My solution to nickel allergy?

I made sure to test out the “theory” on not only my earrings but on my necklace and bracelet as well.

and yes! IT WORKED!

This trick helped me to avoid this on my sweaty neck and wrists! (There was a lot of dancing at my wedding!!)

See the red line?? Allergic reaction to nickel/costume jewelry!

Anyone else try this?

From J <3 Y

& from C <3 D! How ADORABLE is C in this pic!!??!?!?!? Don’t you want to just bite her cheeks!! LOL

(Photos by: PORTABLE PHOTO FUN BOOTH)

The control freak in me had decided a LONG time ago that I wanted to do my own flowers. There were way too many weddings where I attended and the bride didn’t get the inspiration she was going for. Flowers are definitely one part of wedding planning that’s hard to control. Not a lot of florists give you a test/trial run. Most work off of photos.

Plus, Yug & I were on a really tight budget. We simply couldn’t afford the $1500 (cheapest quote I received in Flushing, Long Island, NY).

Keep reading to see how I managed to do it for $500. It definitely came at a physical & mental stress cost.

I had 18 months to plan my wedding. During this 18 grueling months, I collected lots of supplies for very cheap.

- baby food jars – FREE

- mini fish bowls (20) – 50 cents each. = TOTAL – $10

- water pearls = TOTAL – $5

- faux snow = TOTAL – $10

- alter piece vase (2) – FREE (borrowed)

- misc floral supplies = TOTAL – $20

- white LED lights = TOTAL – $20

- FLOWERS (hydrangeas, calla lilies, assorted purple flowers, baby’s breath) = TOTAL – $359.96

TOTAL spent on flowers = $424.86

Here’s a sneak peek! (photos by my friend on her P & S)

(main center piece)

(aisle flowers)

(my bouquet)

At the end of the day, YES! It was totally worth running like a headless chicken that day to make everything simple, clean, and MY VISION-ized. Of course, none of this would’ve been possible without my awesome DAY OF COORDINATORS (LUCIA & MANNY) – Two Teacups! Thank you girls for setting up my ceremony & reception to the tee of my vision!

At that time, they were only promoting their BUST Serum and LASH Enhancer.

Neither products really interested me because I am a full C cup and my lashes are pretty full.

The BUST serum guarantees a full cup size 6 weeks.

It wasn’t until my final dress fitting (2 weeks before wedding) did this crazy product flashed across my head. I tried wearing a bustier only to find that it pushed all my fat upwards causing BACK FAT! I tried stick chicken cutlets which filled the cups of my dress too much making me look almost like a porn star. I tried nipple covers, strapless, backless, low plunge. Nothing filled my dress cups perfectly.

So the 2 weeks leading up to the wedding, I started applying TALIKA’s Bust Serum. It might be all in my head according to my sister who thinks the $49 is not worth it. But within the 1st week, I did notice a significant difference. I don’t know about an extra cup size, but I did notice my boobs felt like it got a lift. It was definitely firmer (not the painful firm that you get during PMS). So I decided to try using it under my arms too.

Here is C & I at cocktail hour. (Yug & I attended our cocktail hour so we can greet as many “adult” guests as possible. This gave us so much time to hang out with our friends during reception!) I changed into a simple dress because my wedding dress was so big and I couldn’t walk around in it.

I’m not wearing any boob support in this dress and surprisingly, nothing is sagging! I actually stopped using it after the wedding because I was afraid it would bump me to a D cup.

So I give TALIKA miracle boob serum a 2 thumbs up.

Anyone else try this product?

SIDE NOTE:

TALIKA is on sale at GILT today! To join GILT Group, simply CLICK HERE.

There were so many emotions going through my head and heart this day. My gut telling me that I had to postpone our wedding. I couldn’t wrap my head around my “wedding to-do list” and I couldn’t imagine going through this day with my heart mourning. But with the support of my friends and family, I (by the grace of God) got through it.

____

I’m not going to sit here, lie and tell you guys that Yug & I have the best relationship. We’ve been together for 6 years. So by now, we are definitely comfortable with each other to the point where we say things (comfortably without thinking twice), we bicker (knowing that tomorrow is another day so let’s bang it out now), we stay angry & bitter with each other till 1 of us caves in, we comfortably show each other the uglies of ourselves.

So the days leading up to the wedding were really ugly. We even got to the point where we almost didn’t go through with the wedding. I was at a point where I didn’t mind losing all of our deposits to cancel the wedding.

So my grandfather Boo passing was a blessing in disguise. His passing slowed me down. I was getting so caught up in the “are my programs perfect?”, “are my seating cards perfectly aligned?”, “why isn’t my relationship with Yug perfect”, “my wedding has to be perfect!”.

Everyone commented about how my grandfather Boo’s passing was such horrible timing but I’m still quite amazed by how perfect his timing was.

(I’m sorry to offend anyone with the following but this rings so hard in my heart that I HAVE to share.)

<< Ecclesiastes 3 >>

A Time for Everything

1There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—

2A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

3A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.

4A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.

5A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

6A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.

7A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.

8A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

9What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?

10I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.

_____________

My grandfather Boo passed away on the Thursday (the 9th) before our wedding. So we were able to scurry and prepare his funeral ceremony on Friday (the 10th) and his burial on Saturday (the 11th) morning. He made sure to leave me 12/12/10. My heart still aches knowing that I couldn’t share this day with him. But I am ever so thankful that he didn’t have to suffer with illness and his passing was peaceful.