Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween, and Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and a great Halloween!

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

If The Shoe Fits...

Once you find that perfect wedding dress, it's time to find the perfect pair of shoes to complete your bridal look. But what shoes are appropriate for brides? Traditional white shoes, heels, flats, color, sparkles, sandals? The list of questionable shoe options is endless. It is no surprise that so many brides are confused when it comes to footwear for the big day.

It's time to think outside the shoebox, ladies! Your big day is a wonderful opportunity to express yourself and enjoy being the center of attention. Let your shoes be a reflection of you and your style as you celebrate this milestone event. Think about incorporating shoes that will be the perfect addition to your gown that is fun and different, while also allowing comfort. One of my clients, Heather, is wearing the chicest and most adorable pair of Christian Louboutin shoes on her wedding day. She was even lucky enough to have them autographed my C. Louboutin himself! What a creative and memorable way to put your best foot forward on your special day.

Here are some of my favorite ideas to consider when choosing your wedding shoes:

Find a shoe that is the perfect accent and adds a “pop” of color or detail, still working with the style of your dress. This means matching them to your wedding colors, your bridesmaids’ dresses, the flowers in your bouquet, or even an elegant black or your favorite color.

Christian Louboutin

Stuart Weitzman

How about utilizing the “something blue” superstition for an extra stylish dose of good luck?

Christian Louboutin

I think it would be fun and different to wear a metallic shoe or an animal print, adding a little something extra to a dress that isn't too elaborate or detailed.

Rupert Sanderson

Betsey Johnson

If your main priority is comfort and you’d like to change your shoes before the reception, you may consider wearing some sort of flats, sandals, or even sneakers! Check out these fun flip flops that are imprinted with the words "Just Married". Perfect for a beach wedding:

Advantage Bridal

Christian Louboutin

The most important thing to remember is to choose a shoe that makes you look and feel fabulous. You will definitely appear confident and comfortable this way, and will also be ready to enjoy your wedding to the fullest!

What shoes are you planning to wear or did you wear on your wedding day?

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

Charlie Brown Halloween :: Tonight!

I apologize for the last minute update, but my wonderful friend Nanette just informed me of the upcoming Charlie Brown Halloween cartoon airing tonight!

...."As most of you know, but some of you don't, I consider it my civic responsibility for reminding everyone when the CLASSIC cartoons are on the telly. Please note, this means ONLY those pre-1970, not the garbage cartoons on today with the exception of Sponge Bob, who is rather cool. To whit, It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown is on tonight- YEAH! - 7:00 p.m. Channel 15. Sorry for the late notice!  Hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween and that you don't get too many rocks when you are out trick-or-treating!!"

Thank you, Nanette! Hopefully this classic will be on again soon, for those of us who missed it.

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely 

Life Design Event Planning :: In the Spotlight

Halloween is officially one week away! If you are looking for some last minute ideas and tips, check out ABC 15 News' Sonoran Living Live for helpful advice. This morning's segment of Sonoran Living Live, with host Stephanie Sandoval, showcased Life Design Event Planning in their "Tips to Planning the Perfect Spooky Soiree." I was honored to share my own tips to help plan that perfect party and was also quoted; "...mix old and new ideas to create a fun and festive Halloween event."

Practical tips to use for your party are included in this feature, such as: fun and different ways to utilize Halloween candy, healthy alternatives to the traditional sugary treats, how to incorporate Mr. Jack-O-Lantern, and how to create a memorable event. Click here to read the article and view the video.

Thank you Sonoran Living and Stephanie Sandoval for including Life Design Event Planning!

What are your tips for planning your perfect spooky soiree?

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

Happy Friday!

