Beyond the Wedding

Having been a bridesmaid several times, I know what it’s like to buy a dress you usually only wear once. Because bridesmaid dresses are designed for such a specific occasion, it’s difficult to find an opportunity to wear it out again.  

I find it humorous, in my experience buying bridesmaids dresses someone always says, “Oh, it’s so pretty! And you can totally wear it again.” Really? I’ve followed suit with recycling a bridesmaid dress a total of zero times.

You may be thinking about the bridesmaid dresses you have in your closet and asking yourself how is it possible to transform that dress or those dresses into normal attire?

Lucky for you, Nordstrom has some tips. With a little imagination and adjustment of accessories, you can determine the look of any dress! There are numerous ways your bridesmaid dress can last beyond the wedding. 

Thanksgiving 2013: Spinach Spoon Bread Recipe

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and this year it's extra special for 2 reasons:

1. It's also Hanukkah! It's on rare occasion that Thanksgiving and Hanukkah coincide- in fact, it won't happen again for another 79,000+ years (so I'm told)- so, make the most of it and wish your family and friends a Happy Thanksgivukkah! 

2. This is the year I'm starting a new Thanksgiving tradition. I decided that every year I'm going to contribute to Thanksgiving dinner a new dish I've never made before. Whether it's an appetizer, main dish or dessert- I think it'll be a fun way to challenge my culinary skills and explore new recipes. 

I chose to kick-start the tradition with Spinach Spoon Bread- a dish that effortlessly compliments a traditional Thanksgiving meal and is easy to execute. Spoon bread is a Southern dish that is a cross between corn bread and a savory pudding. Sound delicious? See the step-by-step recipe below. 

Spinach Spoon Bread
Source: Food & Wine Magazine
Active: 15 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Servings: 12

Ingredients

·      3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (plus more for greasing the pan)

·      10 ounces baby spinach

·      3 cups buttermilk

·      3 large eggs, separated

·      1 cup medium-grind yellow cornmeal      

·      1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

·      1 tablespoon sugar

·      1 and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

·      Scant 1 teaspoon kosher salt

·      Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

·      Pinch of freshly ground white pepper (black pepper substitute, ok) 

Steps

Drained spinach, whisked batter & whipped egg whites. 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. In a saucepan of boiling water, cook the spinach just until wilted (about 30 seconds). Drain and cool under running water, then squeeze out as much water as possible. Finely chop the spinach. Note: I opted to use a frozen bag of already chopped spinach to save a little time. Once I boiled the spinach, all I had to do was drain, cool and squeeze. 

2. In a large bowl, whisk the buttermilk with the egg yolks, cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, white (or black) pepper and the 3 tablespoons of melted butter. Fold in the chopped spinach.

3. In a clean bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Fold the whites into the batter and scrape it into the prepared baking dish. Note: Whipping the egg whites adds a souffle-like texture to the dish. 

4. Bake the spoon bread in the center of the over for about 45 minutes, until golden. Let cool slightly, then serve. Note: To check whether your dish is 100% baked, take a toothpick and puncture the bread at random- be sure that when you pull out the toothpick, there is no batter residue. 

Left: Batter ready for oven. Right: Baked bread. 

5. Enjoy! 

My fist Spinach Spoon Bread

Coastal Glam: Madison & Dylan Reid

Meet the Bride

Name: Madison Embleton

The Future: Mrs. Reid

Age: 24

Dated Her Man: 6.5 years

Engaged: 1 year & 2 months

Ring Cut: Emerald

Madison is a born and raised Malibu girl who loves life by the beach. A style consultant and fashion expert, Madison leads a trendy life dividing her time between working in high-end retail sales at Madison, being a sales representative for Stella & Dot (jewelry & accessories), and organizing trunk shows for My Line Clothing. In her spare time, Madison enjoys entertaining guests at dinner parties, spending time with her family and spoiling her Chihuahua, Coco. Madison’s exquisite taste, eye for décor and love of party planning are the perfect ingredients for a spectacular wedding.

When Asked, She Answered:

What is the best part about planning the wedding? In addition to spending time with my mom, soul searching for what I really wanted and planning the big day according to my vision.

What is the worst part about planning the wedding? Getting overwhelmed and finalizing the guest list.

What is something you’d do different? I would have the girls plan my bachelorette party, it didn’t turn out to be the weekend I imagined.

Advice for Brides-to-Be? Give yourself plenty of time to plan, do what you want not what your mom or other people want, and enjoy the process because it passes quickly.

