Budget a Wedding

How to Plan a Memorable Bridal Shower

2012-01-29T23:29:48Z

Bridal Shower Candles

You’ll hear a thousand times that planning a wedding is a huge undertaking, requiring dress fittings, venue bookings, cake tastings, and so much more. What you don’t hear much about is the planning of the bridal shower! Your bridal shower is an important event leading up to your wedding that you will remember for the rest of your life…you don’t want to skimp here! There are so many ways that you can create a unique and memorable event that your guests are guaranteed to talk about for years to come.

Once you’ve chosen a theme or color scheme to follow throughout the planning of the event, everything else will come easily. Pick out table decorations, foods, games, and music to play into the whole feel of your event. For example, if you’re planning a nautical-themed party, order some sailboat votive candles, starfish-shaped cookies, lighthouse place card holders, etc. Don’t forget to pick out unique bridal shower favors that your guests are sure to love!

Bridal Shower Favor

If you’re looking for an easy, one-stop shopping experience for your bridal shower, American Bridal has a huge online selection of wedding favors, gifts, and accessories at low prices. You are bound to find everything that you could possibly need for all of the events on your wedding timeline…from wedding favors and groomsmen/bridesmaid gifts, to wedding toasting flutes and guest books. Planning your bridal shower doesn’t have to be stressful and tiring, because American Bridal will make it easy as pie to pull off your perfect party at a great price!

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Quick #Christmas #Gift Idea from @EdenFantasys

2011-12-07T23:30:35Z

EdenFantasys

This month I am featuring some of EdenFantasys new products instead of the regular wedding or bachelorette themed ones. They have some new bath and body products that would make great gifts (or something special for you). If you are unsure about ordering from EdenFantasys then these are the perfect products for you to experience their great (and discrete) customer service.

I featured the lip set a couple of weeks ago and today I would like to show you the holiday handful trio.

The holiday handful trio of hand creams gets a 4.5 out of 5 rating from 27 people. It is a set of three creams. The first, Milkmaid, has whole vanilla milk and baked raspberry. The second, Unsweet, has no color and is unscented. The third, Vanilla snow, has sweet vanilla cream.

The description reads blended with shea & mango butters, whole milk, marshmallow extract and just the right amount of glycerin to lock in moisture and protect your winter-worn hands and that is so true! Shea butter is one of the best things for your hands when they are chapped and a small amount of glycerin gives your hands that immediate soft feel.

The set of three sells for $35.99.

We are getting close to Christmas so if you want these for a gift then you will have to hurry (and add some fast shipping). But, you have some time if you are just looking for a way to soften your own hands this winter.

Related Posts:

Christmas Ideas from EdenFantasys
Pick your Romantic Halloween Costume
Show your Ta Ta’s Some Love
5 Tips to Save Money on Christmas Presents (littlepeoplewealth.com)
DIY Thursday – Homemade Hand Warmer (littlepeoplewealth.com)

Save Money on your #Honeymoon with @Ebates

2011-12-07T23:04:51Z

Save on Travel

I have posted money saving tips for your honeymoon before, but this one is super easy! Once you have the location and time picked out you can save a lot of money by booking online through Ebates.

Ebates is a money saving rebate site. You sign up for an account, then use their links to go to your shopping location. They send you a rebate after your purchase. You will also get $5 when you sign up (you will need to earn $5 in your own rebates before you can cash the extra $5 out). If you are looking for a way to boost your own rebates to get the extra $5 then check out the magazine section. There are rebates for up to 40% off many great wedding magazines. You can find a longer description of how Ebates works at Little People Wealth’s post on how to use ebates.

So how does Ebates save you money on your honeymoon? If you book your hotel through ebates they will give you a cash rebate! Hotel rooms are expensive so this can add up fast. Right now hotels such as Fairmont, Sheraton, W, Holiday Inn, and Westin hotels are offering a 2%-5% rebate. On a $1000 hotel stay you could be saving $20-$50.

If you want to double your savings then you can use Ebates to book your car rental as well and they even have a few air travel sites with rebates. Save even more by purchasing restaurant gift certificates through them (restaurant.com offers 30% back and 50% off at their site so a $50 certificate could cost you as little as $17.50).

After you sign up for an Ebates account click on the “Travel and Vacations” link at the bottom of the left sidebar to see all of the deals. Happy traveling!