How to Look Fabulous :: 4 Easy Steps

Whether you are the mother of the bride, the hostess of a party, a guest of honor, or getting dressed for everyday life, we all strive to look our very best. Making a great first impression is important and Clinton Kelly, style expert of TLC's "What Not To Wear", is here to help out. Clinton recently had a style seminar at the Macy's of Scottsdale Fashion Square, showcasing this season's current trends and the various ways to dress for your body type. One of my friends attended this event and came back with some very useful tips that I had to share.

Here are his 4 fashion rules:

1. Get a professional bra fitting- Most women miss this important step and are also wearing the wrong bra size. When you are not wearing the right bra, your whole look can be ruined. If you are supported properly and wearing the right bra, you automatically look polished and put together. The correct bra also makes it much easier to find and fit into clothing.
   
2. Use shape-wear- No matter what size you are, Clinton suggests using some form of shape-wear or body-wear to streamline your physique, make you look slimmer, and to smooth out any bumps, lumps, rolls, etc. :) This applies to fabric that really hugs your body, is shiny, and/or is sheer.
3. Get your clothing altered- Shopping is half of the process. Almost all clothing should be tailored to fit your specific frame. He suggests that denim or casual pant legs should fall 1/4 inch above your heel. Professional pant legs should fall 1/2 inch above your heel.
   
4. Be persistent and patient- Clinton said that his clients on "What Not To Wear" try on around 20 pairs of jeans before they find one that fits them correctly (wow!). Don't be discouraged when you don't fit into something with the first try. Be open to trying on a large variety of clothing to find the items that are just right for you. We all come in so many shapes and sizes that it would be very hard to find the right outfit without some real time in the dressing room (try to ignore the horrible lighting!)
   

Most importantly, don't forget to always embrace your body for how unique and beautiful it is! What style/fashion rules do you like or use?

With all the Life has to offer,

Cicely

Scott Foust :: Website Goes Live

A great local photographer just re-branded and had a new website made that just went live. I love Scott and his super fun easy going personality. Check out his new website here and show him some blog attention here.

Congrats on the new look Scott. Quite fantastic!

PS. If you are at work make sure to turn your speakers on low when loading his website. He has some jamin' tunes on his site.

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

Meet Chris + Nicki

Darby Elizabeth Photography

Names: Nicki Ritz + Chris Myers

Wedding Date: October 18th, 2008

Ceremony Location: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Reception Location: Inspirador

Number of people: 175

Darby Elizabeth Photography

How did you two meet?

Nicki: Well I found Chris on the networking website Facebook. I added him as a friend because I thought he was cute and he thought I was someone completely different. We talked via e-mail for a while then decided to meet at a college youth group thing at the ASU Newman Center. The series we went to was on how to date in the faith (couldn't think of a better way to start a relationship). We finished the night with dinner at P.F. Changs. It was awkwardly fabulous!

What were your exact words when he proposed?

Nicki: Through the tears and the snot I believed I blubbered "of course!"

Darby Elizabeth Photography

What was the very first thing you planned for the wedding?

Nicki: Well we sort of planned our wedding twice due to a number of mishaps, but originally the first thing we tried to plan was the church. We wanted to get married in a church that is very popular for weddings and we knew you had to book it at least one year out. They were booked for our date and had an outrageous fee, so needless to say we changed plans.

Has your Groom been involved in the planning process?

Nicki: Chris has been wonderful. His first request was that he be involved in picking the cake flavors (shocker!) He did a wonderful job of planning our honeymoon to Maui and he came along to as many wedding appointments as he was physically able. The most important thing he has done throughout this whole process is keep me calm and love me more than ever.

Darby Elizabeth Photography

What is your favorite part about designing your wedding?

Nicki: I really just loved getting to meet all the wonderful vendors that are making my event amazing. As a bride in the industry, I love every aspect of the planning process, but really the friends I have made through this is awesome.

Darby Elizabeth Photography

What is your least favorite part about planning your wedding?

Nicki: Least favorite was the guest seating. Definitely the hardest thing I have ever done.

What moment are you most anxious to go perfectly on your wedding day?

