refrigerate for 10 minutes or longer.
4. Once chilled, cut dough with puzzle cookie cutter and place on lightly greased baking sheet.
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes, then cool.
6. Mix confectioners sugar, meringue and water until smooth a creamy; if icing is too thick, add more water. Once desired thickness is achieved add a drop or two of food coloring.
7. Once cookies are cool, begin piping icing around edges and then fill in. Once the layer has set (approx. 30 min.) add names and/or decorate further.

Sweetheart Sugar Cookie Lollipop's

These are so simple to make that it is unbelievable! Here you go:

1. Use one of the basic sugar cookie recipe's above and follow the instructions through the chilling.
2. Once chilled, roll out dough to 1/8 in. thickness. Cut with heart shaped cookie cutter.
3. When your cookies are cut, place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet far enough apart for the sticks to fit.
4. Gently place a chop stick down the center of the cookie. Place another cut cookie on top of the stick like a sandwich. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.
5. Let cookies cool completely before decorating with you favorite icing concoction!

How to Remove Static Cling

Thursday, January 27, 2011

The other day I was doing some laundry and threw in my shower curtain. No, not the liner but the pretty floral curtain that livens up the whole room. I have washed it before but usually don't put it in the dryer. However, this time I was in a hurry and while loading everything into the dryer my mind wandered about dinner, chores and cleaning the dog hair off the couch. So needless to say I threw the shower curtain in the dryer. Big mistake on my part. Why? You might ask. Well, that's because I use dryer balls instead of fabric softener sheets - though I am going to make these - which helps your clothes dry faster as well as soften them a bit. But what they don't do is get rid of static cling. So when I hung my lovely polyester shower curtain it would not stop sticking to itself and it drove me nuts!

After some research on how to fix this problem without having to rewash the curtain, here's what I discovered, tried and what actually worked. Hope it helps some of you who have the same problems.

Here is what I tried:
  • Moistening my hands and running them along the shower curtain, hoping the moisture would release the static.
  • Hanging the curtain and letting the hot water run in order to create steam.
  • Ironing the curtain and spraying it with Magic Sizing. It did the best job, however the fabric continued to stick together slightly; annoying me still.

Here is what works:
  • Running a wire hanger smoothly over the curtain. The action breaks the bond of the negatively charged electrons, which reduces static cling.
  • Rubbing a fabric softener sheet along the curtain with moist hands. I did not want to purchase the sheets, so I asked a neighbor for one and it worked the best.
  • Lastly, the most effective and most obvious solution to the problem was to throw the curtain in the dryer with a fabric softener sheet for a few minutes. This would have been my first choice had I not lived in an apartment without my own dryer.
Quick Tip!
If you don't like fabric softener sheets either, but have the static cling problem like me then roll up a 2-3 in. ball of aluminum foil and toss it into your dryer. It will remove the cling and never has to be changed. I'm going to try this next time I launder!

Thursday Throwback: Earthlust Bottles


Something that never goes out of style is drinking water. But as technology has progressed people have begun to purchase filtered water in plastic bottles which, let's face it, are wasteful and harm the environment as they gather up in land fills. However, with the technological progression we now have the option of filtering our water in facets and pitchers and then pouring it into stainless steel water bottles. Using these bottles helps the environment - not to mention your wallet - and keeps your drink cold longer than most other containers. A few months ago I purchased one of these stainless steal bottles from EarthLust and simply loved it!

Now I know you may be thinking "these aren't throwback!" Well, no technically the bottles themselves are not, but the new designs that EarthLust has come up with are beautifully antique. As you can see above, they have an ornate candle-laden chandelier, an angelic cameo, a charming bicycle, children's train and vintage floral drawing. So, if you love filling your life with all things vintage, I suggest purchasing one - or more - of these bottles. They are great everyday companions. And right now you can get FREE Shipping at EarthLust!

EarthLust water bottles are made from the highest quality food-grade stainless steel and a BPA-free plastic cap. Prices range from $16 to $21 and are a
vailable in three convenient sizes (1L, 20oz, 13 oz).