#Makeup Foundation Tips for your #Wedding Day

2011-12-07T23:31:35Z

Wedding Day Prep

If you are looking to save money (and time) on your wedding day then applying your own wedding makeup can help. Keep in mind that good makeup will cost you money and may come out about the same as allowing a makeup artist do it. However, you will have the makeup to use later, you will learn some great techniques for “everyday life”, and you will rest easy knowing that you are going to look like… well, you! If you do use a makeup artist then try to see them at least one other time before the wedding so you will find out if their style is your style (blue eyeshadow anyone?!)

Brides magazine recently posted some great foundation steps. Combine that with a few tips and your skin will look great on your wedding day!

WEDDING FOUNDATION STEP ONE: Apply eye cream and a moisturizer, wait 5 minutes, then apply a primer.

TIP: if your skin is oily then use a moisturizer for oily skin or none at all. You do not want your foundation to slide off your face during the ceremony.

TIP 2: you can find some good foundation primers as low as $5.

WEDDING FOUNDATION STEP TWO: Using a firm brush, apply concealer around your eyes and inside the creases by your nose. Use it sparingly and blend well.

TIP: You can make your nose appear smaller by putting a light concealer line along the top ridge of the nose. Again, use it sparingly and blend it well!

WEDDING FOUNDATION STEP THREE: Apply liquid foundation with a soft foundation brush. Use a circular motion, go over your eyelids, and blend along the jaw.

TIP: Mineral foundation is all the rage now, but it does not look as good in pictures. The light from the camera will hit the mineral makeup differently than liquid, making your face appear shiny.
TIP 2: Brides magazine sent an undercover shopper to buy 3 shades of makeup at a drugstore and try to return 2 of them. She had no problem at CVS or Walgreens, but did not have the same luck at Target. Use these CVS shopping tips or Walgreens shopping tips to get your wedding foundation for free.
TIP 3: A good makeup brush set is another thing you can pick up at Amazon for cheap (right now you can find a set of 13 brushes for as low as $10 shipped)

WEDDING FOUNDATION STEP FOUR: Put some foundation on the back of your hand, pat it with a sponge, and tap it onto areas that need more coverage.

WEDDING FOUNDATION STEP FIVE: To combat shine, use a fluffy brush to sweep a tiny bit of translucent powder all over your face.

TIP: Keep this in your bridal bag so you can continue to combat shine through the wedding reception.

Practice makes perfect! Give these steps a shot and your skin will look great for your wedding pictures.

This post is inspired by Brides magazine and the foundation steps come from the November issue. If you are looking for a great budget wedding magazine, Brides is it!

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#Christmas #Gift Ideas from @EdenFantasys

2012-01-25T20:50:12Z

EdenFantasys

Normally I write about wedding, bachelorette, or romance-themed (hmm, I think all of EdenFantasys’ products are romance themed!) items from EdenFantasys, but this month I am going to focus on some fun holiday products. If you are unsure about ordering from EdenFantasys then these are the perfect product for you to experience their great (and discrete) customer service.

The first product I would like to feature is the lip lovely set. If any of you have tried the Mary Kay lip treatment this is similar, only much much sexier! You get a jar of the sugar lip scrub and the rescue me lip balm. Exfoliate first and then use the balm. By the way, this is an excellent thing to do before your wedding in preparation of that all important kiss! Your lipstick will also stay put more easily on exfoliated lips compared to chapped ones.

The balm contains jojoba and coconut oil along with Shea and Cocoa butter. All of these products work wonders on lips. You can choose from a festive peppermint scent or a more traditional Strawberry scent. I do wish it came in an unscented form as well, but for now you have one of the two scented options.

Add it to your Christmas wishlist or purchase it for yourself! Have a merry Christmas. I will be featuring the second “favorite gift” product in a couple of weeks.

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The Best #Wedding Waterproof #Mascara

2011-12-05T22:36:29Z

Best Waterproof Mascara

I love Brides Magazine it is a great budget wedding magazine that you can get for cheap when you order a subscription (or spend a fortune buying each issue)! They always have great tips and this month they staff-tested waterproof mascaras. Waterproof mascara is a must for your wedding. Even if you do not think you will cry, play it safe and use a waterproof mascara. These are the best waterproof mascaras according to Brides Magazine:

Best Waterproof Mascara (Drugstore Buy) – Maybelline New York The Falsies by Volum’ Express $7.77

This waterproof mascara is the cheapest of the group. You can even pick it up online for less than $5 (or maybe even free if you use free amazon gift cards to pay for it). If you are looking for the best budget mascara then give it a shot! If you want to splurge a little (wedding makeup is important since it will show up in all your pictures) then try one of the other options.

Best Waterproof Mascara (Application)- Urban Decay Cannonball Ultra Waterproof Mascara $20

If you are worried about applying your own mascara then try Urban Decay. The description looks great! Unfortunately I couldn’t find it for less than $20 online, but it might be $20 well spent.

