Twenty Invites Your Guests Won’t Ignore

September 23, 2016

You know the drill. Each day, your mailbox flooding with same old envelopes that scream, “I am a bill. I am junk mail.”

Until you stop dead in your tracks. Square envelope? Thick paper? Beautifully-penned handwriting? The excitement builds as you open it and your heart skips a beat as you read, “You’re invited.” Yes!

A unique and personal wedding invitation is step one to setting the tone for your event. Invitation companies offer paper suites to take you from start (save the date cards), middle (invitation, RSVP cards) to finish (thank you cards).

Overwhelmed? Don’t be. Start with the mood of your event. Is it casual or formal? What season is it? What’s your venue like? Basic Invite shows us what’s trending right now and what’s to come.

Utah-based company Basic Invite allows customers almost unlimited customized color options with instant previews online. Plus, customers can order a printed sample of their actual invitation so they can see and touch what the final quality will be. What a relief! No more anxiety about those invites turning out just right.

Basic Invite has a staff of designers that currently has over 200 wedding invitation sets available.

Every element of the design can be customized to your taste and style with over 100 wedding fonts and forty different colors of envelopes to choose from. Not seeing something that fits your needs? Select the “upload your own” option and create your own look by adding text and color.

To the fun part! What will your invitation look like? How about adding foil to the invitation so the words really pop!

Or check out the Real Wood Invitations set to launch soon at www.BasicInvite.com.

Make a mailbox—and your guests—happy today. Seal the deal with a sensational paper suite.

This post has been made in partnership with Basic Invites.

In the Life: Lauren Bledsoe

September 22, 2016

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STYLE

My style vacillates between “farm girl with a credit card” and “mid-40s divorcee with a new lease on life and a looming trip to Tuscany.” Imagine if Tilda Swinton lived on a farm in Provence and had a boyfriend who owned a linen factory. I’m serious! I love all things eyelet, denim (overalls are my go-to right now), oversized comfy sweaters and anything made from linen. If I didn’t spend so much on film, I’d exclusively wear Eileen Fisher and Elizabeth Suzann, with a healthy sprinkling of Madewell pieces here and there. That, my friends, (as Hilary Duff would say), is what dreams are made of.

BEAUTY

I don’t have a beauty routine. I have never gotten into skin care. I am just way too lazy for any type of lotion-potion regimen. I asked my sister what I should say for this section (we live together), and she said to note that I have started using Costco makeup remover wipes at the end of the day. We all consider this a huge step forward. However, I do exercise regularly and try to eat healthfully. I think that these two things combined will work more wonders for your well-being (and appearance) than anything that comes in a jar.

I have been working out with Kayla Itsines’ BBG program for two years now, and my body has changed so much. Some months are more consistent than others, but I will tell you this: nothing feels better than strength training regularly. As far as makeup, I typically wear sunscreen, whatever concealer I can find on the cheap, mascara, and if I’m really hitting the town, a little blush and lip gloss.

OFF DUTY

When I am not working, I am dreaming up photo shoots, contacting vendors, listening to podcast interviews with photographers I admire, or scouring the internet for tips and tricks of the trade. I can’t emphasize enough how much I love photography, specifically film photography. Before I discovered film, photography was a fun hobby. I liked my images enough, but was never truly satisfied with them. One day I shot a roll on a $30 Pentax Honeywell I had bought on eBay on a whim, and when I got my scans back from the local lab, it was as if my heart broke open with joy. I couldn’t believe how beautiful, lush, and full of depth my images were.

I could talk ad nauseam about film, but suffice it to say that I love what I do beyond the telling of it. When I am not working, I am dreaming up future shoots so I can be behind my lens again. That said, when I am totally exhausted from a packed week of shooting (one of my favorite feelings), I love to unwind doing all sorts of high- and low-brow activities. You can find me by myself at the Utah Symphony, on a hike in the beautiful Wasatch mountains, reading celeb gossip, or painting my nails while watching The Real Housewives.

As told to Utah Bride & Groom magazine.

To see Lauren’s work, visit her website or follow her on Instagram.

Splendor in the Grass

September 21, 2016

“Love betters what is best”

— William Wordsworth

VENDORS

Photography: Kychelle Photography

Dress: ASOS

Shoes: Steve Madden

Jewelry: Avenia Bridal

Beauty: Marisa Rose

Blushing Bride: Your Guide to Wedding Day Face Masks

September 20, 2016

We’ve all heard the term “blushing bride,” and the radiance that comes from an impending joyful life event. But why?

The simple answer: endorphins.

Endorphins are the opiate-like chemicals within our bodies that create feelings of calmness and euphoria. Exercise, laughter, sex, music, chocolate and most-things spicy boost endorphins in the body to bring blood to the surface of your skin and create that well-known glow. Voilà!

In addition to a brisk walk or a snap of a bar of dark chocolate, you can enlist the help of one magic product to make sure your skin is in prime condition to show off that sheen: the face mask.

Made for every skin type, masks have the power to exfoliate, brighten, smooth, tighten, moisturize, repair … the list goes on and on. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite products for every skin type so you can find your favorites and treat yo’ self in the months leading up to your special day.

To tighten, there is nothing like Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay ($8). It will make your face bulge until your eyes pop out, but your skin will shine like nothing else.

Clogged pores? Use a charcoal mask—namely Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask ($26). Charcoal oxygenates the skin, and binds to foreign materials, pulling it out like a shovel to weeds. We know it’s science, but it seems like magic.

Dull or bumpy skin? This takes a few weeks of patience and dedication, but glycolic acid will smooth and prime your skin by gently removing dead skin. Try Nip + Fab’s Glycolic Instant Fix Mask ($13).