Handmade Wednesday's: The Bathroom Decoupage

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Sometimes in a girls life, she wants a bathroom filled with pretty things. But it can be rather hard to find bath accessories that completely suit your personality or fit your bathroom style and coloring. I know that I have had the hardest time because I want all of my bath pieces to be in the same style, but not be too matchy-matchy. That's where creating your own design comes in rather handy. I love using decoupage to turn every cup, bottle, canister or shaker box into something beautiful and unique. If you're not familiar with decoupage that's alright! It is the art of decorating something using cut-outs of paper, linoleum, plastic or any flat material.

Of course you can always use any of the above materials for our craft today, but I love the idea of using napkins. They come in all sorts of interesting designs to give you the style you desire. Heck you can choose anything from vintage roses to children's rubber ducks! So, let's get started.


Here's What You'll Need:
  • Your container of choice
  • Rubbing alcohol or vinegar
  • Creamy colored acrylic craft paint
  • Paint brush or foam brush
  • Paper Napkin of choice
  • weather proof clear coat
  • Fine, sharp scissors
Here's How to Make it:
  1. Clean the glass jar with the rubbing alcohol or vinegar to help the paint adhere.
  2. Paint the jar with two coats of the craft paint and let it dry.
  3. Use the scissors to cut out the designs you want to use, separating the napkin layers so that you are working with only one thin layer.
  4. Then decide where you want them on your container by messing around with placement
  5. Paint the clear coat on the area of the container where you will be placing the decoupage, then carefully place the napkin design over it.
  6. Smooth gently to eliminate wrinkles.
  7. Finish with one or two layers of the clear coat.

Keeping Romance Alive

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

When I was reading my Couple's Devotional Bible the other day, I came across one of the Daily Discussions which spoke about how the "honeymoon period" of a marriage can so easily fade away to leave it lonely, dull and lifeless. Having been married for 4 years, this struck me because the last thing I want is for my marriage to have become vapid. I want my husband and I to always be "in love", keeping our romance evergreen. I love what the authors of this daily discussion Les and Leslie Parrott had to say on the matter:

The frequent expressions of affection and approval that couples give each other during courtship and in the honeymoon stage can dwindle in the first years of marriage. You may still love each other just as much, but you start to talk about it less.
Contrary to the fairy tales we were weaned on, romance always fades. But you can keep your romantic love alive long after the honeymoon has ended. The secret is simple: Do everything you can now to establish lasting habits of loving behavior.
The habits you develop now can lead either to actions that will nurture lifelong love or to behaviors that will sabotage love. The little things you do now - without thinking - will shape your relationship for years to come. So pay attention to those little things.
We tend to think about romance on a grand scale - such as the perfect, once-a-year getaway - and neglect the little opportunities that present themselves every day. Consider how you greet one another after work, or how well you incorporate common courtesies like saying "please" and "thank you". Be sure to maintain a dating habit too, to keep your marriage from falling into the doldrums of working all week and coming home to collapse on the weekends.
Keep love alive - starting now - by establishing daily habits of romance, passion and intimacy. Your honeymoon will become more than just a memory. It will become a way of life.


Though my husband and I love each other very much (and tell each other so everyday) it is hard to find romance. My hubby is not an overly romantic man to begin with, so I have to take the things that he does daily, and turn them into my romantic moments. Like when he consistently does the dishes when I'm not paying attention, when I come home at the end of the day and he has cleaned up the house, when I'm making dinner or brushing my teeth and he hugs me from behind and kisses my neck. And my favorite is when he calls me "Lover Girl" in a baby voice. I think finding these moments in a mature marriage is more about spontaneity than planned events - though those are wonderful as well. But when you are together and you can laugh about something or stop to recognize the enchanting moment you're in, you've found your romance.

And the Winner of the $15 Olive Garden Giftcard Is......

Thanks for entering everyone! Check back here next Tuesday for a brand new Giveaway that will enhance the prettiness in your life.

Here is our winner: Tracy Suzanne - "Hi Girls. I just started following your blog. I'd love to reconnect with my fiance and best friend. Hugs..."

Congratulations!

50 Clever Uses For Common Household Items

Monday, January 24, 2011













Money is tight for most right now while a shift to more natural products around the house is also abounding. How can you find the best of both of these worlds? It's actually very simple. It's all a matter of learning a few tricks and doing it yourself. Here are 50 helpful tips to make products around home more natural, yourself a little more self-reliable and of course all while saving you some cash.