Best Waterproof Mascara (Overall) – Lancome L’Extreme Waterproof Instant Extensions Lengthening Mascara $25

Long name, but great reviews! If you are comfortable putting your own mascara on then I think the $5 difference between this one and the best application mascara is a good upgrade. Unfortunately the link takes you to a page where it is on sale for more than $25 (currently at least), but at least you can read the description.

Best Waterproof Mascara (Splurge) - YSL Singulier Nuit Blanche Exaggerated Lashes Waterproof Mascara $30

The reviewers said that this waterproof mascara curled, lengthened, separated, and volumized, all without clumping. For $5 more it isn’t a huge splurge compared to the best overall. It is a splurge compared to the drugstore mascara, however, so you decide!

There are four great best waterproof mascara options with prices ranging from $8 (less than $5 online) to $30.

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#Top 10 Referral Sites – Visit These Great #Blogs

2011-12-01T21:45:18Z

It is the start of a new month (December, can you believe it!) so it is time to say thank you to the blogs who sent me traffic last month. Thanks you guys!

Little People Wealth – Spend small to live large! This blog is about how to spend small on the everyday things so you have more money for the things you really want.

Clipper Girl – If you are looking for couponing tips look no further than clipper girl! She has great tips and coupon matches.

Budget Saving Mom – I love this mom’s homesteading, homemaking, homeschooling site!

The Greenbacks Gal – This site has some wonderful money-saving ideas as well as organic living tips.

Luv A Bargain – This site posts some great deals and thrifty living ideas.

My Wedding Ideas – Bright pictures, great ideas, lots of helpful links – you can’t go wrong with My (Unique) Wedding Ideas!

Alltop Weddings – The top wedding news from around the net!

The House of Bachelorette – All bachelorette party tips all day long!

Frugal Hacks – This site has a list of the top finance sites on the web and you can find a lot of great new sites by browsing the list!

i do Budget Weddings – A “real life” budget wedding planned online! She even has “regrets” posted (the things she might have changed) since the wedding is now over.

Free $10 Target Gift Card

2011-12-01T20:19:13Z

This is great for Christmas or wedding expenses! Head over to the Target coupon page to find a coupon for a free $10 Target gift card when you spend $50.

Declare Your Love with #Brides #Contest

2011-11-29T07:03:02Z

Brides Contest

Brides magazine has collected the best love stories in America and now you can vote on them! When you vote for your favorite love story you will be entered for the chance to win prizes to “create your own love story” (you win a gift certificate for dinner, a movie, and a shopping spree at JCPenney). Brides magazine is one of the budget wedding magazines I often recommend subscribing too. You can save a lot of money by getting a cheap subscription (wait for a sale).

Two lucky winners of the Brides love story contest will win a trip to New York to get married or renew vows. One winner will get diamond stud earrings. A fourth winner will get a surprise proposal on Times Square on Valentines Day (there are three categories of stories). It is easy to vote for your favorite!

When you vote for your favorite love story you are entered to win one of two prize packages. The prize package includes a $250 gift certificate to JCPenney, $100 American Express Gift Card, and one $25 AMC gift card.

The contest is sponsored by Modern Bride (sold exclusively at jcpenney), Times Square, and Intercontinental in New York Times Square. Full rules are listed on the website and the contest ends on December 6th, 2012.

You must be at least 18 years old and you cannot be an employee or immediate family member of any of the sponsors.

Free Toy at EdenFantasys

2011-11-15T06:42:56Z

Eden Cafe

If you are looking for a bachelorette party gift or just a little something for yourself, EdenFantasys has it all! Right now they are offering a freebie ($29.99) and all you have to do is sign up for their newsletter.

Head over to this page and sign up for the EdenFantasys newsletter. It keeps you notified of special deals, coupons, and new products as they come out.
Go to your email and confirm your subscription. When you do you will be taken back to a checkout page at EdenFantasys. The free gift will already be in the cart and you will just have to choose your shipping option.
Choose your shipping method and checkout!

Everything I order from EdenFantasy comes in a discreet box so don’t worry about the mailman knowing what you ordered (a far cry from other online toy shops that send you lots of junk mail once you order. Our mailman once had to knock on my door for a package I ordered and right there on top was a letter with a naked woman on the envelope thanking me for my order. I never ordered from that company again! That has never and will never happen with EdenFantasys.

Your free product is waterproof so it can be used in the shower. It retails for $29.99, but if you want to purchase it without signing up for the newsletter it is currently on sale for $9.99. This would make a fun bachelorette party gift!