What celebrity would you invite to your wedding and why? Ben Harper so he could sing our first dance song live.

The Celebration

Picture yourself taking an afternoon stroll on a sunny, spring day in Malibu, Calif. with the one you love. After enjoying each other’s company on the peaceful shore, you two lovebirds decide to venture out and climb an enormous rock. Reaching a plateau, you find yourself surrounded by purple, red and orange starfish, the crashing waves melt at your feet creating the sensation that you’re floating on water, and looking out at the sea- you spot dolphins entangled in friendly play. When you turn around to look into your lover’s eyes, he’s on bended knee. The image in your mind was the moment Madison said, yes. 

Wishing to incorporate elements from the seaside proposal, Madison and Dylan planned an intimate coastal glam wedding. On a sunny afternoon in June, 150 close family and friends gathered at a cliffside mansion in Malibu to witness the union between their beloved. “There is something really happy about getting married outdoors during the day,” says Madison, “I wouldn’t have changed one thing.”

Walking down the aisle in an ivory mermaid dress by Maggie Sottero, Madison surpassed all surrounding natural beauty. Preceded by eight bridesmaids in blush, floor length Vera Wang dresses escorted by eight groomsmen dressed to the nines in tuxedos, Madison was united with her groom at the altar. Beneath an archway with a crystal chandelier hanging overhead and a picturesque backdrop of the expansive ocean, Madison wed Dylan and officially became Mrs. Reid.

Following the ceremony, guests floated into the outdoor reception area where beautifully decorated round tables with tall white rose centerpieces, along with elegant patio umbrellas and a diamond accented cake awaited their arrival. The new Mr. & Mrs. Reid arrived and shared their first dance together to Forever by Ben Harper. Sweet conversation danced in the air that evening, moving Best Man and Maid of Honor speeches were shared, and a blessing on the couple’s future was lifted in prayer.  The celebration concluded at sunset, making it a memorable day for Madison and Dylan who will always remember being surrounded by loved ones with hearts filled to the brim with joy.

Wedding Highlights

Date of Wedding: June 22, 2013

Number of Guests: 150

Wedding Colors: Ivory & Blush

First Dance Song: Forever by Ben Harper

Honeymoon Destination: Ixtapa, Mexico

Best Wishes Mr. & Mrs. Reid 

Venues: Is it your Alma Mater?

Are you looking for an untraditional venue? Do you envision hosting your celebration at a place other than a hotel, resort or country club? If so, you may want to consider a college campus.

Colleges across America double-up as wedding venues. Buzzfeed has complied a list of the top 31 most beautiful colleges where couples can get married. Click here to view the list. Perhaps you may be saying "I do" at your alma mater.

(Shout out to my alma mater, Pepperdine University. Go Waves!) 

Fall Color Schemes

It doesn't matter who you know or how long you've known them- during the fall/winter season deep hues and neutral tones are your best friends. 

Deep shades of green, red and orange are popular colors from the fall season palette, but don't forget about magenta, navy blue and black. 

All the colors above blend effortlessly with neutrals such as beige, taupe and gray. 

See photos below for some examples of how these color combinations translate into outfits and how they complement each other. 

Fall Casual 

Fall Color Palette 

Navy Blue + Grey 

Black + Neutrals 

Elegance by the Sea: Laura & Tim Johnson

Meet the Bride

Name: Laura K.

The Future: Mrs. Johnson

Age: 24

Dated her Man: 3.5 years

Engaged: 11 months

Ring Cut: Round

Laura is a true city girl who hales from the big apple, New York City. Passionate about travel, children and goodwill, Laura studied International Relations at Pepperdine University, volunteered at Fundacion Salvacion orphanage in Guatemala, and worked at Make-A-Wish foundation. Aside from planning her wedding, Laura enjoys cooking and dreaming up interior design plans in her spare time. Many describe Laura as a woman who exudes confidence, embodies the definition of selflessness and finds fulfillment in giving.

When asked, she answered:

What is the best part about planning the wedding? Spending time with my mom.

What is the worst part about planning the wedding? Having to make so many thousand little decisions—it’s exhausting.

What is something you’d do different? I knew what I wanted and didn’t deviate from my original vision, but looking back I wish I was more opening minded to alternate concepts.

Advice for Brides-to-Be? Don’t waste your time fretting about things and hire a wedding coordinator!

What celebrity would you invite to your wedding and why? If still living, Margaret Thatcher. I briefly spent time with her while living in London. Even in her old age she was humorous, delightful, kind, beautiful and completely inspirational. I bet she could have brought some excellent moves to our dance floor!

