When I was little, my friends and I would make pretend our weddings. I used to imagine my wedding to be the picture perfect Cinderella story. I would be announced in riding on a horse and carriage, wearing a huge puffy dress (glass slippers and all!), and there would be a castle full of people waiting to see me and prince charming being married. I dreamed that I would marry the love of my life and have a whole bunch of children. Now that I am older, I realize how unrealistic that is, not to mention my idea of the perfect wedding has changed…. A lot! Im still searching for “Mr. Right”, and when he shows up I already have it planned out! Call me crazy but law of attraction has got to kick in sooner or later! During my weekly daydreaming session of what I would want my wedding to be like, I decided to look up what others have done for their big day. I found out that June the biggest wedding month, hence the reason of this blog seeing that June is just around the corner. I’ve used a few different websites that I searched on google to come up with a list of some of the “top tens” for planning a wedding

Top 5 Places in the US to be married:

1. The Inn and Spa at Loretto- Santa Fe, New Mexico
2. The Plaza – New York
3. The Hawks Cay Resort- Duck Key, Florida Keys
4. Paris, Las Vegas – Nevada
5. Grand Wailea- Hawaii

Top 10 first dance songs:

1. “Alison” (Elvis Costello)
2. “All I Want Is You” (U2)
3. “As” (Stevie Wonder)
4. “Blood Of Eden” (Peter Gabriel)
5. “Crash” (Dave Matthews Band)
6. “Everything I Do” (Brandy)
7. “Forever in My Life” (Prince)
8. “Heroes” (David Bowie)
9. “Ice Cream” (Sarah MacLachlan)
10. “If I Was Your Girlfriend” (Prince)

Top 10 Guest Complaints:

1. An inconvenient date.
2. Invitation confusion
3. Seating Snafus
4. Cash bars
5. Climate Crisis
6. Inedible Food
7. Never ending toasts/ Photo montages
8. Dj Please stop the music
9. Ungracious hosts

Top Wedding Themes

1. Medival
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Seaside
4. 1920s
5.1940s
6. Arabian Nights
7. Japanese
8. Las Vegas
9. Butterflies
10. Football

Top cake flavors

1. Red Velvet + Cream Cheese Frosting
2. Devil’s Food Cake + Chocolate Ganache
3. Lemon Cake + Lemon Buttercream + Lemon Curd
4. Pink Champagne Cake + Raspberry Mousse + Vanilla Buttercream
5. Apple Spice Cake + Caramel Buttercream + Brown-Sugar Mousse
6. Chocolate and Vanilla Cakes + Chocolate Buttercream + Mocha Mousse
7. Sponge Cake + Vanilla Buttercream Topped with Coconut + Bavarian Cream with Fruit

I wanted to share this fun, easy, inexpensive, pretty and eco-friendly craft that is PERFECT for spring! It’s a teacup bird feeder 🙂 I’m planning on making this after we build our front porch this summer, and hanging it next to some windchimes

Here’s how:
First, you simply find an old teacup and saucer – there are plenty to choose from at any yard sale, local thrift store, antique store, or even HomeGoods!
Next, stock up on some E6000 craft adhesive. You can easily find it at Michaels, AC Moore or Joann Fabrics. A little will go a looong way.
Tip the cup on it’s side, glue to the saucer and leave overnight. Hang the bird feeder from a shepard’s hook, or suspend it from your porch ceiling with decorative fabric.
Lastly, fill the cup and saucer with bird seed and ENJOY!

I was born and raised in Salem, MA but never appreciated what a great city I lived in until I moved away. Now that I am working here again I am reminded of all of my favorite places to visit. One of my favorite places was and still is the Salem Willows. I used to ride my bike there when I was younger and would stay there for hours with my friends. Playing skeeball, arcade games, riding the carousel, having a tender steak with cheese (YUM!!) and eating Hobbs popcorn (YUMMMMMM!). Now that spring is upon us (well sort of) the Willows is starting to open up which means nice weather should be following soon! I’ve already had my first box of Hobbs popcorn and am looking forward to going there multiple times this summer. My daughter has been there a few times and now I am excited to bring my son. It’s a piece of Salem that I truly miss h

Having trouble sleeping? Sometimes when we first move into a new apartment or house it can take some time to adjust to our new surroundings. Here are five ways to help you get a better night’s sleep!

