Walgreens 40 FREE Prints today only

I just found out about a fantastic deal on prints from Walgreens. Click over to their photo page and add 40 prints to your cart. At checkout, use code drugstore40 and make sure to select the option to pick up your prints at your local Walgreens to get your order absolutely FREE!

Bride TEXTS While Walking Down the Aisle!

Did you see this?

Yes, she really pulls a cellphone out of her wedding dress and checks messages during her wedding!! There are no words.....wow....just, WOW!

Walgreens FREE 8x10 Collage Print Today Only

Walgreens had a special a few weeks back for a FREE 8 x 10 Collage Print, but with all the craziness going on in our household I missed it. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that they are offering the same deal today. Just go to the Walgreens Photo Site to upload pictures and make your collage print. At checkout, use the code COLLAGE and then selected store pick up to get it absolutely free! I just did this so I know it works. Happy collage making!

Two Weeks to go!!!!!

OMG! I can't believe the Big Day is just TWO WEEKS away! I'm just a big ball of emotions right now....excited, nervous, stressed! Last week I was running around like a crazy lady trying to tie up all the loose ends. I'll be doing the same thing this week and next until we leave. Most of my to-do list has been accomplished, but there are still some DIY projects that have to be finished and a few final decisions that have to be made for the decor. Other than all that, we are set to go! I just pray that I can keep it together so that I don't look like the chick in this picture!

Bloomberg BusinessWeek Free 1-Year Subscription

You guys know how much I love to pass on deals. This morning I came across an opportunity to get a free one-year subscription to Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Click here to sign up for your free subscription. I just signed up for a free one-year subscription of Forbes through this same program. My first issue should arrive in a few weeks. Yay for free stuff!

I have a bunch of other posts that I'll be putting up in the coming days so stay tuned.

Until next time.....

Deal of the Day: Snapfish 100 FREE prints + $1 Shipping

Today in the daily Drugstore Divas email, Lisa mentioned a fantastic deal from Snapfish good through today (8/16/11). You can get 100 FREE prints and only pay $1 shipping & handling if you use the code: WEDPRINT at checkout. My niece and I both used the code and it works! Including sales tax my total came to $2.18. Not bad for 100 photos! Head on over to Snapfish to get your free prints before midnight tonight!

I Went Shopping: JC Penney

Life has been pretty hectic the past few months and blogging slowed down to....well, nothing. I've been running a growing business, wedding planning, party hosting, and desperately trying to get a handle on domestic management. But while my plate has been full with all that and more I've been keeping a journal of all the things I want to share, like JCP Rewards.

I've been a JCP Rewards members for about a year now and I LOVE it! When I was younger, I used to shop at JCP with my aunt who loves the store so much that she lovingly calls it Jacques Penné. But I hadn't been in a very long time until last year over Christmas break when I found a great deal on some super sexy black boots and jewelry. I signed up for the rewards program and received a JCP Cash certificate for $10 off any purchase (even clearance items!) of $10 or more. I was hooked! Now, I regularly receive these $10 certificates in the mail...I'd say once or twice every 3-4 months. They are like gold! As soon as I get one, I head straight to JCP and start shopping! I can always find fun accessories there and since I'm addicted to accessories, that's the first place I went......and look what I found! 

Liz Claiborne Wallet On a String, which is a faux croc wallet and mini crossbody all in one! It comes in several colors including red, lime green and gold. I chose gold and it is FABULOUS! The best part is that it was originally $30, but marked down to the oh so sweet price of $11.99!! With my certificate, I paid a whopping $2.13 for this super cute bag that measures 6.75" x 4" x 1.5" and features a removable shoulder strap, 5 interior compartments, 2 exterior compartments, 1 ID slot and 3 card slots! Get to your nearest JCP and pick up one (or more!) before they're all gone!

Dog Bows Made Easy

We recently added a new addition to our family. Everybody, meet.....Hannah!