Scrubs too harsh on your sensitive skin? Enzymes work by gently “eating” the dead skin off of your face. Rely on Mario Badescu Enzyme Revitalizing Mask ($20), a safe and soft exfoliation without the abrasiveness.

After all of that hard work of exfoliating, drying, and tightening your pores, let that dewy glow show off your hard work. Plump up your skin with Avene’s Soothing Moisture Mask ($26).

— Audrey Fretz

Fit Bride Friday: My Big Fat Greek Salad?

September 16, 2016

Simple and delicious all wrapped into one perfect salad

By Aly Peterson | Photos by Tess Comrie

I love to eat a fresh salad loaded with fruits and/or vegetables. Fruits and vegetables help prevent obesity, heart disease, and type two diabetes (just to name a few). They also help to provide us with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. Fresh fruits and vegetables are key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle!

Most of us should be eating at least two cups of fruits and three cups of vegetables each day (this is based on a 2400 calorie diet). Sometimes, that’s really hard to reach! I have found this goal easier to reach when I plan ahead and incorporate most of those servings into my breakfast and lunch.

This Greek salad has been one of my go-to lunches for a couple years! It’s delicious, easy to make, low calorie, and full of vegetables and healthy fats!

Ingredients

1 cucumber (sliced thin and then quartered)
½ cup cherry tomatoes (quartered)
Kalamata olives (5-6 whole, quartered)
¼ cup feta cheese
Lemon pepper seasoning (approximately 1 teaspoon)
Greek salad dressing (2 tablespoons, I typically use Kraft or Litehouse brand)
Optional: ⅓ cup garbanzo beans or ⅓ cup chopped chicken breast

After chopping the ingredients, mix them into a large bowl. The order you chop and add the ingredients to the bowl does not matter. This recipe makes one large serving (I eat it all… it’s too yummy not to) or you can always split it with a friend or save for later if it’s a little too much for you. Enjoy!

Tip: I love to add whole-wheat pita bread to this meal. Delicious!

Dreamy Details

September 13, 2016

“The key is to make the décor look effortless.”

— Jacque Lynn, Mountain Majesties

We love no-nonsense looks for summertime nuptials, which is why we love the details of this sweet wedding, captured by Britt Chudleigh.

Scroll down to see our favorite dreamy details.

Click here to see more from this wedding.

Blushing Harvest

September 10, 2016

From Utah soil, nature’s beauty sprouts. Flowers and fruit are in abundance where this glowing romance blooms. A light breeze carries orchard fragrances to luck guests as they are greeted by chalk-written place settings.

Tonight’s sunset treat? Homemade bundt cake cheerfully sprinkled with powdered sugar and sweetened with fresh-picked berries and plums.

Photography: Green Apple Photography

Paper Design: October Ink

Florals: Honey of a Thousand Flowers

Gown: Melissa Blackburn

Suit: Tommy Hilfiger

Hair and Makeup: April Benincosa of Vintage Rouge

Location: Phelps Berry Farm

Berry Crates: Garnish

Styling: Lindsey Stewart, Sarah Winward, Melissa Blackburn, Jayne Swallow and April Benincosa

Fit Bride Friday: Cardio for the Win

September 9, 2016

Healthier, stronger, happier

By Aly Peterson | Photos by Tess Comrie

Cardio is a great way to become healthier, become stronger, and burn calories. I love cardio, but I get sick of being on the treadmill, elliptical, or stair-climber for my workout every day! It’s also tough sometimes to make it to the gym to workout, whether it’s because I’m running around all day or just don’t have the energy to go.

Recently this cardio exercise has been a go-to because it’s quick, effective, and helps me to build other muscles while strengthening my heart at the same time.

30 jumping jacks
5 push ups
25 high knees
7 burpees
10 crunches
7 squats
5 push ups
10 crunches
5 push ups
7 squats
30 jumping jacks
1 minute wall sit
5 push ups
25 high knees

Repeat 3 to 5 times.

On a side note: Always remember to exercise because you love your body, not because you hate it! In the world we live in it’s hard not to constantly criticize ourselves and point out the things we wish we could change. Many women tend to focus on cardio only to lose weight and fit in a smaller dress size. Cardio has many other benefits such as reducing stress, reducing the risk of some types of cancer, relieving depression and anxiety, building muscle, increasing bone density, and increasing confidence. Focus on health, not on weight. Respect your body because it’s the only one you have!

Dreamy Duo

September 2, 2016

“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”

— Audrey Hepburn

Photography by Mikki Platt

Fit Bride Friday: Kiava Fitness Clothing

September 2, 2016

Who doesn’t love to feel smokin’ hot in their workout clothes?

By Aly Peterson | Photography by Tess Comrie

Kiava is a Utah company that offers attractive activewear for affordable prices. Recently, I tried out a pair of leggings, a sports bra, and a tank top from the company (I ordered the “Braided Bra” in sea glass, the “Mesh Tank Top” in black, and the “Everyday Capri” in sapphire).

I notice I get excited to exercise and be healthy when I love the fitness gear I have and I found everything I was looking for with Kiava clothing! It’s comfortable, it’s flattering, there are fun color options, there are unique designs, and I don’t feel like I’m breaking the bank when I decide to buy a new item.

How many times do you see the perfect sports bra or cute gym shorts and then look at the price tag and think “Well, I buy the perfect shorts and starve for a month, or I pass on the shorts and eat like a king for a month”?

I have definitely felt that way before.

Don’t worry, when you shop at Kiava you can have both the cute gym shorts and good food!

What I love most about Kiava is their goal to help woman feel strong and beautiful while achieving their fitness goals. There are so many color and design options that will help any woman achieve just that!

And who doesn’t love to feel smokin’ hot in their workout clothes? 😉

Check out the Kiava website to order your fitness clothing.

The Criticbook & movie reviews

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