Fun things for the bridesmaids from wishingfish.com:

Yoga Bag: perfect for the friend who spends more time in the gym than at home!

WineSmarts: great for the wine lover in your life!

Make A Wish Charms: when the thread breaks the wearer's wish is ready to come true.

Wedding Tissues: more fun than the plain old white Kleenex.

In honor of the following:
*The fantabulous 18 inches of snow that we received this weekend. Yes, the weekend of APRIL 23 and 24. No, it didn't drift into 18 inches, 18 inches fell.
*The fact that it is now Tuesday and we STILL have no power, which means no heat, which means that it is a brisk 49 degrees and holding in our house.
*The realization that all my files that I REALLY need to be working on are on my computer that I can't access because I have no power and computers need power.
*The fact that Maple Drive is now a war zone with branches and limbs strewn about as if a flippin tornado ripped through – at least they were able to move the really big one off the road!

In honor of all these things, I give you
People Who Are Probably Colder Than We Are (But Not By Much).
I am just glad I am not a wedding planner in Alaska, quite simply, I wouldn't make it.

I have pictures of all the fun we had with the snow and once we have the power we need to turn the computer on and the heat we need to make our fingers move, I will post them! Stay tuned!

Name: Truman.
Nicknames: Truman the Dog, Tru-Tru, Tru-boy, Trum-me, Buppy, Buddy, Bup-Bup.
Age: 3 years old
Breed: Golden Retriever
Likes: Belly rubs, playing frisbee, napping, snuggles, TREATS!
Dislikes: Workdays, rainy days, laundry baskets, hair dryers.

Truman is a beauty school guide dog school drop out. My Aunts are puppies raisers for Paws with a Cause. These dogs are amazing – they give people with disabilities a helping paw and a chance at independence.

Truman was one of their favorite dogs but he flunked out of puppy college because he was a little too skittish and afraid of things like laundry baskets over his head and loud noises. When a puppy flunks out, the puppy raiser gets first choice as to who the puppy will go to – my Aunts knew we were looking to adopt a dog and so Truman came to live with us Labor Day 2003.

He is the sweetest dog in the world – I mean how can you resist a face like that? We certainly can't!

I get more compliments on this little ribbon belt from Lindsay Designs than just about anything else that I own. They have some very fun flower clips and pet collars as well. Truman got a new dog collar just recently – the lime macho stripe. He looks quite handsome in it.

Green, pink, grosgrain ribbon – I think I am becoming preppy in my old age.

Cute but not *cute* address labels. I am such a sucker for anything green and pink.

I am not pregnant – let me repeat that – I am NOT pregnant. I do, however, have friends who are currently prego and I am always on the lookout for cute gifts for them.

Loving the Budda Belly tees from the fabulous Stacy Z Designs Belly Bliss collection:

Also digging on the pregnant mud flap girl t-shirt and the one that just says Prego from Maternitee by Swanky.

This looks fun: an organizer for inside your handbag. It is supposed to help you keep it neat so everything else sits in the middle of the bag. Goodness knows I could use one of these for my bigger purses. It would be useful for the half of my emergency kit that lives in a big bag, too. Must order soon.

At every wedding I carry a ridicuously extensive emergency kit, it is big. It keeps growing and I think that is fabulous. My hubby claims that I could easily ward off enemy invaders and possibly take over a small country with my fantabulous emergency kit – frankly, I don't disagree.

Now that May, June and July are almost upon us, wedding season is about to kick into high gear! While I love this time of year and look forward to the flurry that is to come, it does take a toll on the good old kit. Since pretty much all the goodies in the kit are 'single serving' or one time use, I used to have to trek from store to store looking at the travel section, hoping for some luck finding mini accoutrements. This year I will not have to make those trips because I have found that most fantabulous website: minimus.biz! Everything they carry is in individual or travel size – perfect for the emergency kit preemptive restock I am about to embark on.

Off to spend some money on some tiny things and get ready for the weddings!

Jax and Bones. Truman needs a new dog bed and I am addicted to stripes right now…he might need a new collar too.

Poesis. Can one ever have too many handbags?

girl metro. Sometimes the inner diva needs to come on out and onto paper!

Fashion Trends
Topline: simplicity, color and details.

Take a simple dress and add a special detail – a broach makes a lovely addition. Borrow one from Grandma and make it your something old and something borrowed.

Who says that a petticoat has to be white? Why not blue, red or pink. Even if no one but your wonderful groom sees it – you'll still know what is under that gorgeous gown.

From the preppy staple of grosgrain to decedent double faced satin, ribbons are still the accent of choice. Look for them in colors other than white and cream and on dresses other than the bridesmaid's.

Even if you didn't like Camilla's wedding hat feathers are fabulous. On your purse they are understated and still fun.

Reception Trends
Topline: sparklies, tastings and tables

Pearls have always been a staple in the bridal bouquet. Now florists are adding crystals the centers and petals of flowers, wrapping bouquet handles in strands of beads and adding wired crystal accents to keep the traditional bouquet from being…well, traditional.

Long banquet style tables are taking over as the new way to seat your guests. Very State Dinner.

Wine tastings and dim sum are more popular than ever and they are making their move into the world of receptions. With four or five smaller courses replacing the usual three-or an entree made of two or more main items, rather than one – the 'dinner' part of 'dinner and dancing' just got more interesting.

Jazz trios, a single acoustic guitar, trumpeters – all are quickly gaining popularity over the string quartet as ceremony music.

Courtesy of the 'Trends Issue' from Modern Bride.