She is an adorably sweet girl that in a few short days has turned our house upside down! But in a good way. On Sunday, we took Hannah for her first grooming appointment at That Fabulous Dog. Our oldest, Conner, just loves going to see David and we knew Hannah would too. I was absolutely thrilled when we went to pick up our girl. David had placed two hot pink bows in her hair!! She has since pulled them out, but it's too late....I'm totally hooked on how cute she looks with bows, which means she will have them all the time!!! I stumbled across a great video today that explains how to make these super cute dog bows at home. Thanks, Susan, for the video!

Manicure Madness: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Grey Area

Anyone who knows me well knows that I love two things: scarves and manicures! That doesn't mean those are the only things I love. But let's just say I've never seen a scarf or a bottle of nail polish that didn't put a smile on my face :) I wear a scarf everyday and I paint my nails at least twice a week!! This week I'm all about the Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear shades for 2011. They really have some great shades this season like Mint Sorbet and Lacey Lilac! As soon as I saw Grey Area on the display I fell in love. (I fell even deeper in love with the price...2 for $4 at Walgreens)! This is a fantastic shade for transitioning from the super dark nail polishes of Winter into popular pastels for Spring. 

I was on Yahoo looking through the headlines and saw the story: 6 Things Your Nail Salon Doesn't Want You to Know. Check it out here. I really love going to the salon or spa and getting a nice manicure, but this article makes me think twice. Scary! Honestly, how would you know if that expensive bottle of hand lotion or nail polish has been watered down or completely refilled with a cheaper product?! My advice: DIY manicures with your own tools and polish is the safest choice....and there's no extra charge for a color change!

Wine Country Chicken Salad

I think I wrote about starting the journey to healthy eating in my New Year's post. Well, I'm happy to report that 4 months into the new year, we are still sticking to our plan. In fact, for Lent my fiancé and I decided to give up red meat, white rice, and soda. So far so good thanks to my good friend Trader Joe's. Lest you think I've been living under a rock, I've shopped at Trader Joe's before. But back then I was not committed to ridding my diet of synthetic hormones, food dyes, and other additives. Now, I'm on a mission and this store offers a wealth of treasures to ease the transition from a diet of heavily processed foods to organic nutrition....enter Wine Country Chicken Salad.

My fiancé and I were shopping at TJ's two weeks ago and they were giving out samples of their chicken salad. It was so delicious, I wasn't even ashamed to grab a second sample! In the store, my fiancé was underwhelmed, but once we got home and he put it on TJ's Multigrain Oat bread, he was hooked! The tiny container lasted about 2 days. Since I didn't want to become dependent on the store brand, I decided to try to make some from scratch. Using the ingredients listed on the package and a ton of various chicken salad recipes I found online, here's what I came up with:

1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup organic mayo
1/2 cup organic plain yogurt
1 cup pecan, cranberry, and rosemary mixture**
4 cups cooked organic skinless chicken chopped into bite-size pieces
4 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp organic honey

Grab two bowls. In the first, mix together the chicken, pecans, cranberries, and rosemary mixture, and celery and set aside. In the second bowl, mix together the mayo, yogurt, sugar, and honey.
*you can also add salt and pepper to taste. I chose to lightly salt and pepper the chicken when I cooked it. Next, pour the mayo mixture over the chicken mixture and mix well. Chill for 2-3 hours before serving.

This was a HIT in our house and the first batch barely lasted 1 day! I will say that I need to tweak the mayo/yogurt mixture as the consistency was slightly runny. Other than that it was super yummy and a great healthy snack or light lunch option to have on hand. This will definitely become one of my regular recipes!

**Instead of buying separate containers of pecans and cranberries, I used a package of Trader Joe's Nuts Rosemary Pecans & Cranberries mixture. A little sign next to the display said it was 'like Thanksgiving in a bag." And, indeed it was!! You can use this in many recipes or even sprinkle some on top of a salad. This will be a regular item on my weekly grocery list!

That Fabulous Dog and a fabulous afternoon

Yesterday was one of those days you just dream about. After church, Conner had an appointment with a new groomer. I'd already had a lovely conversation with David at That Fabulous Dog when I scheduled the appointment so everyone in our house was looking forward to it. From the minute we entered this gem on Mitchell Street, we knew we'd taken our little furry baby to the right place. David is Atlanta's Dog Whisperer! Check out the Facebook Fan Page here. While Conner was getting the spa treatment, David suggested we go next door to Lunacy Black Market for a bite to eat.

