...Not The Laundry Blues!

Newlywed? You're probably too busy showing off your fab new frillies to do any laundry! Procrastinator? I hear you. Domestically Disabled? Me too. Afraid to go into your basement to do your laundry because there was a big, huge spider that sent you away screaming last time? Now there is a song and dance I am very familiar with! The answer? Soak!

Darling dearests, no matter what your story, Soak can help you out with your issues. It's as close to a fairy godmother as you're going to get. I tried it tonight for the first time and fell in love with the fresh scents and how easy it is to use! To my surprise, it actually worked better than my regular detergent. For real - I LOVE this stuff! Here's the deal...

"Soak is modern care for fine fibers. This rinse-free formulation is perfect for washing your laciest lingerie, your softest sweaters, swimwear, workout gear, hand-made quilts and even baby clothes. Soak is gentle and deliciously scented with fabric-friendly ingredients that revitalize fibers so they look great and last longer. Soak is biodegradable, non-toxic and has eco-friendly packaging." - SoakWash.com

Planning a bachelorette party or a bridal shower? Order a few sets of the Soak Mini Samples as a fabulous yet unique favor idea - it's an easy, affordable option, as they come in sets of 12. Perhaps you get crafty and tie a ribbon with a tag around each!

Order a few bottles of Soak Celebration to give as shower game prizes or a few bottles for the bride so she can Soak wash all of her new lingerie. The Soak Label Of Love 12-Pack also makes a great gift!

(Photo credits: www.soakwash.com)

Head on over to www.soakwash.com to get yours or learn more. Now through December 31st, 2009, guests can enter code SOAK09 upon checkout for 15% off all orders placed on www.soakwash.com.

Also, be sure to stop by the Soak Worthy Blog and add Jacqueline, the founder, to your list of super cool Twitter peeps. Cheers and happy soaking!

...Bake Up A Bridal Storm Of Yummies!!

Planning a bridal shower? Serve up these pretty lil' treats to your guests! Just click on the links below for the recipes and serve with a smile...

Black Currant Tea Chocolate Truffles

Colorful Butterfly Lollipops

Sweetheart Sandwich Cookies

Top It With Tea!

(Photo credits and recipes: www.delish.com)

Or, do as I sometimes do - decorate for the shower until it's too late to even consider baking and then send a bridesmaid to the bakery instead! Serve your treats as dessert with coffee and tea or set up to-go boxes so your guests can fill them up to take home as bridal shower favors. Cheers!

...With These Unique Chicago Landmark Postcards Turned Paper Models!

Couples planning a Chicago wedding, take a look at these super cool postcards which could easily be used as save-the-dates or favors for your Chicago loving wedding guests! Each postcard comes with a complete paper model they can take take home to assemble. Check it out...

"Build Your Own Chicago is a series of postcards published by Wurlington Brothers Press which can be cut and assembled into miniature paper models of prominent Chicago landmarks."

(Photo credits: BuildYourOwnChicago.com, found via GapersBlock.com)

"The postcards generallly measure 4-5/8" x 6-3/4" and include all pieces and instructions necessary to make one model. All the cards are mailable postcards, with space on the reverse of the card for a stamp and address and a message. Each card also includes a short but informative description of the landmark the model represents. Instructions are included." - BuildYourOwnChicago.com

Can it get any cooler? Choose from several different models including The Sears Tower, Chicago Tribune Tower, CTA Trains, John Hancock Center, Michigan Avenue Bridge, Water Tower, Wrigley Field and more! Get them and read more by clicking HERE. Cheers!

...Great Gift Idea For Music Lovers!

Have you ever seen Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist? These letterpress record coasters remind me of something straight out of that movie.

Imagine giving these as a gift to your fiance! Or, perhaps you could use these to decorate the bar at your wedding.

The creative lil' miss over at Maida Vale actually turned these coasters into a mini scrapbook! To see how she did it, click HERE. Now that would be something very cool to recieve, don't you agree?

I could also see these being given as favors to guests!