The Celebration

Arriving at Laura and Tim’s wedding was like stepping into a timeless photograph. From beginning to end, one couldn’t deny the traditional purity and evade the elegant aura.

The ceremony, held at Saint Monica Church in Santa Monica, Calif., was simple and traditional. Dressed in natural décor by the exquisite structure of the building and intricate interior design, the ceremony was nothing short of picturesque. Commencing at 1:00 pm, the processional began with a graceful walk by the groom’s parents followed by the bride’s mother being escorted by her son. Seven bridesmaids in knee length champagne colored dresses, each escorted by a groomsman in a black tuxedo with a black bow tie, floated down the aisle with ease prior to the flower girl and two ring bearers who held a sign saying “Here Comes the Bride.” With an anxious groom waiting at the end of the aisle, the bride made her grand entrance. Walking down the aisle in a trumpet dress by Lazaro from Panache Bridal in Beverly Hills, Laura was a vision in white. Her cathedral veil, reaching 10-feet in length, made an unforgettable statement that complimented the grand interior of the church and the long, center aisle added dramatic flare. Upon being united with her groom at the alter, it seemed like only a short moment before the couple said, “I do”, shared a modest kiss and officially walked out of the church as Mr. & Mrs. Johnson.

The day continued with a dinner reception at Casa Del Mar Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif. Situated on Ocean Way, the only thing separating this 5 star hotel from the sandy beach and crashing waves is a boardwalk- making Casa Del Mar Hotel the ideal venue for incorporating beach elements in a sophisticated manner. Cocktail hour started promptly at 6:00pm and was hosted on the hotel’s outdoor patio overlooking the expansive ocean. A variety of hors d'oeuvres from sushi to shrimp to an assortment of sliders and mini delicacies were served as guests made warm conversation and admired the remarkable sunset. At 7:00pm the doors to the ballroom were open and guests were invited to find their assigned seats. The grandeur of the ballroom was undeniable with several chandeliers hanging from the trey ceiling and stately décor. The tables were draped in champagne colored satin rose-appliqué textured cloth and accented with large gold centerpieces. Mr. & Mrs. Johnson entered the ballroom and shared their first dance to

Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years, performed by Rembrandt live band. The sweet first dance moment followed by a prayer blessing for the rest of the evening kick started the night’s celebration. After a four-course meal, the best man speech, maid of honor speech, a word from the bride’s parents and a whole lot of dancing, the marvelous event neared its end.

I stepped into the church that afternoon admiring its beauty and was enchanted by the elegance surrounding me at the reception, but I left with a joyful heart knowing that I witnessed a pure display of everlasting love between Laura and Tim.

Wedding Highlights

Date of Wedding: May 25, 2013

Number of Guests: 160

Wedding Colors: White & Gold

First Dance Song: A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
Honeymoon Destination: Greece- Santorini, Crete and Messenia

Best Wishes Mr. & Mrs. Johnson 

Boots R Back

Strut your fall fashion and show off your stylish boots this season by experimenting with different looks! 

Boots are a versatile style component and wardrobe staple. Pairing nicely with skinny jeans, dresses, skirts and leggings- there are an endless number of outfits that can be pieced together with boots at the base. 

Scroll through the photos to see some examples of different ways to wear boots. 

My Experience with Weddings: The Beginning

The earliest memory I have of attending a wedding is a vivid one. I remember sitting on the church pew next to my parents wearing a darling dress, bow in my hair and shiny shoes on my feet- complete with a pouty face, crossed arms and wishing I wasn't 3 years old. 

In September of 1993, a dear family friend got married. I was too young at the time to understand what a bridal party was or even comprehend the meaning of a marriage, but I was fully aware of the definition of a flower girl and so anxiously wanted to be one. Being a flower girl meant I'd get to wear a pretty dress, have my hair in an updo, get a manicure, smile for the camera and walk down the aisle before the bride. In my 3-year-old mind, flower girls were of equal status to a princess and were tasked with the most important job at a wedding. 

The moment came around when my mother approached me and my sister to tell us the bride to be was in need of a flower girl and requested that my sister fill the position. I-was-devastated. 

Did the bride not know how important being a flower girl was? How badly I wanted it? How qualified I was to gracefully throw the flower petals on the floor? Seeing my disappointment, my mother sympathetically explained that I was too young to be in the wedding and my sister, who is just 1 year my senior, was of age. 

