Single Man Learns Single Ladies Dance

One of my bridesmaids and I watched this video last night while waiting for J. crew site to come back online and I could not stop laughing. First, I'm very intrigued by his ability to be so spot on with the timing and choreography. Second, I was mesmerized by how well he performed it. My fiance didn't appreciate it quite like I did, but he's not also a former dancer, but he was still impressed.

To view the video, click here.

Anyways, had to share. Happy Monday!

What to wear. . . for the Bridesmaids

Early last week I made myself check out J.Crew because of the bombardment of coupons and sales they had been sending to my inbox. At most times of the year I try to resist the temptation, but it was the holidays and I had felt bad about neglecting my bridesmaids and their search for dresses. Lo and behold, the dresses I had loved early this fall were on sale AND they had a lot of sizes AND they were in the colors I wanted!

So I refined my list of prospects and sent them quickly to my girls for comment. They have been so sweet and willing to wear whatever I asked the, but I still wanted them to have a choice in their dress cut and color so that they would have something that brought out their best features.

One of them said to me tonight online (while we waited for J. Crew.com to come back online . . . and we're still waiting): p.s. thank you thank you thank you for not making us get a certain kind of shoes (like a specific pair)...i appreciate that SO much! i think it looks silly when it is all matchy matchy. i knew you wouldn't do that but still!

I'm not saying my way is the only way to do it, but I really wanted the girls to be able to choose a dress style and color (they're picking between 2 colors and 3 dresses) that also made them happy to wear. Another one told me tonight that this is the first dress that she has bought as a bridesmaid that she'll actually get to wear again. Both of these comments meant so much to because they were exactly the end result I wanted to achieve.

I would show you their choices, but because J. Crew.com is being crappy, I'll have to update you with them later. However, knowing that they're all ordering their dresses and who's going to wear what makes me SO EXCITED all over again! It's one thing to pick them out, but to know they've ordered them and who's wearing what at the wedding in 9 months, it's completely different. I can't wait to see them on some of the girls when I go home next week!

Zola Wine and Kitchen Opens

Recently Star Restaurant Group, (one of D.C.'s leading restaurant development firms who also brought you Indigo Landing) Zola Wine and Kitchen. According to this Washington Business Journals article, it will be the site of a chef's test kitchen as well as a wine shop that will sell 6,000 wines. They will also be offering cooking classes during lunch!

I think this would be a really fun place to visit with out-of-town family or a fun activity for you and your bridal party. If you get to go, let me know how your visit went!

Bridal Shower on Top Chef tonite!

All of my friends know that I'm a big fan of wine, food, cooking, anything epicurean. So I'm sharing this passion with all of you by encouraging you to watch tonight's epi of Top Chef. Why? Why, Miss Keswick, would we want to watch Top Chef? How could it be relevant to our wedding planning lives? Because tonite the chefs are catering Gail Simmons' bridal shower party. What a great way to get some ideas for your menu - and who doesn't love a drama in the kitchen (as long as it's not between you and your mother or you and your betrothed).

Top Chef airs tonite at 10 PM, encore at 11 PM, on Bravo.

Bon appetit!

10% off Phyto Deep Conditioning at One80 Salon

This summer, I visited One80 Salon on K Street for a free Phyto Deep Conditioning Treatment. They were doing a special because they were recently featured in Allure and wanted to celebrate. I reasoned that maintaining good hair should start as soon as possible if I wanted to have long, healthy, happy hair for all the pictures we would be taking to celebrate our engagement, our engagement session, any possible engagement parties, and of course, the wedding.

My hair is kinda coarse, which lends itself to being dry. It's also very thick - like each strand individually is thicker than some types of dental floss (or almost). Thus, I've always maintained a very strict hair regimen, but I thought it was worth it to try something new. That's when I discovered the Phyto line. Basically, the premise of these products is that normal hair products "moisturize" your hair on the outside by leaving silicates so that it feels smoother, never really remedying the problem, kinda like what makeup does your face. Phyto (pronounced fee-toh), however, moisturizes your hair from the inside, actually helping each strand to become healthier.

The reason I share my hair history with you is One80 Salon is offering $10 off Phyto Deep Conditioning treatments through the end of December! Reasons why you should:

1. You've been meaning to try something different with your hair, but didn't know what.
2. It's never too late to take good care of your hair (oooh, you can almost feel them massaging your scalp, can't you?)
3. It's the holidays and you have a lot of holiday parties coming up and New Year's Even is just around the corner!

Enjoy!

AND 20% off at Macy's!!

Sales abound! Thanks to our partnership with Macy's at work, we received a lovely Friends and Family discount at Macy's. And now I'm sharing it with you! Now through December 15, take an extra 20% off AND receive free shipping! I'm sorry to any potential wedding guests out there for not finishing our Macy's registry yet, but I promise there will be more chances and sales!

Unfortunately, blogger doesn't let me upload files, only JPEGs, so send me a comment with your email address if you want the coupon. Or, download the 20% off coupon here (sans free shipping).

25% off at Lord and Taylor

Oh the economy. Oh the holidays. It seems like everyone's offering sales and specials to entice everyone to help out our limping economy. In addition to Macy's, Lord and Taylor is offering a 25% off Friends and Family Discount through Monday, December 15th. Not only can you get your holiday shopping done at reduced cost, you have another place to look for that holiday gift exchange party for which you've been avoiding buying a worthy present!

Download the 25% off coupon here

PS - Sorry I've been MIA! Work required some late nights, but I have plenty to post from all my time spent away from my laptop! At least you have a sale coupon now, right?