Target Wedding??

In the days of being super budget conscious I decided to see if I could outfit a wedding at Target. I think I did pretty well. Please note that the wedding gown was not from Target (they had nice white dresses, just not ones I liked) So I found that at Davids Bridal for $99. Otherwise all things can be found at Target! I know this doesn't cover a cake or pictures, but if you are being really really budget friendly you can bake a cake with the mix, frosting and pans from Target. And you can take your own pictures with a camera found a Target AND develop them there!

Here is one more tip to help you save money. You can sign up with Ebates and get $5 for signing up, plus 4% cash back on your purchase through Ebates - from Target! Plus get free shipping if you spend over $50. How can you beat that?

So without further ado... a wedding purchased through Target!

Disney Inspired II

Okay, here's a different kind of Disney inspired theme. See what you think...

Disney Inspired

In getting ready for my trip to Disneyland, I started thinking about Disney inspired wedding themes. This is the one that I have come up with. I may even try some other Disney theme ideas?? I love taking something and turning it into a wedding insperation. This one is great because it has the feel of Disney without the actual commercial quality of it.

Shoes, Gown & Dress, Flowers, Tree, Tie & Cufflinks, Floral Centerpiece, Necklace

Pink Pocket Wedding Invites

So, most of you know how much I love pink, which is one of the reasons I love this invite! I love the concept of the pockets on wedding invitations, this is a great example of what I mean. These are available on Etsy, by the very talented Sarah Stahl - an amazing resource for anyone planning an event!

Flourish Friday

So have you been smiling? Have you been training your brain? If so I would like to bet that you are starting to see some difference in who you are and how you think. If you have had a hard time getting started lets try something different today. In order to succeed at anything you have to "set yourself up" to succeed. The same is true when you are trying to succeed at being a better you! So what does that look like...?

First of all, I ask you to think about what kind of music you are listening to during the day. If you are constantly listening to sad, depressing songs, chances are you are going to be sad and depressed. The same is true of angry music.Or, if you are trying to get over someone that has broken your heart or that you shouldn't be with, it is probably best to steer clear of sappy love songs. I'm sure you get the point. :)

Television and movies are probably the biggest disasters when it comes to trying to better yourself. Whatever you watch on t.v. you are inviting into your home, your living room, your mind. Try thinking twice on whether or not the images being displayed or the dialog being discussed is what you want as a part of you forever. I know the saying is "Garbage In-Garbage OUT", however I would like to state that as unfortunate as that is, the bigger deal to me is that the garbage that goes in, never really goes out. If you've ever watched a scary movie you know what I mean. You can have those images popping up at random times years later. Proving that it is in there, effecting who you are.

Now here is a touchy one... Let's reevaluate who you spend time with. It is absolutely impossible to spend any amount of time with someone and have them NOT impact you. I know you know what I'm talking about. We can all name someone (maybe even ourselves if we're being honest) who are totally different around certain people. We automatically adapt ourselves to the situation. So I would like to argue that who you spend your time with is detrimental in becoming who you want to be. Do you want to be more positive? Surround yourself with positive people. Do you want to be successful? Surround yourself with successful people. I am not saying that you need to become these people. Just let them rub off on you a little. Then take that and turn it into the best YOU possible!

SET YOURSELF UP TO SUCCEED! SET YOURSELF UP TO SUCCEED! SET YOURSELF UP TO SUCCEED!

Get Married album by Sugarcane & Abel on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3 Album Song Tracks

Get Married album by Sugarcane & Abel on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3 Album Song Tracks

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Strawberry Theme Insperation Board

This inspiration board was inspired by a wonderful friend of mine. She will getting married soon, and while trying to come up with a feel for the wedding she mentioned how much she loves strawberries. I started thinking about red for a summer wedding... I was afraid that it couldn't be done at a garden wedding because it was too formal. Better for the colder months. Well, I think I proved myself wrong! I found that if you remove black from the wedding decor it is the perfect pallet for a summer garden wedding. I would also put the men in khaki pants with maybe red suspenders... not sure. Enjoy!

Sources: Strawberry Photo, Flowergirl Dress, Wedding Gown, Lantern Photo, Red & White Mary Janes

Flourish Friday

So... how are those smiles working?? Have you changed any part of the world?? If you were doing it right... you did! If not, keep trying, it's worth it. Either way continue to work the smile, each Friday it is not time to forget the last step and move on, it is a building block. We are going to put one block on top of the other so we can build up to the ultimate "us".
So KEEP SMILING.

