Wedding Wednesday: 7 Lessons from Twilight


Who said vampires can’t teach us anything? They taught us that love surpasses all (even if there’s a 90 year age difference). While the new Twilight installment Breaking Dawn was raking in $140 million at the box office this weekend… we were all dying to see the wedding! And it definitely had all the drama of Bella and Edward’s relationship. Here are some lessons we learned from the nuptials:

1. Your natural surroundings provide a great backdrop

2. Can’t go wrong with a family crest on the invitations

3. Jewel tones look great on fair skinned bridesmaids

4. You can never have too many flowers

5. Leave the drama behind you (replica of custom Carolina Herrera gown)

6. Wear something blue in your hair

7. Go to Brazil for your honeymoon! (But maybe don’t play chess)

Images via, via and via

Lessons Learned From Twilight: Avoid the Sun

As all good Twihards know, the sun makes vampires sparkle. There’s just one problem.

You ain’t a vamp.

Yes, the sad news is that if you’re reading this, you’re probably a human – and the sun won’t make you sparkle so much as wrinkle and buurrrnnn. So, with Ra’s rays out of the question, what’s a mortal to do to banish that otherworldly pallor?

Fake it, just like the Cullens faked being human (the metaphor begins to fail…here.) Here are our four fave sunless tanners, ready for your fake baking pleasure! And we won’t tell if you wait until after you’ve seen Eclipse. You know, all the better to fit in.

Fake Baker: Neutrogena MicroMist Tanning Sunless Spray
Why We Love It: Never streaks, dries fast, gradual bronze color, very minimal sunless-tan odor.

Fake Baker: Nivea Summer Beauty Smooth Legs
Why We Love It: Great for a light self-tanner without the odor.

Fake Baker: philosophy the big skinny self-tanning firming cream
Why We Love It: The big skinny self-tanning firming cream delivers gradual, natural-looking color…and smoother skin, all in one go.

Fake Baker: Beautisol All Seasons Glow
Why We Love It: Paraben free and packed with antioxidants, this bronzer will make your skin healthier – something the sun will never, ever do!

Little Luxury Gift Guide: The Present of The Present

little luxury gift guide present of the present

Little luxuries are all around us if you know where to look – be it a bright red lipstick that makes you feel like a movie star on a Monday morning, a mini-facial that makes you glow inside and out, or a book that takes you to the other side of the world. These tiny everyday gems are anxiously waiting to be discovered by you and wrapped with a bow, and each chapter of the LLGG seeks to deliver a new morsel of inspiration to you and your holiday season. Fancy shmancy is out; it’s those legendary “small packages” that hold the key to a perfect season of giving.

What a year this has been! Chapter nine is dedicated to a few of the things that helped shape the culture of 2009.

1. Tweet Tweet, available at Twitter.com – $0

Can you just imagine how many millions of holiday wishes will be spread on Twitter this year? A Tweet might not cut it for dad or a close friend, but for the rest of your Twitterati, why not tweet individual special link that embodies your holiday wish for them?

2. Graffiti Love Hearts Flip Mini HD Camcorder by David Arquette & Courteney Cox, available at TheFlip.com – starting at $149.99

Flip Cams have revolutionized blogging and social media, and this one just happens to be the coolest one out there. A perfect gift for the internet star-to-be! (Not in that way.)

3. Ernie Kids Long-Sleeved Tee by by Morfs Brand, available at Barney’s – $75

Between Sesame Street’s huge 40th anniversary this year and Michelle Obama making her debut among the puppets, Bert, Ernie, Elmo, Oscar and the gang have made a huge comeback. This shirt’s for kids, but a Sesame Street gift this year is appropriate for recipients of all ages.

4. iPod Nano that shoots video, compare all at apple.com – starting at $149

Remember when the Nano first came out and nobody could believe how tiny it was? We’re pretty much over it now… just in time for Apple to throw in camcorder capabilities. Another Apple gift idea: get them an App for their iPhone or iTouch.

5. Anything from Barneys because their holiday campaign was so brilliantly 2009

Last year Barneys’ holiday theme was Peace + Love, which was so fitting with the downturned economy for a company that sells ridiculously expensive gifts to focus on the spirit behind the presents and keeping it joyous. Now– economy shmishonomy. We’re sick of hearing about it, and Barney’s outdid themselves perfectly with their Witty holiday theme. Shop the whole holiday book– hundreds of little luxuries on the verge on big luxuries, and you’ll feel wittier just turning the pages.

6. Team Edward/Team Jacob necklaces, New Moon for BP, available at Nordstrom.com – $24

The Yankees may have made their mark as World Series Champions, but there are two other wildly fanatical teams that have taken 2009 by storm. The Twilight/New Moon saga has spawned a world where diamond necklaces might not stand a chance to symbols of love like these.

7. Give The Beatles.  Beatles Rockband, explore their website. The other items, Beatles 1 and the Apple a Day onesie, available at Beatles online superstore, TheFest.com – $18.50, $20 respectively.

Just yesterday, it was announced that the Beatles 1,  the Beatles hits compilation released in 2000, has sold 11.5 million copies making it the #1 album of the DECADE.  Imagine that– a band that’s been broken up for 40 years is still #1.  Beatles Rockband and all remastered album releases swept the world on 09.09.09 and was embraced by an entirely new generation of Beatles fans; even babies love the fab four. There is just no stopping them!

spa week gift card sale

Something else that’s also more 2009 than ever before: prevention. The spa is an invaluable source of wellness that has been acknowledged more than ever. Treat someone to a $100 SPA WEEK® Gift Card, on sale for just $80 this holiday season. They’re redeemable nationwide for massages, acupuncture, haircuts, pedicures, med spa treatments and more. The card is flexible and never expires, and will make quite the present to enjoy the present… and the future.