Engagement Party: Invites & Decor

June 9, 2017August 19, 2020 Red Rose & HoneyLeave a comment

Hi there! Thanks for checking out my blog. This post is part of my wedding planning series. If you have not read my previous posts on my engagement ring and how I asked my bridesmaids to be part of my wedding day check them out here and here. I have been engaged for over a year now and can’t believe how quickly the time has gone by. It has truly been a special year! As my wedding gets closer I am getting more excited too. In this post I am sharing the details of our engagement party. We had so much fun celebrating with our closest friends and family!

Our parents threw us an engagement party at a great restaurant called Corks & Taps in Bayshore, NY. It has a rustic meets industrial vibe which went perfect with the decor theme I had my heart set on. {More to come on how my wedding vision changed over the last year – stay tuned!} We lucked out with the most perfect fall day and were able to keep the giant front doors open for the entire party. The venue could not have been more perfect. The food was great, the staff was helpful and of course there were a ton of craft beer options on tap! I have to follow a gluten-free diet, so it is very important that the venue prepares everything gluten free. I am happy to say I had no problems with the food. All of our guests had great things to say about the venue.

I ordered our invitations on Etsy which were perfectly coordinated with the beer and wine theme. The seller was very responsive via Etsy messages and turned around my order within 1-2 days. The invite was an instant download which I had printed and cut at Staples. I think the quality of the invites were great. Instant downloads are a way to incorporate affordable invites into your event. There are so many invitation options on Etsy that you can definitely find one for any style or occasion.

As I mentioned in my previous post I gave all of my bridesmaids custom wine glasses which they all brought to the party. My fiance and I also used our matching wine and beer glass set. All of the glasses made for some cute pictures!

I have dreamed about getting married in the fall for as long as I can remember. That dream always included pumpkins. I painted a large pumpkin white with a gold stem and big “S” initial for my future last name. It was super easy to make. I purchased the paint at a craft store and used a stencil to paint the “S.”

My mom purchased all different sized glass vases from the craft store which we filled with corn kernels and yummy scented fall candles. All of the women at the party loved them! These were all snatched up as we left that day. Since the party my mom has re-purposed these vases for all different holidays.

One of my most favorite decorations of the day were the painted mason jars my mom made. She used white chalkboard paint and gave them a rustic look by rubbing them down with sandpaper. A bunch of our guests also took these home because they loved them so much. My uncle is a wonderful florist and he filled the mason jars with the prettiest flowers. He is also the florist for my wedding day!

My MOH gave me a Polaroid camera for my birthday, so I decided to use it at our engagement party to have our guests make a photo/guest book. The film cartridges are a little pricey, so I thought it would be a better idea to use the Polaroid camera at our engagement party versus our wedding (to use less film). I bought a square craft book at Michael’s Crafts that had blank pages. To attach the photos to the book I bought double sided scrap-booking tape that comes in a roller (similar to this one). I suggest using tape that comes in a dispenser over the little squares you have to peel off the tape roll because you don’t want little papers all over. At our party I left the Polaroid camera, the book, tape and some pretty milky gel pens on a table. I love how it turned out and every so often I take out the book to read through all of the notes our guests left us.

I ordered custom signs from Designs by Kari on Etsy with our wedding hashtag, a message for the Polaroid table and a few other sayings. I opened a custom order request because the seller did not have all of the signs I wanted at the time. She was very responsive via Etsy messages and was able to create everything I wanted. I was so happy because I was having a hard time finding signs that I liked in the same colors and fonts. This order was also an instant download which I had printed at Staples. I found picture frames at Marshalls which also go nicely with my home decor so they were all easily re-purposed.

I found metal initials and an “&” sign at Michael’s Crafts which I left out on the bar with other decor. I also bought a few dark wood milk crates from Joanne’s Crafts which we used for our favors and pretty fall mums! Throughout the restaurant I also had some framed pictures of Mike and I. Some of my bridesmaids had given me gifts shortly after getting engaged and they doubled as great party decor! My MOH gave me an “engaged” banner with we used in pictures and I purchased a “love is sweet” banner that we hung over the fire place at the restaurant.

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DSC_3051_1 — Photo by Annie Harris Photography

Possibly my most favorite part of my engagement party decor were the favors! My mom is the best baker ever and she baked our favorite cookies. She uses Bob’s Redmill gluten free oatmeal to make her Monster Cookies gluten free too! I ordered paper bags and thank you stickers from Etsy. The bags of cookies looked so pretty in the wood milk crates, so they doubled as another decoration. We wrapped each cookie in plastic wrap and sealed the bags with the stickers.

Gift Guide: Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

June 7, 2017 Red Rose & Honey1 Comment

Asking the most special ladies in your life to be part of your “bride tribe” is so exciting, but it can also be stressful. I wanted to ask each of them with a special gift. I did not start any of my wedding planning immediately after getting engaged. I decided to wait a few months to soak in the goodness of our engagement before getting caught up in the wedding plans. My delayed start resulted in my bridesmaids’ gifts to arriving later than planned, but luckily before our engagement party. I didn’t want to go too crazy with gifts, so I decided on personalized wine glasses, nail polish and a sweet card. Our engagement party was hosted at a wine and beer bar, so the wine glasses were the perfect gift. Both the wine glasses and cards were purchased on Etsy. Some of my girls had a good hunch they would be a bridesmaid and others did not. It was so special to surprise them and ask them to be part of my wedding day. Nothing better than happy tears!

The wine glasses and flower girl tumbler were by Weddings By Leann on Etsy in colors midnight and copper metallic. I also ordered a matching “Future Mrs.” and “One Lucky Mr.” wine and beer glass set for Mike and I to use the day of our engagement party. The seller was very responsive via Etsy messages which helped me to make sure the fonts and colors of each item were coordinated. The glasses arrived in 3-4 weeks and were wrapped so perfectly! Lots of bubble wrap, so all arrived in perfect condition. It’s been 8 months and mine is still perfect. I use it all the time, but only wash it by hand.