Now onto this weeks step. This is more of an inside step. Most people will not be able to tell you are working on it. This is between you and your brain. Did you know that you control your brain? Your brain does NOT control you. That is worth repeating; YOU CONTROL YOUR BRAIN. YOUR BRAIN DOES NOT CONTROL YOU. I am not sure that many people believe this. I think if they did, this world would be a totally different place. Now please note, I am not speaking as someone who has this mastered. I am speaking as someone that is working on this right along with each of you. In fact, this has been a major topic of discussion with myself this week.
Did you know that you can convince yourself to like something & you can convince yourself to stop liking something. It won't be easy. However, I believe that it is more important than any of us can fathom.

So, this next week my challenge to you is that you would learn to train your brain. The first step is this: Speak it out loud. If you want to train yourself to like broccoli then I want you to say it out loud through out the next week. "I like broccoli." "Broccoli is good." Then test it, put broccoli in front of you and when you go to take a bite, fight the urge to cringe or think negatively about the broccoli, continue to tell yourself that you like it. Don't expect it to work perfectly the first time, just like training for anything, it takes time and persistence. But continue to persevere if this is important to you. Then try it with other things; exercising, finishing the big project that has been haunting you, whatever it may be, work for it. You are worth it! Have a wonderful weekend and check back on Monday.

Take My Breath Away...

Have you ever come across something that just takes your breath away? That, no matter how hard you try, you just can't get it out of your head? Well, that is what happened to me a few weeks back. Just like every other day, I clicked on the Style Me Pretty blog to see what wonderful "eye candy" Abby had chosen for us that day... and GASP! There were the most mesmerizing photos I had ever seen. So here I am, sharing them with you today. Take your time and pour over the details in these tablescapes staged by Cournetnay Lambert of Courtenay Lambert Florals and Kortnee Miller of Simply Timeless Photography. Apparently this is what amazingly talented people do in the Off-Season...

Inside the Envelope...

So we've been talking about the outside of the envelope, now I would like to talk about what is in it! Here are some fun examples from one of my favorite companies. Check out their websites... They have OODLES of designs to choose from! The links are at the bottom of this page. :)

Jessica Lemmons Photography

I for one have got to say that I adore the direction that modern day photography has taken. Out are the days of posing with your head tilted awkwardly and holding a fake smile until you burst! Hooray! If you haven't spent any time swooning over a great photographers site lately... you have no idea what you are missing! Here are some amazing examples from a local photographer that I am obsessed with. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Here's to an artistic eye! Thank you Jessica! Jessica Lemmons Photography.

Flourish Fridays

ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT!! Life's Little Polka Dot's is proud to announce the new theme of the Friday post. Flourish Friday. That's right, Flourish. Whether we are professional planners, amateur planners or not planning anything, I think we can all agree that we can all be better people. So every Friday we will be leaving the world of event planning and focus on just plain old US. First we should probably establish what "Flourish" really means.

flour⋅ish [flur-ish, fluhr-]

1. to be successful; prosper.

2. to grow luxuriantly

3. to make dramatic, sweeping gestures

To be successful & prosper! Who doesn't want to do that!!! To grow luxuriantly! Which is roughly translated as "a richly supplied and lush growth." And I know that making dramatic, sweeping gestures is referring to doing it "with an object" but I feel encouraged to think of it as "with ourselves."

So, every Friday we will look into what it takes to flourish. One week at a time. One action at a time. Please take the challenge that I present each week and live it. Let it become part of you...

Week 1 - A Smile Can Change the World

Very few people could argue the fact, that a simple smile can change your entire mood. You could be having a really rotten day and then someone smiles at you... really smiles, and although your day won't necessarily turn full circle. It will improve. And you don't have to rely on others to do that for you. You can do that for yourself. No matter how bad you feel, smile...really smile and again, it will improve your mood. PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT SURFACY, FAKE SMILES - THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. To REALLY smile you have to take a minute and focus on something that REALLY makes you happy. Taking the time to think about these things are guaranteed to make you a happier person. Which will lead to more smiles...
Now, my favorite part, making it about others. What can we do for others? If this is a foreign concept to you bear with me. There is no way that you can succeed at this challenge and NOT have it change you, forever. My family has laughed at me for years; when I go into the grocery store and smile and say "Hi" to a good majority of the people that we pass. When I leave the checkout counter knowing at least one piece of personal information about the clerk. (Not always, I too have a schedule that occasionally prohibits me from "befriending" all store clerks.) I do at least always SMILE and talk nicely to them, respectfully.
So as you go into your weekend take this challenge: Smile. Smile at everyone you meet, and watch the immediate reaction to this very easy gesture. If someone is walking slowly and looking defeated, make eye contact, and smile. Watch as they will most likely straighten up and walk more briskly. You have more power than you may ever know. Lets change the world. One smile at a time!