Nicki: I really don't want to trip on my dress. I'm also nervous about crying too much! Thankfully my make-up artist is a good friend who will be with me all day.

To newly engaged brides, what is one piece of advice you would give to them?

Nicki: Be nice to your fiance, in the end they are the one's that will still love you and always be there to pick you up when you come crumbling down throughout the planning process.

Darby Elizabeth Photography

I am looking forward to a spectacular day you two.

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

Celebrity Book Signing This Friday!

Calling all fans of TLC's hit show, "What Not To Wear". Style expert and author, Clinton Kelly, will be at the Macy's of Scottsdale Fashion Square this Friday from 6-8 pm. Come see him at his Macy’s style seminar and learn how to: get the most bang outta your wardrobe buck, interpret trends for your age and lifestyle, dress your body to its best advantage, and, if you’re willing, you might get pulled onstage for a critique!

He will also be signing his new book titled Freakin' Fabulous, How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate, and Generally Be Better than Everyone Else. Who can resist a title like that?

This event sounds great!

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

Celebrity Wedding Gossip

If you're like me and enjoy a little celebrity gossip now & then, you will definitely get your fix with Beau-coup's new blog feature. Every week, their blog will highlight celebrity weddings with "Celebrity Wedding Wednesdays." Be sure to check out their blog every Wednesday for the latest gossip concerning celebs and their weddings, engagements, and more!

Click here to read the latest: Scarlett Johansson & Ryan Reynold's Canadian wedding, by People and also featured in "Celebrity Wedding Wednesdays". With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

Life Design Give-a-way Winner

Congratulations to commenter: kamewh for being the winner for of our first give-a-way. Please email me your contact information and we will get you your prize!

We picked a winner with the random number picker and as the 2nd commenter, you won! Thanks to all for participating and look forward to more give-a-ways in the near future.

Many thanks to Beau Coup for being so generous to our readers.

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

Life Design Giveaway: Last Day!

Don't forget to stop by Beau-coup and comment on our giveaway post about your 3 favorite products by midnight tonight. Click here to be directed to the post, visit Beau-coup's website, then describe your 3 favorite favors in the comment section.

You could win a $50 gift card!!! Wow!

Thanks again to our fabulous friends at Beau-coup, and to our wonderful readers who have already commented on their favorite products. Your comments were fun to read and I look forward to seeing who wins.

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

Wedding Day Survival Kit

Kudos to Miss Kristen over at Beauty Addict for featuring the Wedding Day Survival Kit from ms & mrs. This product is so adorable, clever and vital for any bride-to-be on her big day. I had to inform all the Life Design readers about it too!

Inside the kit you'll find:

Toothbrush & Toothpaste

Dental Floss

Mints

Drinking Straw

Pain Reliever

Antacid

Hand Lotion

Emery Board

Clear Nail Polish

Nail Polish Remover

Facial Tissues

Deodorant

Tampons

Adhesive Bandages

Hair Brush

Hair Spray

Bobby Pins

Interior Mirror

Lint Remover

Mending Kit

Scissors

Safety Pins

Stain Remover

Static Remover

Super Glue

Double-Sided Hem Tape

Earring Backs

Corsage Pins

Extra Wedding Bands

I was thinking that snacks, baby wipes, cotton swabs and Downy's de-wrinkle spray could be added.

What do you think should be added to the kit?

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

Feedback and Ideas?

I was introduced to Carte Fini: Fine Italian Papers, by a rep (and my friend) Christine. This company offers beautiful Italian made paper in many colors and sizes to be used for the floral and craft industry. Used for everyday flower sales throughout Italy, Carte Fini's wrappings are a wonderful enhancement to an existing line of retail floral arrangements, bridal bouquets, table arrangements, special occasion and traditional designs.

I am looking for some feedback and potential ideas from my lovely readers on ways to use this product.

Any and all suggestions are welcome!

