Vintage Weddings: Adding a Vintage Touch

Even if you love vintage, like vintage or just want to do it for your wedding there are a lot of ways to add some vintage charm to your wedding and you don't have to spend a lot of money.

1. Vintage Wedding Dress:
 Shop around, go to all your local vintage shops and even check out thrift stores. Also, a lot of what we would consider to be a wedding dress would have actually been a party dress then. Just look for one in white, off white, cream or any other color you are looking for. You can also look at here and here for more options.
Don't forget to ask friends or your family to see if anyone has a vintage dress stashed in the attic you can borrow or buy. A lot of times they wont get used.

2. Vintage Hairpiece: For a vintage hairpiece you would search the same way online and in store. You would want to make sure it is in very good condition because overtimes some of the structures tend to break down. This may be an example of when to do vintage inspired hairpiece, that way it will be around for a while and will give you the same look you want.

3. Milk Glass Centerpieces: Hydrangeas look lovely coming out of milk glass centerpieces. I always see milk glass at the Good Will they have so much and each piece is a couple dollars depending in size. You could put a lot of little glasses in the centerpiece or a few large ones. Or mix and match the size and shapes of the centerpieces. They are all the same color so it will still look cohesive. I would suggest going to goodwill for this one.

4. Wear a locket: Do you have a relative that you were close to and is no longer around? Wear a locket with a picture of that person on your wedding day and take time to remember them. At my wedding, I put pictures of my grandparents at the huge stone fireplace (we got married in front of a fireplace). It was nice because a lot of my family went up there to look at the pictures afterward. One thing I love now is that they have bouquet lockets that you could use as well see here.

5. Add A Brooch: I love brooches and you can find them in any color. My grandmother had so many of these and I just find them amazing. You could add a brooch to the handle of your bouquet for everyone to see while you walk down the aisle. You could even incorporate brooches into your bouquet which would be gorgeous as well. Etsy has a ton of brooch bouquets and I love them. You could just buy one or incorporate your own grandmothers into your own. You could also go to the thrift store to find some to use as well.

Hope this helped to jumpstart some ideas for you to incorporate into your own wedding.

Check out my complete wedding guide by clicking here.

Art of being a lady: Learning how to Lunch

Have you ever heard of the ladies that lunch or should we say lunched?
They were wealthy, socially inclined women that would get together mid day to have lunch together. These lunches would take place in exclusive restaurants around the city. The ladies would be very put together, hair done, nails, great clothes... Great Ettiquette... Everything...

This  made me question what is the modern day ettiquette for attending a luncheon. So below I share a few tips on how to have a seamless luncheon among friends.

Only among friends, make sure all your guests get along. Don't invite friends that are feuding or just have personality conflicts.

Dress classy not trashy, simple dresses, summer dresses, light weight fabrics, light colors, nothing to heavy or overly dressy. Nothing too short or too low.

Location is everything, Pick a spot that has a great vibe and great service. You don't want to spend the luncheon talking to your friends about the server who took to long.

Make a reservation once you have your final headcount in order to minimize your wait time.

Always arrive on time preferably 15 minutes before the lunch. It is not polite to have your friends waiting for you.

Order your food only after all your guests have arrived.

Practice good manners, chew with your mouth shut, keep elbows off the table, dont sit indian style, dont kick off your shoes under the table and dont cut off your guests when they are talking.

Give your company your full attention. This means putting away your cell phones, Ipads and electronics. (I know its hard but its worth it,)

If this is a business lunch only order an alcoholic beverage only if the person who invited you does and then limit yourself to one.

If you are out with the girls you can have a drink or two but its not ladylike to get waisted mid day.

Only leave after everyone has finished eating. It is very rude to rush off when there are people still eating their food.


I hope you enjoyed these quick tips!!! Rachel

Art of being a lady: Perfectly Poured Bloody Marys

I come from a long line of beer plus tomato equals yummy drinkers. So Bloody Marys are in my genes... (probably not a good thing). So some days, much like today, I just have to have a nice cold Bloody Mary. Its a need not a want on days when work drags on too long or you have a little bit of tension in your life.
So relax and enjoy as I show you the traditional and my take...


My Traditional Bloody Mary

4 oz tomato juice
2 oz vodka
two dashes lemon juice
a dash of Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce
sprinkling celery salt
sprinkling pepper
Franks hot sauce to taste
celery stalk garnish
Ice Cubes

Put Ice cubes in a glass. Pour tomato juice over ice followed by Vodka.
Add lemon juice, worcestershire, salt, pepper and hot sauce.
Finish by adding celery stalk on the side...



MY TAKE and how I ADORE my BLOODY MARYS

6 oz low sodium or spicy hot V8
4 oz Vodka
3 dash Worcestershire Sauce
a lot of Franks hot sauce.
salt and pepper to taste
green olive juice to taste
3 olives on a little drink spear to garnish.


Mix in a V8 and vodka in a glass no ice. Add worcestershire, hot sauce, salt, pepper and green olive juice. Add olives as garnish..
You can make it minus the Vodka... I do...

DRINK UP and ENJOY!

Retro House wife ideas...

I have always had a love for  the retro housewife, they were well groomed, charming, amazing dancers, poured the perfect drink, made delicious meals and kept a home spotless.  Its a lot to live up to when you work 40 hours a week and blog on the sides. Well a girl can still dream right???

Anyways while Im not the perfect housewife I still love them and there kitchy, vintage charm... So here is my list for FAB FUN Retro Housewife Essentials....


A Fabtabulous Frilly Apron.
I know its a given because I have a pension for pretty aprons and frills and lace.... but who wouldnt look amazing dressed up in these aprons!!!
Some great examples you can actually buy are below. I have atleast five of these. Love them!

For the mind: Winter Reading Material

I always love to curl up to a good book in the winter months, dont you??? You know us charming women have to keep our minds young and entertained. Here is some reading material I enjoy.


The Help.
 



If you have seen the movie why not read the book. The book is always much better!
 
The Hunger Games.


Everyone at my work is reading it.
 
 


This book is great if your a christian that loves Chick Lit

New Vs. Old. Hot vs. Not and pinups always win.

Saw this on facebook today.
What do you guys think???
I would take the bottom row any day!

Vintage Renovation

Since I have an entire day to do nothing (its a little rainy this fourth of july) I am going to do arts and crafts.
And theyre going to be antique inspired... Im a little bored with some of the plain things in my kitchen and theyre getting a makeover! yay!