To grab your own set of letterpress record coasters, visit Etsy seller sarahparrott825. Also, be sure to check out the designer's refreshing blog, Things Are Better With A Parrot. Rock on!

...Added Personalization & Pops Of Color To My Sister's Bridal Shower!

Like the song by Counting Crows goes, "Pass me a bottle, Mr. Jones...believe in me, help me believe in anything, I want to be someone...who believes...yeah...", Mr. Jones did help me believe - in drinking really good soda.

Yes, Mr. Jones helped me believe in everything pink, orange, yummy and fabulous! With customized Jones Soda bottles in Fufu Berry, Orange & Cream and Cream Soda for the guests, it was indeed a sweet, refreshing treat!

(Pictures from shower thanks to Denise Johnson of Bellis Studios)

I love that Jones Soda allows you the option to customize your bottles. It's pretty simple - you just upload a photo, type in what you'd like the front of the label to say, then you type in what you'd like the back to say.

For my sister's bridal shower, we put, "How sweet it is to be loved by you!" on the front, then the back of the label said, "It started with a kiss, so let us toast to this ~ sweet dreams and best wishes to the soon-to-be Mr. & Mrs! Brock & Lindsay 2009".

(Pictures from shower thanks to Denise Johnson of Bellis Studios)

Everyone was so excited to receive their own personalized bottle of Jones Soda, they had never seen anything like it! I have to admit, they were pretty darn cool. The pretty packaging definitely sold me at first, but the delicious taste is quite impressive too. Everyone loved it!

(Pictures from shower thanks to Denise Johnson of Bellis Studios)

I'm not normally a big "pop" drinker, but after the shower was over and the soda was gone, I ran to my local Super Target to pick up some more. I had to stock some of that yummy stuff in my own fridge! Of course, I also kept one of the customized bottles from the shower as a little keepsake after I drank it, so it's now proudly displayed in our kitchen! I know, I'm a sentimental pack rat.

Now my sister wants to get customized Jones Soda for her wedding! Since the soda comes in a variety of different colors and flavors, I definitely plan on using it for future events too. Yay!

If you love Jones Soda as much as I do or perhaps have never even tried it, you're in for a treat, my friends! Just visit www.jonessoda.com to find store locations or to customize your own bottles for your shower, wedding or other event. They even offer a Jones Soda Weddings page filled with inspiration! Cheers and enjoy...I know you will!

More pictures and details from the bridal shower to come...stay tuned!

...How Can You Go Wrong With These?

Something sweet, something fun, something yummy for your tum! Stuck on what to give as favors for your wedding or shower? Why not keep it simple, affordable and delicious? I love the idea of giving guests homemade chocolate chip cookies, especially when they're personalized and packaged like these:

Discovered at Stuff:

If you really want to go all out, personalize each bag with the guests' names. Or, perhaps make special sugar-free cookies for any diabetic guests...what a thoughtful way to show your appreciation and thanks!

I mean, come on - who doesn't love cookies? Compared to love and shoes of course, cookies are the next best thing! The gal who originally made these claims she can't cook - but she apparently can bake! To see how she created these lovely bags, click HERE. Happy baking!

Make Perfect Favors Or Bridal Party Gifts!

Looking for some stylish gifts to give to your guests or bridal party? I've featured unique bottle stoppers over at the Wishpot Wedding Blog this week, that most anyone would love! Here's a couple to get you excited, to see the rest, head on over to my guest blog by clicking HERE.

Black & White Monogrammed Stoppers from NapaStyle.com:

Versace Red Logo Bottle Stopper From Bluefly:

Love them and want them for yourself? Add them to your Wishpot Registry, or pick one up just in time for New Years Eve! To see these items and more, head on over to my Wishpot Lists. Cheers!

...Turn Ornament Ideas Into Decor Ideas!