Here is Carte Fini's video for more information and inspiration:

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

Meet Brad + Ashley

I wanted to begin a new series where I will be interviewing clients of Life Design Event Planning. I thought we could start off with a very sweet and stunning couple: Ashley and Brad.

Tunnel Photography

Names: Ashley Robison & Brad Richardson
Wedding Date: October 25th, 2009
Ceremony Location: Highlands Church
Reception Location: Windgate Ranch
Number of people: +/-250

Tunnel Photography

How did you two meet?

Ashley: (this is written in 3rd person….It just sounded better) We actually met at ZTejas in Scottsdale during happy hour one day. Ashley thought she recognized Brad from a circle of friends from ASU and Brad thought Ashley was hitting on him. Either way, Brad asked for Ashley’s phone number and it took 3 dates for them both to realize they were going to be together for the rest of their lives. 7 shorts months later, they were engaged.

What were your exact words when he proposed?

Ashley: Oh my gosh….*Tears*……oh my gosh. Brad had to ask “So is that a yes?” and I realized I hadn’t said yes, so of course I said it.

What was the very first thing you planned for the wedding?

The date of course! And then the dress.

Tunnel Photography

Has your Groom been involved in the planning process?

Ashley: If so, in what aspects? Yes, Brad has been awesome. I give him jobs to do and he has been so helpful. He did the website and the honeymoon. Both of which have so far turned out AMAZING!

Tunnel Photography

What is your favorite part about designing your wedding?

Ashley: Probably the invitations. I spent 3 months designing and gluing them together. But it was worth every moment because it really symbolizes who you are as a couple, and I got to take pride in how they turned out!

What is your least favorite part about planning your wedding?

Ashley: Hummm….that’s tough. Because I do events for a living, I don’t know if there is anything I don’t like. Oh ok….there is one part, I wish planning my wedding could be my full time job and I could work on it all day every day!

What moment are you most anxious to go perfectly on your wedding day?

Ashley: I am not really worried about any of it, I know it is going to turn out perfect. As long as Brad shows up it’s all good! ;)

Tunnel Photography

To newly engaged brides, what is one piece of advice you would give to them?

Ashley: Write in a journal, about everything. I got this cute journal right before we got engaged and I try to write down how things are going and how amazing this experience has been. It really lets you freeze moments and emotions in time.

I also wanted to share pictures that Ashley sent of her Bachelorette Party Weekend. Her and her girls rented a house on Mission Beach and opted for relaxation and a weekend of being girlie. How fun is that?!

Ashley dresses in pink while all her gals grace themselves in a chic black. This makes Ashley feel like the adoring bride without wearing the sometimes cheesy bachelorette veil. Very fitting for this girls night out.

Thanks to Ashley for sharing with our readers and bloggers alike.

Let's give both Ashley and Brad best wishes for their upcoming wedding day.

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

Arizona, It's Your Last Chance

Today is officially the last day to register to vote in Arizona. Please, no matter which side you believe is the better path for this nation, let your choice be heard by voting. This is an election that will and has made history. I beg you to be a part of it. Click here or here to register, it's your last chance.

28 days until the election...participate.

Also, a reminder that our Life Design Giveaway will be ending on October 9th. The chances are really high that you will win so read the post and comment!

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely

Life Design Giveaway

Life Design Event Planning is having our first giveaway! Beau-coup, the ultra stylish and hip party favor company, is offering a $50 gift card to be redeemed on their website for one of you lucky readers! I was recently introduced to Beau-coup and all of their fabulous products, and I know you will love them too. Here are some of my favorite favors that this lovely company can provide for any type of event:

The contest is simple: visit Beau-coup's website, find 3 of your favorite items, and comment on this blog post describing what products you picked. I will then pick a winner based on your comments. The contest ends October 9th at 12:00 am (Arizona Time) and is open to all readers of Life Design Event Planning's blog.

Happy shopping!

With all that Life has to offer,

Cicely