1.)
Toothpaste: Buff a CD/DVD

Apply toothpaste to a cotton ball and wipe the disc. Wash with water afterwards and you've got an lost brand new disc!

2.) Cornstarch: Untangle Knots

Sprinkling cornstarch into tough knots, such as shoe laces can helps loosen them.

3.) Walnut: Buff Dings Out of Wooden Furniture

Get rid of unsightly scratches and dings on wooden furniture by rubbing a walnut on the areas. The blemishes will vanish quickly and your furniture and money will be saved.

4.) Club Soda: Make Your Breads Fluffier

When baking, where recipes call for water, add club soda instead of water to make pancakes, waffles and any other breads fluffier.

5.) Salt: Keep Windows Frost Free

Pour a cup of salt into a liter of water. The, sponge the liquid onto the inside of window to prevent frost from forming during the winter months.

6.) Rubbing Alcohol: Remove Permanent Marker

Dab the surface with permanent marker on it with a cloth or cotton ball covered in rubbing alcohol to make it disappear quickly.

7.) Chapstick: Stops Bleeding When Nicked Shaving

Cut yourself shaving? Just swipe chapstick over the cut to stop that constant bleeding. No more tissue squares!

8.) Apple Juice: Removes Dandruff

Don't ask me how it works, but it does! Instead of buying a special shampoo, just wash your hair in apple juice to rid your scalp of pesky dandruff.

9.) Aspirin: Get Rid of Armpit Stains on T-Shirts

Mash up an aspirin tablet or two, then make a paste out of it using water, lemon or vinegar. Spread the paste on the stained area an let sit for an hour before washing.

10.) Olive Oil: Make Pets' Coat Shinier

Add a bad of olive oil to your pet's food to give them a healthier, shinier coat of fur.

11.) Newspapers: Clean Windows and Mirrors

Instead of using a spray and a streaky cloth, use only newspaper clean off your mirrors and windows for a streak-free finish. No wonder homeless guys use it ;-)

12.) Baking Soda: Remove Bugs From Windshield

Mix baking soda with warm water to make a paste. Spread the paste over your windshield for fifteen minutes. Then wipe off or spray off with a hose.

13.) Bleach: Extend Life of Flowers in Vase

Add a few drops of bleach to vase water to prevent the build up of the slime caused by bacteria. It works just like chlorine in a swimming pool.

14.) Kitchen Dish Soap: Flea-Killing Dog Shampoo

Kitchen dish soap (not dish detergent) can double as dog shampoo for its flea killing abilities.

15.) Coke: Remove Blood Stains From Clothing

Soak the stain in coke until the stain is dissolved, then wash the clothing as usual. Wash before the coke dries, though.

16.) Honey: Remove Blemish Overnight

Have a blemish you need to get rid of by tomorrow? Put a dab of honey on the blemish and cover it up (it's best to use a bandaid) and the honey's natural antibacterial properties will clean out the bacteria by the morning.

17.) Wax Paper: Clean Can Opener Gears

Run a few small strips of of wax paper through the can opener to clean out of the bits and pieces that have built up in the gears through out the year. The wax will also rub off on the gears to protect for future use as well.

18.) WD-40: Remove Crayons From Walls

Use the lubricant and a cloth to remove stubborn crayon marks from the walls just by spraying the wall and wiping with a cloth.

19.) Chalk: Keep Ants and Slugs Out of the House

Ants and Slugs Won't Touch Chalk. So, simply draw a line in front of your doorway where you are having problems with these pesky critters and they won't cross it, meaning they won't be able to get into your house.

20.) Vinegar: Kills Weeds and Helps Flowers Grow

Vinegar is a magic wonder when it comes to gardening. It not only kills weeds but they help flowers grow as well. Douse vinegar all around your garden to prevent weeds from popping up and to help your flowers to grow healthy and strong.

21.) Mayonnaise: Remove Bumper Sticker

Spread mayonnaise on the bumper sticker and let sit for at least thirty minutes. Then, rub the sticker off with a towel, leaving a clean bumper!