<strong>1. Skip the afternoon coffee</strong>- Sometimes when 2:00 hits we feel like we need a boost to give us a little energy. In order to sleep better at night try to avoid caffeinated beverages after noon.

<strong>2. Have a glass of milk</strong>- Eating a very light snack along with a glass of milk about an hour before bedtime can help you catch some z’s.

<strong>3. Prep for bed</strong> – If you are someone who has a hard time getting tired at night, create a routine for yourself! About an hour before you’d like to go to bed lower the lights, fluff the pillows and put on your slippers!

<strong>4. Have quiet time</strong> – Going out late at night or listening to the TV or radio can rev your engine instead of slow it down. Spend the last few hours before bed quietly reading or relaxing.

<strong>5. Lower your thermostat</strong>- Getting too warm at night is a culprit for sleep deprivation. Lower your thermostat several degrees before bed so you aren’t woken up abruptly hours later.

Hang your curtains as close to the ceiling as possible. This gives smaller windows the illusion of height and makes the room look larger

If you can’t paint your apartment paint your furniture. It is an easy way to add color without a lot of cost. Another great way to bring character to your beige apartment is area rugs. They add a pop of color plus they save the carpets when it’s time for your security deposit.

Use multi function furniture. Add a long table in your living room.; it can function as a work space and when entertaining it can double as a bar or buffet.

If your apartment lacks an official entry space create one using a bookcase and chair. Remove the top shelves and add hooks for hanging. Adding decorative baskets to the bottom shelves keeps clutter out of site.

Easter crept up on us early this year. Every year my family takes turns hosting holiday dinners at each other’s homes. My place was chosen for Easter. My family gets together every Sunday to share a meal. We look forward to it all week so when we get together for a holiday we make it even more special by preparing something we don’t eat often. On the menu for Easter is roasted pork shoulder. It is a traditional meal for special occasions. My grandmother will be seasoning it and it is served with yellow rice , chick peas and macaroni or potato salad. Roasting the pork takes 4 hours. Seasoning it is done the night before and my grandmother puts it in the oven around 10am. We eat dinner early in my culture so everyone arrives by 3pm to feast. Hosting dinners at my place always stresses me out. I’m usually in charge of drinks and desert but this year my uncles asked for lasagna. I have a large family of big eaters so I will have to make 3 lasagnas. Cooking is second nature to me and I enjoy doing it very much. While I look forward to eating this mouth watering meal, I don’t  look forward to all the dishes I end up with. I absolutely love the fact that my family is as close as we are and every Sunday dinner or holiday spent with them warms my heart. When I start a family of own someday I plan on continuing this wonderful tradition. I’d like to wish everyone a very happy Easter!

If you’re like me, you’ve browsed Pinterest and drooled over all the gorgeous designer rooms, only to be frustrated by the price tags that accompany most of the items that make the rooms shine! One of the easiest changes you can make in your apartment that has the biggest impact is your curtains. But curtains are expensive, easily running you $50-200 per window!

An easy solution to this is to make your own. Ok I know a lot of you just tuned out as soon as the picture of a needle and thread popped into your head, but don’t worry, there’s no sewing involved!