Things To Budget For

As I promised earlier this week, here is a list of things to keep in mind when planning your wedding budget: (please note that you may not have a need for everything on this list and you may have needs that are not specified on this list. It is just to give you an idea of what to consider.)

CEREMONY

Ceremony Site-Officiant Fees

Flower Girl Basket - Ring Bearer Pillow

Unity Candle

WEDDING ATTIRE

Bridal Gown - Alterations -Headpiece & Veil

Gloves -Jewelry

Stockings -Garter

Shoes -Hairdresser

Makeup Artist -Manicure/Pedicure

Groom's Formal Wear

PHOTOGRAPHY

Bride & Groom's Album -Parents' Album

Extra Prints-Proofs/Previews-Negatives

Engagement Photograph

Formal Bridal Portrait

VIDEOGRAPHY

Main Video Titles-Extra Hours

Photo Montage-Extra Copies

STATIONERY

Invitations-Response Cards

Reception Cards-Ceremony Cards

Pew Cards-Seating/Place Cards

Maps-Ceremony Programs

Announcements-Thank You Notes

Stamps-Calligraphy

Napkins/ Matchbooks

MUSIC

Ceremony Music-Reception Music

RECEPTION

Reception Site Fee-Hoers D' Oeuvres -Favors

Main Meal/Caterer-Liquor/ Beverages

Bar tending Fee

Bar Set-up Fee-Corkage Fee

Fee to Pour Coffee-Service Providers'

Meals -Gratuity-Disposable Cameras

Parking Fee-Valet Services

FLOWERS

Bride's Bouquet-Tossing Bouquet

Maid of Honor's & Bridesmaids' Bouquets

Flower Girl's head piece & pedals

Corsages for Family Members'

Boutonnieres for Groom & Ushers & Family

Any arrangements that you may want at the ceremony

Flowers for reception

BAKERY

Wedding Cake-Groom's Cake Cake

Delivery/Set-up Fee-Cake-Cutting Fee

Cake Top-Cake Knife/Toast Glasses

DECORATIONS

Table Centerpieces -Balloons

Candles - Anything else you envision!

RENTAL ITEMS

Ceremony Accessories -Tent/Canopy

Dance Floor -Tables/Chairs

Linen/Tableware

Heaters -Lanterns

GIFTS

Bride's Gift -Groom's Gift

Bridesmaids' Gifts -Ushers' Gifts

MISCELLANEOUS

Newspaper Announcement-Marriage License

Bridal Gown/Bouquet Preservation

Wedding Consultant

Wedding Software

Taxes

Spring Has Sprung -So Have These Favors

Are you looking for favors that will last forever? Well why not take a hint from mother nature and offer your guests these lasting tokens of your appreciation? These wonderful favors are perfect for spring and summer weddings. They are friendly to the environment too! Your guests can go home and plant these in their own gardens or planters and be reminded of you year after year. Plus, you can cluster them in the middle of your tables for a fun centerpiece, and since everyone takes them with them when they leave, clean ups a snap!

There are a number of ways to make these wonderful as well. There are a number of companies online that offer some sort of seedling, you can get them by themselves or already in containers with bows or tags. You can get them from your local Nursery in most cases as well. This is a fun way to keep things local. You can also cut them from your own garden as "starters". This is the least expensive option, you just need to make sure that you know what you are doing. There are many resources for this. It isn't very difficult. Or as with these amazing lucky bamboo shoots, you can look on eBay! The total is about .15 cents each on these 4" stems. They come in all sizes however, so why not buy many sizes and display all around!

If you get them by themselves the sky's the limit on what you can put them in. You can wrap them in pretty paper depending on the variety of plant. (some will need to be in soil or water full time) You can put them in adorable pots that you have painted or leave them plain for an earthy feel. The ones above are in fun little boxes! With each of them you can find fun ways to incorporate your theme or a signature tag. Have fun with it!