We were not disappointed! On Sundays they have all you can eat Pasta/Risotto for $9.95 per person. We weren't hungry enough for that, so we opted to try all the side items with our Riesling. We ordered the Antipasto Plate, the Green & Purple Cabbage Salad with Gorgonzola Cheese, Sauteed Shrimp, and tons and tons of bread! It was all crazy delicious and incredibly affordable!

After lounging around the restaurant for another hour or so, we took a stroll down Mitchell Street. Since we are Downtown residents, we have a keen interest in and passion for seeing the core of Downtown revitalized. And while there are still far too many vacant buildings for our liking, places like That Fabulous Dog and Lunacy Black Market give us hope for the future. Oh, and check out how fabulous Conner looks:

Sally Hansen Spring 2011 Collection by Tracy Reese

Tracy Reese is one of my favorite designers and thankfully she has partnered again with Sally Hansen to create a limited edition of must-have spring shades. Check out the beautiful hues. The blue one (Barracuda) is my favorite, I think. According to reports, these should be hitting the shelves of stores by the end of the month. As soon as I get my hands on one (or more!) I'll write a review and post swatches.

Tomorrow I will post about an AMAZING CVS haul I got this weekend. You won't believe the deals!

Nails of the Day: Kleancolor Catch Me

The beauty supply store near my house sells Kleancolor nail polish for only $1! I stopped in the other day to see if they had any new nail polishes when I saw Catch Me. Now this picture is with flash so the color appears to be brighter than it actually is, which is more like a neon turquoise. Still, a very nice shade for the Spring. Check out another shot without flash below:

Wet n Wild Blue Moon

Now that I'm 3 weeks post surgery I'm starting to venture out into the world a bit more. No, I'm not quite up to my normal pace, but I'm getting there....slowly, but surely. Anyway, I was out the other day and had about an hour to kill between appointments. With some coupons burning a hole in my pocket I headed to CVS to see if there were any good cosmetics sales. Unfortunately I didn't see much, but I did pick up a super pretty polish for only a buck! Behold, Wet n Wild Wild Shine Blue Moon

I know in the bottle it might not look all that impressive. But trust me, it is gorgeous in person! It's a deep, bright perfect blend of navy and electric blue. I did a quick swatch on my toe (which I wouldn't dare post. lol!) because I just couldn't wait to see it. And after a quick Google search I learned that it is a dupe for OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue! Beautopia wrote an excellent post comparing the two polishes HERE

Save Money on Drinks for your Wedding

We decided that an open bar at our wedding reception is a must because we thought a cash bar at a wedding is just a bit....well, tacky. Our wedding is a sort of DIY kind of affair, but we don't want to scrimp on style. So we researched ways to save some money on the alcohol for our big day.

Because we're having a destination wedding, our Big Day will really be more like a Big Weekend for our guests and we want to make sure they enjoy themselves. To save some extra cash, we decided to host our Rehearsal Dinner at The Laughing Boar, owned by our caterer Chef Nick Mueller. Thankfully, we are able to use his glassware, which gives us more money for alcohol and food. Instead of having a full open bar, we've decided to offer wine (red and white), beer, and soft drinks. To go along with the rustic chic vibe at the Laughing Boar we've decided on a self-serve set up with beer in large copper buckets on the restaurant's patio, where we'll have a brief toast before we're seated for dinner. We'll also set up a small table there with some wine glasses and a few bottles of chilled wine. Our dinner will be served family style and we will place wine in decanters on each table as well.

We're having a cocktail hour before our wedding reception to give us enough time to sneak off and have dinner before all the crazy fun festivities kick into high gear. During the cocktail hour we'll serve beer, soft drinks and a simple, signature cocktail. The full bar will be reserved for the reception. We hired a bartender and a bar back from a local beverage catering service (Johnnie Ganem) at a very affordable rate and we decided against a champagne toast.