22.) Tin Foil Ball: Replace Dryer Sheets Permanently

Instead of using a dryer sheet, ball up one or a few sheets of tin foil and toss it in the dryer. It removes the static electricity from your clothes and one can last up to a year.

23.) Banana Peel: Polish Leather Shoes

Use the inside of a banana peel to give shoes a professional and natural shine that will last for quite some time.

24.) Mouthwash: Cure Athlete's Foot

Pour mouthwash on cotton balls and then swab your feet. The alcohol will disinfect the bacteria completely if you continue this for a week or so.

25.) Baking Soda: Clean BBQ Grill

Mix a cup of baking soda with half a cup water to make a paste. Dip your brush into the paste and scrub the grill. The caked on pieces and black residue will come off much quicker, and using baking soda is much safer and cheaper than using cleaning chemicals.

26.) Coffee Grounds: Fertilizer

Coffee is full of nutrients and vitamins that are very beneficial to soil. That's why some people include it in compost piles. If you want to get the most out of your coffee, pour the grounds on areas where you want more grass or flowers.

27.) Olive Oil: Shaving Cream

The smoothness of the oil can replace the need for shaving cream, and it also provides great moisture.

28. ) Dryer Sheets: Gets Rid of Static Electricity

Use dryer sheets to remove static electricity from things such as clothing, TV screens or your own hair. Tame fly away strands by running a dryer sheet over them.

29.) Freezer: Freeze Candles to Make Them Last Longer

For at least 2 hours before using, put candles in the freezer. Once you burn them, the wax will melt at a much slower pace, making them last much longer!

30.) Two glasses of water: Cure Headache

Water is the cure to most common headaches. To make the headache go away quickly, drink two cups of water very quickly.

31.) Lemons: Deodorize Garbage Disposal

Toss whole slices of lemon into the garbage disposal, then run it. The acidity of the lemon will rid your sink of all odors and leave a fresh scent that usually lasts for a few months.

32.) Alka Seltzer: Remove Burnt-On Grease and Food Stains

When letting your pots and pans soak, throw in one or two Alka Seltzer tablets and the caked on residue from cooking will come off easily when you scrub/wash.

33.) Apple Cider Vinegar: Relieve Diarrhea

Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into eight ounces of water to soothe your stomach. The taste may not be the greatest, but the antibacterial properties of the vinegar will end the unpleasantness of the bowel problems.

34.) Toothpaste: Remove Scratches From Glass

Apply toothpaste to scratch, then rub with a cloth until the scratch is gone. Make sure the glass is clean beforehand.

35.) Cheerios: Relieve Pain From Poison Ivy, Chickenpox and Sunburns

Pound one to four cups of Cheerios into a powder and add to your bath to soothe your skin while you soak. You may not feel relief while in the tub, but you will soon after.

36.) Buttons: Sort Earrings

Organize your earrings and prevent them from becoming entangled by using spare buttons as holders for each pair.

37.) Corn Oil: Prevent Hairballs for Pets

Add a few drops of corn oil to your pets' food to prevent hairballs from forming. The thick oil helps the fur pass through the animal's system much quicker and easily.

38.) Whipped Cream: Remove Gum From Hair

There are many remedies for removing gum from hair, but this is a lesser known one. Give it a try rather than peanut butter the next time you're in need.

39.) Coke: Remove Oil Stains From the Driveway

Oil stains are very difficult to remove pavement, but one method guaranteed to work is Coke. The highly acidic drink will eat away at the oil until clean.

40.) Brown Sugar: Facial Scrub

I use this one all time. A scrub is good to do about once a month to remove dead skin and bacteria built up in pores and remove excess oil from the skin. Brown sugar does just as well as expensive products and will definitely result in a clearer and smoother complexion.

41.) Dryer Sheet: Lint Brush

You know dryer sheets remove lint in the dryer. Well, it can do the same thing out of the dryer, too. When you're in a fix, use a dryer sheet. It works just as well as a lint brush, and if you like the scent, it's an added bonus.

42.) Newspaper: Deodorize food containers and Food Drawers in the Refrigerator

For that stinky tupperware or smelly refrigerator drawer that is too much to deal with, toss in a sheet of newspaper overnight before yo deal with it. The paper will absorb the smell greatly reducing it or eliminating it completely.

