I’m such a fan of container gardening and these fun and clever containers naturally drew me in. Edible centerpieces are simple and budget-conscious ideas! Fun and interactive… these DIY container gardens would be perfect for a country wedding or for the eco-conscious couple!

In addition to the lettuce, you could also have herbs {tea and culinary} growing and let guests spice up their own plate or even brew a spot of tea!

Source: Better Homes and Gardens simple salad garden containers

Here is a softer wedding look… one that is muted and organic. Inspiration comes from nature and drawing from a collective responsibility to leave less of a carbon footprint. This style incorporates the beauty of what we find in nature with its lovely variety of textures and shapes. Natural fibers and elements render an understated look that is timeless, comfortable and pleasing to the eye!

What do you think?

{Click on images to enlarge}

Antique Filigree Half-fold wedding Invitation via MagnetStreet Weddings

I love LOVE the understated elegance of Antique Filigree!

Despite the title of this pretty invite, the right justification of the wording is contemporary while lending a bit of formality to the overall look. The design flourish on the front is both dramatic and captivating and I love how the same flourish flows freely from the top left and bottom on the inside… giving it movement and freedom.

Check it out in Pocket, Layered, Tea-length and Square Fold styles

What do you think?

Part of successfully accomplishing any cooking, cleaning, crafting, carpentry or maintenance-type project includes having good, reliable tools, right?  One such project is our morning ritual of doing whatever it takes for us to leave our homes in full aesthetic confidence.  It might be a splash of water, a little something on the cheeks, eyes or far beyond…   I’m more of a low maintenance girl but will go nowhere without my mascara.  It’s important.  Like toothpaste.

That said, I’ve been asked to review some of the products from ecoTOOLS.  For over two months, I’ve been using the Blush Brush and the Angled Eyeliner Brush and they pass my test with flying colors.  I’m impressed.  The Blush Brush bristles are soft, well-tapered and do not fall out.  And, I’ve grown incredibly fond of the eyeliner brush.  The bristles are firm, again well-tapered and I love the way it smooths my eyeliner allowing me not to have to use 5000 Q-tips anymore to do the job.  I recommend both of these.

I also like the fact that they’re eco-friendly in that the handles are made of bamboo, the bristles are synthetic the pouches reusable and can be affordably purchased at Walgreens, K-mart and Ulta stores.  You can also order them online at www.eco-tools.com.

p.s. MagnetStreet Weddings derives no benefits from this ecoTOOLS review.  I simply reviewed two of their products.

I need your help!  Which mascara do you recommend? I’ve been unhappy with mine and cannot seem to find one to fall in love with that makes my eyelashes dreamy…

I’d love to read your suggestions in the comments!

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Today’s Real Wedding is more about climbing outside the box to get the wedding flowers of your dreams without blowing your flower budget.

Meet Tracy (we’ll introduce Chris a few pictures from now).  Initially, Tracy met with a florist to discuss her ideas regarding their white and green color palette.  Tracy wanted “UNUSUAL” flowers… carnations and roses would simply not do!  But, as she soon realized, “UNUSUAL” translated into EXPENSIVE.  So, like any bride-to-be on a mission, she did some research and ended up ordering wholesale and decided upon the Star of Bethlehem wedding package from ProFlowers (whom Tracy totally recommends).

The flowers came prearranged and two days before the wedding.  The bouquets were stunning and continued to bloom for weeks after the wedding! Really lovely…

For the Pew decorations, Tracy went with live plants… ivy in white pots with a hook.  Planting them a few weeks in advance of the wedding, Tracy made sure the plants were mature enough so that the leaves hung down; consequently, the effect was beautiful~ giving the impression of walking through a garden.

Being an animal lover and a pet photographer, their reception was held at the zoo.  The reception centerpieces were a HUGE hit! Each centerpiece was unique and featured a variety of plants, each one different from the next, while each table featured a different animal.  Tracy scattered multi-colored rocks beneath the leaves to make it look even prettier and then stuck in tea light spikes for ambiance.  Guests loved them!  Notice the little flower boxes in front of the centerpiece.   DIY Favors.  Inside these sweet little favor boxes, Tracy planted zinnia seeds from her sister’s garden and weighted them down with little glass gemstones (that she had made from a girl on eBay) with green and white hearts embedded in them.

Mr. and Mrs… aren’t they adorable?  (Tracy, your smile is so infectious!)  How fun and it looks as though you were having a most wonderful time at your wedding!

Love the jungle-y backdrop!  Right up my alley, for sure.

Tracy’s Advice for the bride who plans to DIY her flowers…

Make sure you have time to spend on the flowers and that it’s something you enjoy doing… or delegate it to someone else who is good with these kind of things.  And, make sure if you use potted plants, to put plants that need similar care in pots together so they all live!

Congratulations Tracy and Chris! We wish you a lifetime of blessings and joy, joy joy!

Tracy owns and operates a pet photography business called  Furrie Photografie.  Thanks so much for reading~ now go on, check out Tracy’s website and blog!

Photos from Tracy and Chris wedding were taken by Scarlet Lillian.

ProFlowers

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