Now for the calculations....there are some really cool calculators online that help you figure out how much alcohol you need to buy. I used THIS one to help estimate our costs. For 100 guests, it suggests starting with:

9 cases of beer

5-8 cases of wine

5 Liters of Vodka
3 Liters of Gin
2 Liters of Rum  

2 Liters of Scotch
2 Liters of Rye
750 ml of Vermouth
3 Liters of Kahlua 

Here are some additional tips for saving money on alcohol for your Big Day:

1) Have your reception really early - such as a brunch. People are less likely to consume copious amounts of alcohol before noon and you can limit your bar to yummy cocktails like mimosas and Bloody Mary's.

2) Choose a less popular day of the week for your celebration like Thursday evening or Sunday morning, which would also save big bucks on venue and party supply rentals.

3) Have a limited bar that features only soft drinks, beer, wine, and a few signature cocktails. You can even purchase some tonic and a few bottles of premium liquor to be served on the rocks or in mixed drinks as well.

Happy Wedding Planning!!

I've been M.I.A

I know....I know.....it has been weeks (GASP!) since I last posted! Life has been all kinds of crazy. Let's see....I went on a wedding planning trip to Savannah with my family and future in-laws and had abdominal surgery in addition to all the other snags life can throw your way. Now that I'm home recuperating for the next 6 weeks or so, I'll have more time to post and I have so many updates to share over the next few days and weeks. Thanks for continuing to read!

Foodily to the Recipe Rescue

Are you always searching for new recipes to add to your repertoir? This morning, I read about the launch of a new website called Foodily. A funny name for a pretty cool idea. It is basically an index of TONS of websites and publications related to food. You can even log in with Facebook i.d. and see which recipes your friends like or plan a complete menu for an event you've posted on Facebook. You can type the name of any food item into the search bar and get a boat load of recipes. I just went to the site and did a search for fried green tomatoes, a favorite in our house, and found a recipe from Closet Cooking for a Fried Green Tomato and Shrimp Remoulade Po' Boy. YUM!

$10 for $50 to spend at Vistaprint

Ladies and gentlemen....if you're looking for a great deal on business cards, invitations, or printed stationary of any kind, get thee to Living Social ASAP and purchase today's Atlanta daily deal! There's a little over 9 hours left on this, so don't miss out!

Super Simple Creamed Spinach

Lately, I've been on a mission to increase the amount and variety of fresh veggies in our diet. I picked up a bunch of fresh spinach at the farmer’s market late last week and had no idea what to do with it. So I went on a search for an easy recipe and, of course, I waited to look it up until after I'd done my grocery shopping for the week…so I had precious few of the ingredients needed to create the recipes I found. That was until I came across a recipe for easy creamed spinach made in the microwave! The original recipe called for frozen spinach but, since mine was fresh, I decided to use that recipe as a springboard to create my own dish. It turned out to be creamy, yummy and delicious! Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients

1 bunch fresh spinach

4oz cream cheese

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste

Directions

Rinse spinach, remove stems and set aside

Add olive oil to saucepan and warm over medium heat

Add spinach and cook until wilted, stirring often

Add salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes

Add cream cheese and stir constantly

Adjust seasonings to taste (optional) and serve immediately

I made this as a side dish for the manicotti that I made for Sunday dinner. The recipe is so quick, simple and really delicious! But I have no idea how this re-heats because we had none left!

Turkey Hill Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Turkey Hill Vanilla Bean Philadelphia Style Ice Cream

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Last night we had dinner at a local Hibachi restaurant. We ordered the chef's special that came with a tasty ice cream treat for dessert. However, by the time we got to the dessert portion of the meal, our server informed us that they'd run out of all flavors except green tea ice cream. Now I'm a vanilla ice cream kinda girl so I decided to pass. To cheer me up, my fiancé stopped at the grocery store on the way home and let me pick out the flavor of my choice. After looking at every available option I finally decided on Turkey Hill Vanilla Bean Philadelphia Style Ice Cream. It was on sale for $2.99/gallon, boasted an All Natural recipe, and I was intrigued by the idea of Philadelphia Style ice cream. I soon discovered it is creamier than the regular stuff and is made by churning super simple ingredients: milk, cream, sugar, and various flavors. This stuff is all kinds of delicious! It's so good that we've been eating it all day! Turkey Hill is a Lancaster Co., PA dairy that makes all natural products in addition to other frozen treats and drinks. Check out their full line of products HERE.