43.) Olive Oil: Unstick a Zipper

The oil will help help the zipper slide more easily, fixing the problem!

44.) Salt: Cool Something Quickly

You know that feeling when you're having a BBQ and someone asks for a drink and you realize that no one has put them in the cooler? There's nothing worse than a warm drink on a hot day. Chill a drink quickly, by adding salt and water to your ice. The drinks will be cold in a matter of minutes, saving your party and making you look smart all at once.

45.) Scotch Tape: Prevent Wall From Chipping When Nailing

The wall can leave unsightly chips when hammering in a nail. Prevent this by simple placing a piece of scotch tape over the area you're going to nail. The wall will be held tighter, preventing chips from occurring.

46.) Alka Seltzer: Soothe Insect Bites

Dissolve two tablets into a glass of water. Then use a cloth or cotton ball to apply it to the effected area. The red will go down and most importantly, the itchiness will vanish usually in fifteen minutes.

47.) Lemon: Whitens Whites

Add about half a cup of lemon juice to your load of whites to makes them extra white. You can use lemon juice with bleach or detergent, so don't worry about mixing chemicals withe the acidic lemon.

48.) Banana Peel: Whiten Teeth

This may sound a little odd, but rub the inside of a banana peel on your teeth twice a day for two weeks and you will receive the same effect from a teeth-whitening kit. Plus, you'll save yourself money and the hassle of using chemicals.

49.) Hair Dryer: Free Photos Stuck on Pages

If you have a photo stuck on a page that you can't get free, try using a blow dryer on the back of the page. It will loosen the photo from the page and the adhesive holding it there.

50.) Banana Peel: Heal Most Skin Problems

Bananas are the magical fruit, because they heal many common problems on the skin. By rubbing the peel on your skin, you can heal bruises and cuts and eliminate rashes, itching and warts. Basically if you have a common skin problem, it can be cured by this fruit.


Hope you can put these to good use to save money and make your home more natural. There are many more clever uses for common household items like these. Do you have any?

Wedding Trends: Desserts


















Our next subject is one of my favorites in weddings. A new trend in weddings is to have desserts along with cake. The possibilities of desserts are wide open, as it is not a classic custom. It can range from donuts to rock candy and from s'mores to cotton candy. If you want incorporate things that you love for all your guests to enjoy (and more importantly, you can afford it), you will want to consider adding desserts to your wedding festivities.

















One of the things about this element of the wedding that makes it even more easy and fun is that the choices for desserts don't depend on the motif. Elegant weddings can have M&M's, cookies and suckers (and still be elegant). Also, rustic weddings may serve petit fours, macaroons and chocolate-covered fruit, and still be simple.

















Your theme can shape your desserts if you choose as well. One of my favorite weddings was a carnival-themed wedding complete pixie sticks, laffy taffy, caramel popcorn, licorice rope, ice cream and of course, cotton candy. Another baseball-themed one had boxes of Cracker Jacks outlining the cake for guests to nab.

















Every bride wants to have original elements in their wedding, but it's most important to include what you love. If you love cupcakes and pies, include these desserts rather than trying to find something original. Instead, just try to display your desserts in clever and original manners. Your desserts don't have to fit your motif at all, but make your display apart of it. For an elegant wedding with gummy bears, jellybeans, and other candies, put each in a jar or glass or porcelain bowl with an elegant spoon. For whimsical weddings, use colorful decorations, such as a different colored platter or bowl for each dessert and different ribbons as well. For a rustic theme, consider holding candies in drawers or incorporate natural elements such as grass, leaves and branches. If you have a very specific theme, such as a zoo or holiday, have fun with it! Those themes give you the most room for creativity, especially it terms of desserts. Be creative, because no matter what, they will taste good :-)

















Desserts are the one thing that everyone at your wedding is guaranteed to love. Many guests look forward to seeing what arrays of the couple's favorite goodies will be laid out. Don't be mistaken, each wedding needs a focal sweet, such as the wedding cake, so don't try to replace the cake with a selection of desserts. Having desserts is a fun extra feature, but only include it if you can afford it. If you are able to, have fun choosing your selection to make your day as sweet as possible.