I ordered “Will You Be My Bridesmaid?” cards from The Lion and The Lark on Etsy as well. This seller was also very responsive via Etsy messages which helped me to order a matching flower girl card. This order was an instant download which I had printed at Staples.

With each glass I gave the girls a nail polish. The bridesmaids got Essie Sole Mate (a perfect plum shade for fall) and my flower girl got a confetti polish by China Glaze.

Skincare Routine: Adult Acne & Sensitive Skin

June 3, 2017August 19, 2020 Red Rose & Honey2 Comments

I have been struggling with acne prone and sensitive skin since I was about 13 years old. Now in my late twenties (what??) I am still managing the same skin problems, along with my skin becoming more dry and wanting to prevent wrinkles! I have come a long way since those teenage years. The majority of the year my skin is clear, but there are times that I feel like no matter what I do I can’t clear up a break out. For those of you that struggle with pimples and acne you know how discouraging that can be. In this blog I am sharing my top skincare tips and the products that I have used over the last year that have worked REALLY well for me. I hope that this blog helps someone else too because there is nothing better than feeling good about your skin.

My go-to Products

FAB Cleanser – It’s super creamy and gentle. Pairs great with the Clarisonic and does a good job of removing makeup. Side note – I have been loving First Aid Beauty (FAB) products over the last year. They are simple, gentle and effective.

FAB Rescue Blemish Pads – My go-to for stubborn breakouts. Sometimes I use 1 pad per day alternating with another toner morning and night. Other times I will use these morning and night. The pads always clear up my skin during during a bad spell.

FAB Ulta Repair Hydrating Serum – I love this stuff, but only use it at night for two reasons. 1) It’s not the cheapest and 2) Some of my makeup doesn’t apply well over it. This serum is not greasy, doesn’t make me break out and keeps my skin SO soft.

FAB Ulta Repair Lotion – I have been loving this light weight, non-greasy, super hydrating lotion! I use it both day and night. It’s a great value for the price – 8oz for $24 – HUGE bottle! But this is the sale price, so I am worried it is going to be discontinued. You should try this out before it’s gone!

Dr. Lin Acne Spot Corrector – This gel contains 5% benzyol peroxide which many articles show is a key product in clearing acne. I have found higher concentrations can be too drying, so when I found this one I knew I had to try it. It’s actually a bit difficult to find, but is available online at Target. I can use this product 2x a day year-round and it does not dry out my skin. During more humid months I do mix in a stronger formula from the drugstore. Even when my skin is clear I still incorporate benzyol peroxide into my routine to help prevent future breakouts.

Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Toner – I never thought I would really like a toner, but I’ve purchased about 5 bottles already. I will use this twice a day when I’m not using the FAB blemish pads. It keeps my skin clear, smooth and hydrated. Can’t say enough good things about it. I love it and would recommend anyone, regardless of skin type, to try it!

Origins Charcoal Mask – This mask is like my secret weapon for clear skin! I use it 1-2x per week and find it works best after showering and exfoliating. The charcoal really pulls the junk our of my pores. When I wake up the next morning my skin always looks great. I think my skin always looks fresh, clear and tight. This mask can be drying though, so use with caution. I generally only use it on my chin, around my mouth and on the sides of my nose. It’s a little too drying for a full face mask (for me). After using this I always follow with a heavy night time moisturizer.

Clarisonic – I purchased a Clarisonic Mia 1 about a year ago and definitely think it helps keep my skin clear. I prefer the radiance brush head over the sensitive brush. I use it almost every night in the shower to remove my makeup and deep cleanse my face. I find that when I don’t use the Clarisonic regularly I tend to get black heads and sebum build-up on my chin. You may have to experiment with different cleansers to find which cleanser/Clarsonic combo works for you. I recommend a good cream cleanse that lathers up a lot. As I mentioned above, I love the one from FAB.

Nutrition Choices

Sugar – Without fail bad sugar and sweets make me breakout. Usually these breakouts appear in tiny bumps on my forehead and cheeks. For most of my life my acne has been around my chin and mouth, so I know when I have pimples elsewhere it’s from food or something very greasy touching my face. I am known to get a breakout around my mouth from salad dressing or oily spaghetti touching my chin too. Fruits and whole grain breads don’t seem to have an impact on my skin, but I really have to watch the desserts. My wedding is coming up this fall and I don’t have to have a sugar breakout! I indulged a little over Memorial Day weekend and by Thursday I woke up with bumps on my forehead. Some foods I have noticed my skin reacting to are cake, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, cereal and store bought granola.

Water – I am guilty of not drinking enough water, but I know when I do I feel better and my skin looks better. I find that if I drink hot water with lemon when I get to work I will usually reach for another cup and keep drinking throughout the day.

Salmon and Nuts – I noticed an improvement in my hair and skin when I regularly incorporate fish and nuts. Yay for healthy fats!

Good Habits for Clear Skin – Overall, I think keeping your skin clear and healthy is attributed to a good skincare routine and good food choices. Taking all of your makeup off at night is very important. It’s also a good idea to regularly wash your makeup brushes because they can hold dirt and bacteria. I also finding that introducing too many products at once can be confusing for my skin. It becomes hard to tell which products are working and which are not. I always introduce one new product at a time. I have also made it a habit to change my bathroom hand towels and pillow cases often. I use a new hand towel every time I was my face. Like makeup brushes, pillow cases and towels can hold on to dirt. If you do breakout, definitely try not to touch it because it always makes it work and you’ll end up making it more noticeable!