Revlon Berry Delicious

Revlon Berry Delicious 

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Winter is now officially upon us and I've switched to the darker nail polish hues with the falling temps. But a few weeks ago I was perusing the shelves of my local CVS in search of those wonderful yellow tags that signal a sale or the potential to earn Extra Bucks. On that trip I spied Revlon Berry Licioius (on sale for $3.99 with $2 Extra Bucks back). But, in an effort to curb impulse shopping, I figured I didn't need it and decided to leave it on the shelf.L Instead, I went home and shopped my stash for a dupe with no luck. Fast forward a few weeks to this past Friday when I learned that CVS was having an awesome deal on Revlon, L'oreal, and Cover Girl cosmetics for 50% and 75% off!! Unfortunately, Revlon Berry Delicious was completely sold out, but I still picked up five polishes for less then $6 bucks so I wasn't too bummed. Today, I was in another CVS store with a Revlon coupon burning a hole in my pocket and what did I see on the Revlon display? Berry Delicious with a big, fat 75% OFF sticker!! At regular price, this polish would have set me back $5.49, but with the discount it was only $1.37! Plus, my Revlon coupon took an extra dollar off that amount. Yes, dears I paid a whopping .47 cents for a polish I've been wanting for weeks!

The Art of Thrifting

Photo by: mikefats

I picked up the Sunday paper on...,well, Sunday and I'm ashamed to say I just got around to reading it last night.  The Style section of the AJC featured a story on Daniel Troppy and his personal (and now professional) penchant for thrifting. Everyday he scours local thrift stores in search of designer finds, which he then resells in his boutique, Doubletake Recycled Luxury. Check out his Thrifters Boutique HERE. He has some really good pieces available so it's definitely worth it to check out the site. I think the best part of the story though are the tips Daniel provides like which metro Atlanta thrift stores usually have good finds and even a stain removal product called Carbona Stain Devils, which can be found in the detergent aisle of your local grocery store.

Sephora Birthday Haul

I love being a member of Sephora Beauty Insider rewards program because that store is always so much fun to go into, their website is slick and they always give you a free gift on your birthday! Last year (my first year in the program) I got a cool lipgloss trio. And this year it was a little something for the eyes. 

The Beautiful Eyes Kit includes Lash Plumper Volumizing Mascara in Black,  Nano Eyeliner in Silver Green, and Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Aspen Summit. (describe gift here). And to top it all off they sent me a $15 gift certificate right around my birthday as well! I’d been planning to stop by the Sephora in Lenox, but this little digital gem in my inbox was just too good to hold. I logged on and got to shopping right away. Of course it took a while to narrow down my choices (I mean, we’re in a recession, right?!) but once I did I felt like I came away with something good. And once that box arrived (in less than a week!) I was sure of it! In addition to my Beautiful Eyes Kit I also got:

Sephora Collection Colorful Artist Lipstick Palette

 Sephora Collection Nano Eyeliner Forest Green

 Flora by Gucci Eau de Parfum

 Viva La Juicy Eau de Parfum

Narciso Rodriguez Essence Eau de Parfum

Coastal Living

Coastal Living, Dec. 2010

If you have a Coastal Chic sensibility like us, you MUST subscribe to Coastal Living magazine. I mean, check out the Dec. 2010 cover above. To die for, right?! Whenever my new issue arrives I save it until the time when I can just lounge and slowly flip through each page and drool over every single thing inside....from the redesigns to the recipes I can't get enough! Plus, it's super cheap. Ten issues (a yearly subscription) will set you back $10 bucks. You just can't beat a dollar an issue...and now if you sign up HERE with your credit/debit card, you get $2 bucks off. That's $8 for a year's worth of Coastal Chic inspiration!

Do-It-Yourself Home Makeover

This is NOT us!