Planning for the holidays and for your wedding? Perhaps you can take the work you put into your holiday and use it for your wedding as well! After reading THIS article, I thought I'd share with you my favorite homemade ornaments-turned-wedding-decor ideas from Martha Stewart. Just click on the name of each ornament to learn how to easily make them:

Floating Ornaments

Sure, you could decorate your tree with these, buy why stop there? Make several in the colors of your wedding and hang them low from your reception ceiling, perhaps above the dance floor or from the top of the bar:

Snowy Balloon Ornaments

Imagine these lovely ornaments inside bowls or vases as centerpieces for your tables, in the colors of your wedding or ones complimentary to your flowers. Or, hang them from trees outside or inside, to fancy up your ceremony or reception entrance!

Ribbon Bow Ornaments

These lovely ornaments could instead be created to decorate your table settings at your reception. Just place them on top of each plate to add a pop of color!

Button Wreath Ornament

These ornaments could be used in your wedding colors to hang behind your chairs at the ceremony or reception, or to hang on the side of pews. Or, you could make button garland! Just thread a long string of buttons and hang the garland over the front of your head table. Decorate doors, chairs, the bar, anywhere! If you love the button idea, why not create a button theme? Sprinkle several buttons in your wedding colors over tables, like confetti. Place in the bottom of flower vases instead of rocks. Dare I say it? Cute as a button!

Tinsel Snowflakes

Planning a winter wedding? Create these snowflake ornaments in whatever colors you'd like, then place them in different spots such as the corner of the guestbook table, or on the table of favors. Heck, you could even use these as favors! Then each of your guests would have an ornament to take home and hang on their tree, year after year, remembering your amazing day.

To see more creative ornament ideas, click HERE. Or, head over to MarthaStewart.com for even more great ideas. Happy decorating!

...A Newlywed Bar!

Brides, this is one registry idea your guy might actually get excited about registering for! If you've got your heart set on finding the perfect bar for your home, why not look at these beauties from Crate & Barrel? After your wedding, once you're all settled into happy married life, have your friends or family over. You and your fiance can play bartender! Here are two of my favorites:

(Top: Sloane Leaning Wine Bar (I love the option to buy just the one piece or how you can put several together to fill your wall). Bottom: Steamer Bar Cabinet)

Guests can pitch in together to either buy your bar or help you build it. I've seen many wedding showers done around a wine or bar theme, where each guest brings a bottle of liquor to create a full bar for the couple. Liquor can get expensive if you're buying it all yourself, so I think this is such a creative and fun idea!

Whether guests pitch in for a nice bar, purchase a bottle of liquor or even add some cool things for your bar such as shakers, pourers, strainers, mixers and sugars, you can thank them later by inviting them over for your next soiree as a married couple, after the wedding!

Looking for more cool things to register for and other ways to help you build your bar? See this week's guest blog post I wrote on the Wishpot Wedding Blog by clicking HERE. Cheers!

…Of Flowers For Favors!

I found this super sweet favor idea over at Shindigs - isn’t it adorable? What a great way to truly thank your guests. Each can comes with a special little message or saying. You can order these for your shower or wedding by clicking HERE. These would make great bridesmaid gifts too!

“Pop the top, add a bit of sunshine and some water and in a short while you’ll have grown yourself a pretty bouquet of flowers in a can!” - FredFlare.com

Be sure to visit Fred Flare for tons of other great gifts, entertaining items, decor and more. Cheers!

...Perfect For Bridal Shower Or Bachelorette Parties!

I found this fabulous DIY favor idea over at the fabulous Prima Donna Bride blog.  It looks super easy to make!  I might be changing the favors I'm making, for the bridal shower I'm hosting tomorrow, to these instead...only using black, white or red paper and ribbon to go with our theme.  To see how to create these adorable favors, click HERE.

Don't you love it?

While I'm trying to make up my mind on favors, perhaps I'll pretend to be domestic and clean house for the shower tomorrow too.

Having wonderful professional procrastination skills, I might still be cleaning at 2am.  Ssshh...don't tell anyone.

(Images thanks to: Prima Donna Bride and Amusing Musings & Things - cool blogs, be sure to check them out!)