I recently made curtains for my living room and including fabric purchased from www.fabric.com, stitchery-witchery (aka hem tape) and curtain clips from Joann Fabrics, my grand total came in under $45!
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<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/94469468@N05/8601113872/” title=”curtains by AngieEm03, on Flickr”><img src=”http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8601113872_7705980105.jpg” width=”500″ height=”361″ alt=”curtains”></a>

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…and up close:

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<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/94469468@N05/8601113902/” title=”curtains 3 by AngieEm03, on Flickr”><img src=”http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8386/8601113902_901c3f1eae.jpg” width=”372″ height=”500″ alt=”curtains 3″></a>

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Not bad, right?
Here’s a great example of how much money this can save you: I LOVE these curtains from Crate & Barrel: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/teramo-curtain-panels/f43025

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<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/94469468@N05/8600015039/” title=”Crate &amp; barrel curtains by AngieEm03, on Flickr”><img src=”http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8600015039_f0d617e9d0.jpg” width=”500″ height=”500″ alt=”Crate &amp; barrel curtains”></a>

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….but the $89 price tag PER PANEL?? Not something I’m willing to commit to! Head on over to my favorite site, www.fabric.com, and what do you find there? This lovely fabric for only $7.48 per yard:

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<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/94469468@N05/8600015055/” title=”premier prints zigzag by AngieEm03, on Flickr”><img src=”http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8600015055_1ca002465d_n.jpg” width=”320″ height=”320″ alt=”premier prints zigzag”></a>

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To make standard 8 ft panels, you’ll need roughly 5 yards of fabric, bringing your curtain total to <strong>just $37.40</strong>! (You can get it even lower than that… always check online for coupons before making your purchase… I got 15% off!)

My favorite no-sew curtain tutorial can be found here:

http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/02/nursery-progress-getting-the-hang-of-it/

(Feel free to get addicted to their blog while you’re at it… you won’t regret it!)

You can do this! I promise the hardest part will be narrowing it down to just one fabric.

Happy Curtain Making!

SPRING 2013 FASHION TRENDS

<img src=”{filedir_1}spring2013-pastel1.jpg” alt=”” height=”630″ width=”630″ />It is time to get ready to put away our winter coats and sweaters and bring out the spring and summer clothes. Every season I like to go through my closet and get rid of clothing that I know I am just never going to wear again. If you question it, just get rid of it! The best part of getting rid of the old is making room for the new! I like to follow the new trends and am always curious what the hottest fashion trends are. I like to be in the know. In doing a little research and following some of the big magazines like Vogue, Elle and Cosmo, these are some of the trends that we want to watch out for this spring. Ok, we want to start adding more Pastels into our wardrobes. You want to be head to toe in Pastel . If you are going to wear Pastels, go for it. Another color to watch out for this spring is Gray. Gray was all over the runway recently. Floral patterns are very hot right now, I especially have been seeing many floral dresses everywhere that are super cute! Stripes are making their way back on the hot trend list too! They can be vertical, horizontal, thick or skinny. I am not much of a stripe person, but I will try it out to see if it would work on me. Another hot trend is Lace. I absolutely love this! Lace dresses and tops were very big on the runway as well. I recently was at the Gap Outlet and found a white lace dress. I can’t wait to wear it this spring. I think I try it on at least once a week! Now this one is my favorite of them all, Leather is very hot in fashion right now. Not going to lie, I have always wanted a pair of leather pants and now I know that it will be ok for me to get a pair and wear them in public. I am definitely going to try this one out! Fashion is so much fun, and it is very fun trying new things, especially when you have some friends with you. Even if you just include a couple pieces to your wardrobe, like a floral, pastel or stripped top you will be styling wherever you go.

Easter is right around the corner, and while most people opt for the traditional candies such as jelly beans, chocolate bunnies, and Cadbury Eggs, I hold a special place in my heart for Peeps bunnies and chicks.

I don’t know what it is about these little sugar covered beauties, but I just love them. But not right out of the package mind you. OH NO. I’m a different kind of Peep enjoyer. I like to open the package along the box, and let them sit for a minimum of three days. Yes, it’s true, I love stale Peeps. I then eat their little eyes off, and if they are chicks, their heads go next, bunnies, so long ears!