About a year ago my fiancé and I decided our place was in need of a makeover. Now I'm the shopper in the family since he hates it (GASP!) and also has a tough time deciding what he likes when it comes to stuff like interior design. He knows he wants it to look clean and clutter free, but beyond that it's anyone's guess. After much prodding I discovered that his tastes are more on the modern side...pretty much if it looks like it should go in a hospital or a bathroom (frosted glass and chrome) he'll love it. Me? I prefer a more traditional style. I've never met a tufted pillow or couch that I didn't like! lol! I soon realized that if this redesign was going to happen I'd have to take the helm. I looked at hundreds of paint samples and pictures of furniture, but still kept coming up empty. Then it dawned on me that I was grasping at straws by going about it this way. If I took the time to define an overall style that represented us and what we wanted for our home, the process would fall into place. And, boy, did it ever!

Beauty by the Beach

Can anything be more casual glam than a beach house? I mean, really....take a look at some of these beauties I found. We're on our second snow day in Atlanta and it's the dead of winter, but looking at these fabulous beach inspired homes just does something to warm the soul.

Can't you just imagine the sweet, salty smell of the ocean breeze blowing through those gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows?

A sea of seafoam gets a punch of color with that deep blue chaise lounge. I could curl up on that with a light blanket and a good book now.

This kitchen just looks like it's stocked with good stuff like buttery soft croissants, peach or pumpkin butter, and tons of fresh tropical fruit.

The different shades of green are so soothing and the morning sun pouring through those windows would make everyday feel like a vacation.

 Look at that view! Nothing else needs to be said....

I always wanted a tub like this. The weathered shutter and rubber tree plant give this white bathroom subtle touches of tropical flavor.

Free Kindle eBooks

My fiancé gave me a Kindle eReader as a graduation gift this past summer and I fell in love! ...and about a month and a half later Amazon released an updated version of the device. The newer version is skinnier and comes in two colors, but I still love my Kindle 2 because it does what I need it to do - hold a HUGE amount of books while giving me the ability to play fun word games and surf the web. Right now I have about 500 books saved on my Kindle and over 98% of them were free! In fact I've bought less than 5 Kindle eBooks since I've owned my device. Find out how after the jump!

New Year's Nails Still Going Strong

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It's the 4th day of the New Year and I'm pleased (and quite astonished) to report that my New Year's manicure is still in near perfect condition after 6 days despite hand, hair, and dish washing...not to mention packing and cleaning! There are no chips or cracks and minimal fading on the tip of my right middle finger. The best part about it is the polish I used, Wet n Wild's Wild Shine in Champagne, only cost about a buck! See my nails now after the jump!

Wedding Day Countdown

Besides being the start of a new year, 1/1/11 started the official countdown to my October wedding! My fiancé and I are too excited for words! We became engaged last July and I swear I started wedding planning the very next day! Color scheme? Dress? Location? Too many questions with infinite answers because no two couples are alike. Of course, I'm a Casual Glam girl so it stands to reason that I'm marrying a pretty laid back guy. While we both appreciate tradition, neither of us like the rigidity of rules and formality. Suffice it to say that our wedding will be a Casual Glam affair with plenty of traditional touches where appropriate and lots of original ideas that reflect our personalities throughout!

Happy New You!

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No, that wasn’t a typo. I meant you and not year, because to me the New Year is all about a New You. I’ve always loved the idea of reinventing yourself. As a kid that special time for reinvention was always over the summer break, which gave me enough time to prepare the debut of my newly reinvented self at the beginning of the school year in the Fall. As I matured and my school days were put behind me, New Year's Eve took on a whole new level of significance for me as a time when adults reinvent themselves in preparation for the upcoming new year. During the final weeks of December after the Christmas cards have all been signed and sent and I’ve scratched everyone off my Christmas list, I begin a period of reflection where I examine the past year…my triumphs and my failures…areas where I succeeded beyond my wildest imagination and others where I fell flat on my face. It is with this knowledge that I make a list of goals for the upcoming year. I don’t call them resolutions because that term rings so empty to me. It speaks of lofty, unattainable ideals that are committed to only for a brief period of time before the euphoria of the new year wears off somewhere around week three. I’m not saying this is the true meaning of the word resolution, but rather how the meaning has been cheapened in popular culture.