Blush + Bashful

I’m notorious for having chipped nail polish due to peeling, ragged fingernails. It’s so embarrassing! It’s really not the greatest look for someone who is a constant wedding guest. Three weeks ago I discovered the most wonderful product. It is by Essie–of course! I’ve always loved Essie’s neutral polish colors like Ballet Slipper, Poundcake, and (the all-time greatest color) Mademoiselle. Their polishes are perfect for brides and other classy ladies who want to look finished, but not over-done.

Anyway, Millionails is the name of Essie’s amazing nail strengthening superstar. You apply one coat every other day to your nails and watch the magic happen. It even helped my nail polish stay in place. The idea is that you start with Millionails, then after 90 days you go to Billionails, and graduate to Trillionails.

Good Luck!
Meghann

Blue Tux shoes are perfect for brides. Well, and for anyone else who enjoys a simple, well-made shoe priced around $100. Blue Tux offers dyeable white satin or metallic shoes in a number of classic styles. Check out their website: www.bluetuxshoes.com.

They are opening a Chicago flagship store at 1920 N Damen. Hooray! In honor of the new store, they are throwing a cocktail party on Thursday, March 29th from 6-9pm. If you are interested in going to check out the adorable shoes and the elegant new space, RSVP at 773-252-3290 or rsvp@shopbluetux.com.

Happy Shopping!
Meghann

P.S. I’m partial to the Sophie ballet flat. Of course it is on backorder! As a bride, you need to be comfortable on your wedding day. I think that if you can get away with it, a supportive flat is the way to go!

I also love it when brides wear a colored shoe. It makes for great pictures.

My friend Kathy from Kasia’s Bridal just emailed me about a great bridal gown event she’s hosting on Sunday. This is the fourth year for her bargain sale. She’s really excited to make this year’s sale as successful as always.

All of you brides on a tight budget need to check this one out!

Here’s the scoop from the flyer:

One Day Only…Sunday, March 11, 2007 9:00am-4:30pm at the Residence Inn by Marriott at 7101 Chestnut Street in Rosemont (between Target and Steak & Shake). The phone number is (847) 375-9000.

CASH only!

Gowns by Carmela Sutera, Pronovias, Jim Hjelm, Demetrios, Watters & Watters, MonCheri, Maggie Sottero, Casablanca, Mori Lee, Alfred Angelo, and more.

Sizes 2-32 and 16W-28W are available.

Gowns originally priced from $1000-$6000 are now $75-$500 (Wow!)

The flyer suggests wearing your tennis shoes, bathing suit, or sports bra so that you feel comfortable. I am assuming that you’ll be changing in front of others.

This sounds like a great opportunity for major savings. Set your alarm super-early for Sunday morning (plan on getting there by 8:00 to stand in line), hit the ATM machine, grab your mom or a trusted friend, and check out the sale.

Good luck!
Meghann

P.S. You can email me if you want to check out the flyer. I’ll forward a copy to you.

Macy’s is carrying on the grand tradition of Marshall Field’s and the traveling bridal gown sample sale. Great deals on designer gowns can be found here from Friday, March 2nd through Sunday, March 4th. I’m a huge fan of buying sample dresses. It is a great way to get the luxurious designer look for an affordable price. And, let’s be honest. You are only wearing this dress one time.

Here are a few tips for shopping for a gown at a sample sale:
1) Keep an open mind! You never know what you’ll like until you try it on.
2) If you want to take someone shopping with you, make sure they will be honest with you. Also, make sure this is someone whose opinion you actually want to listen to!
2) Be firm about your budget. Yes, it’s a great deal to get a $7,000 dress for $2,500. But, if your budget was $1,000, stick to it!
3) LOVE the dress. You can’t return a wedding gown. You’ll be wearing this dress on the most important day of your life. You want to feel spectacular! (This may contradict my previous point!)
4) If there is a flaw on the dress, find out whether it can be fixed BEFORE you purchase it.
5) This is the hardest one…Don’t buy the dress on impulse. Yes, there is only one of each dress at a sample sale, but walk away from it for a little while and think about it with a clear head.

Give the Macy’s Bridal Salon a call to reserve your appointment! The number is (312) 781-3545.

Happy Shopping!
Meg

Today I was talking to my creative and fashionable friend, Jaime. She mentioned that she added some of her new handmade jewelry pieces to her etsy.com store. Knowing that she makes fabulous jewelry, I asked her to send me the link so I could see her latest work. I was immediately excited when I saw it. She uses the store name “Magnolia Street” to house her collections online. I think our connection was meant to be, as blush + bashful got its name from “Steel Magnolias” and uses a magnolia in its logo. See what I mean?!

I asked Jaime to give me a quote about how she got started making jewelry and why she loves it. Here’s what she had to say,

“The first time I realized I could make my own jewelry was when a friend of mine came into work wearing a simple leather cord bracelet with recycled glass beads spaced intermittently and tied to it. I admired it and asked where she had bought it, and she told me, ‘I made it!’ She said she had gone to Caravan Beads on Lincoln and Roscoe and had received help there to make her own bracelet.

“I decided to give it a go and went to the store myself. I was quickly hooked. The walls are filled with gorgeous, shimmering beads, shells, strands, findings…everything you could want to make beautiful pieces all your own.

“Later, I got a basic tool set as a gift and began to make my own creations in earnest. Today, I’ve designed pieces for a friend’s wedding, as a birthday gift for another friend’s mother, and have several commissions for pieces rolling in. I even designed an entire line of pieces for another friend who handed me $200 in a bead shop and told me to ‘go crazy.’ I also make pieces and leave them in random places for friends to find for their birthdays and special events. It tickles me to no end to to hear a high-pitched squeal and an ‘On my goodness!’, and know that they’ve foudn a pretty necklace or bracelet or earrings that I’ve secretly left for them in a little stashed spot.

“My desire is to create unique, clean designs that don’t belong to any one time or place, but that make the wearer feel classic and beautiful. My pieces stand the test of time…and the test of a girlfriend’s eye, who will look at what you’re wearing and immediately want one for herself!”

If you’re interested in contacting Jaime about designing custom bridesmaid jewelry using your wedding colors or a unique and impressive gift for your future mother-in-law, email me meg@blushandbash fulevents.com and I’ll put you in contact with her. She’s great!

Enjoy!
Meg