The day of the wedding arrived. Although saddened I was not a flower girl, I was mesmerized by the entire experience. The décor, the colors, the flowers, the beautiful dresses, the bride’s gown- I truly was enchanted to be there. It was in that moment of awe that the fantasy of weddings in my 3-year-old mind and the desire in my little heart to be in a wedding, collided—consequently conceiving my love of weddings.

Fast-forward 20 years and here I am, still passionate about weddings. Over the years I’ve attended countless weddings, have been a flower girl and bridesmaid on numerous occasions, and haven’t stopped dreaming about the beauty of weddings.

Clouded Mind

Rachel Ruth

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been distracted lately—burdened with an innumerable number of
thoughts vying for my attention. I imagine that if I had the ability to look into any woman’s mind it would resemble a game of pinball. Every time the ball strikes a target, a new thought is triggered, and like the game- some targets are worth more points than others, just like some thoughts weigh more than others.

Recently the pinball in my mind has made a dent in…

Thoughts about my future- where will I live, what will I do, what career path am I supposed to pursue?

Thoughts about my relationship with God- am I always making Him a priority, am I truly surrendering control to Him, where is He leading me and why has he placed me where I am?

Thoughts about my upcoming goals- will my desire to reach the hearts of many be fulfilled through this blog, will my hope to publish a book ever happen?

Thoughts about matters of the heart- who will I marry, where will I meet him, when will it happen? 

And many other things.

It is thoughts like these that produce worry, frustration, anxiety and fear. There is no doubt we all have questions swirling around in our minds, the question is- how are we to deal with it?

In Luke 12: 22-24 Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” And he continues in verses 29-31, “And do not set you heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

I challenge you, friend, to seek God in every thought. Make a list of the recent targets your pinball has dented and filter each one through the verses above. For the best way to overcome, is to turn your attention to God.

God's Timing

Rachel Ruth 

Am I making a difference in people's lives? Do the actions I take in faith with hope of being a good example rub off on anyone? How come doing what is right leaves you lonely sometimes? 

I remember like it was yesterday. Fall semester of my junior year at Pepperdine University, I was wrestling with all the questions above. One Saturday evening my roommates and I were chatting away, discussing our feelings and challenging one another to reflect on how the way we live out life is impacting others. Wrapped up in conversation, we lost track of time and evening quickly turned into late night. My roommates and I had plans to go out, but I decided to stay in, revel in the quiet atmosphere and sort through my thoughts. I did not reach any conclusions that weekend, the questions I had been pondering were still lingering in my mind, but come Monday- all was about to change. As far as I was concerned, Monday, December 6, 2010, was going to be a regular day. I woke up, got dressed, made my tea, grabbed my books and started towards class. Everything about my day was normal until I got a phone call, late afternoon, requesting me to stop by the student center to pick up a floral arrangement in my name. Puzzled, yet filled with happiness, I waltzed down to the student center thinking who these flowers could be from and why I am receiving them.

Upon arriving to the student center, I was taken aback by the beautiful flower arrangement that awaited me. Neatly arranged and well assorted, the flowers in the vase had an excellent presentation. The woman at the desk verified my name and handed over the lovely flowers. I happily made my way toward the door when I realized the handwritten note attached to the arrangement did not have a signature.

The note read, “Rachel- You are wonderful! Thanks for being a blessing!”

Retracing my steps, I returned to the desk and inquired whom the flowers were from. The kind woman smiled at me and said, “The sender requested to remain anonymous.” Hmmm, alright- I started toward the door again only to find myself back at the front desk. “Excuse me,” I said, “Could you tell me if the flowers were from a boy or a girl?” (Since I was single, I was curious if the flowers were from a potential suitor or a gal pal) Apparently the anonymous giver was adamant about remaining a secret because the woman hesitantly confessed it was from a girl. After confronting all the obvious suspects and receiving a unanimous, “No, it wasn’t me!” I accepted the mystery and cherished the beauty of the situation—for it was in the unknown that the answer to my questions laid.

You see, it’s ok to wonder whether or not you’re making a difference, it’s ok to question whether your actions are impacting others, and it’s ok to be intentional about your good efforts in doing right. But just because you don’t always see the fruit of your efforts, it doesn’t mean you are not making a difference.

Be encouraged that “the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, [measures efforts and influence on a human scale] but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 

Receiving those anonymous flowers was God’s way of catering to my personality and communicating to me that I shouldn’t let those questions weigh me down because I am making a difference, most of the time when I don’t even know it.