I started to do some research about Peeps… Where they came from… Flavors… Forget those things. I found WAY better stuff. Get prepared, this blog is about to get awesome and I shall call this next section:

Amazing Peep Stuff:
1. Peep Jousting. Yes, there are even tournaments and brackets people set up for this. You get some Peeps, two colors if not more. Mark them with a Sharpie and give them a number (or name). Ready them with a tooth pick, their jousting stick. Put two on a plate, facing each other. Turn on your microwave. The Peep who wins is the one who stabs the other one first, causing his opponent to pop. Yeah, I’m totally doing this.
2. Peep food. From everything to Peepza, pizza with Peeps on it and yes they DO melt on there in big colored sugar globs, to Peepshi, sushi made from Peeps, fruit roll ups, and rice Krispie treats, to even dipping the bunny peeps in chocolate and making them some chocolate bowties (fancy bunnies!) to using a Peep as the marshmallow in a traditional smores and fondue, Peeps have taken the culinary world over!
3. Peep decorating: Why spend a ton of money buying Easter flowers when you can make a wreath of multi colored Peep bunnies, or string a garland of Peeps chicks? Still want some flowers? Get a large clear vase; fill the bottom with jelly beans and a layer of peeps on the top.
4. Peeping pictures. Google, Peeps Funny Pictures. Do it. I dare you.

My question to you… what do you do with your Peeps?

I hate to pay more than I have to for anything, and that starts with what I purchase every week: groceries. It doesn’t take clipping coupons in massive quantities or setting up shelving for a year’s supply of food like the fanatics on the TLC Network show Extreme Couponing. By doing a little planning and research, I’ve managed to reduce my grocery spending by about 20%. Here’s how:

1. First and most important: know how much the items that you purchase regularly cost. This helps you recognize when a special is actually a good deal. How much is a box of your favorite brand of cereal? Toothpaste? Pasta? When the price is low, buy two or more.

2. Make a list, and stick to it. Impulse purchases will negate any savings. Only grocery shop once a week, because the more time you spend at the store, the more money you’ll spend.

3. My mother’s rule: never shop with an empty stomach. As she says, “When canned spaghetti starts to look good, you need to leave the store before you buy things you shouldn’t!”

4. Use coupons for items that you buy regularly. If you don’t subscribe to the newspaper, pick one up on Sunday for the coupons. Printable coupons are available online at <a href=”http://www.coupons.com”>coupons.com</a>, <a href=”http://www.save.com”>save.com</a>, <a href=”http://www.smartsource.com”>smartsource.com</a>, <a href=”http://www.redplum.com”>redplum.com</a>, and <a href=”http://www.target.com”>Target.com</a>. Resist the urge to buy things that you don’t need ($1 off Sarah Lee pastry!) or that you haven’t tried just because you have a coupon. 75 cents off a new brand of shampoo that you find you hate isn’t a bargain if you end up throwing it out.

5. Make Target your first stop for groceries and household items. Though the prices on produce, meat, and dairy are higher at Target, many of their grocery items, frozen foods, and cleaning products are priced lower than the grocery stores. Target often offers gift cards for multiple purchases; last week I got a $5 gift card for buying five boxes of my son’s favorite NutriGrain cereal bars. Extra bonus for you and the environment: buy Target reusable shopping bags, and get 5 cents off for each one you use.

6. Get a Target Red Card Debit card. This takes 5% off everything you buy in the store. Your receipt shows your annual Red Card savings, and it adds up!

7. Get friendly with store brand products. Though some are inferior quality (the grocery store brand saltines – yuck!) many are the same, if not virtually identical to name brand products and cost 50 cents to $1 less than name brands.

8. Like Jill Cataldo’s Super-Couponing on Facebook and check out her website, <a href=”http://www.supercouponing.com”>supercouponing.com</a>. She shares sensible savings strategies and great coupons. I learned a lot of what is on this list from her.