Belt, sash, whatever you’d like to call it, they can really pull together your wedding day look. Plus, if you like sparkly things like I do, it’s just an added bonus!!! You should really consider adding one to your gown, whether it be sparkly, ruffly or feathery! Talk to your bridal salon about options they offer!

Photo Credit: Cunningham Photo Artists via Style Me Pretty

Photo Credit: Claudia Hung  via Style Me Pretty

Photo Credit: Love and Lavender

Here is an adorable DIY version by 100 Layer Cake!

Photo Credit: 100 Layer Cake

This belt from JCrew runs you $265 and also comes in Black. It is made of French grosgrain ribbon and hand-applied rhinestones. Love it!

Photo Credit: JCrew

Ivy and Aster has a great assortment of wedding day belts in a variety of colors and designs!

Photo Credit: Ivy and Aster

Has it been as hot where you are as it has been here? Jeez. A heat index of 110 is NOT okay!!! With that said, I thought a lava flow was an appropriate signature cocktail for this time of year

Photo and Recipe Credit: Squidoo

Lava Flow

There are numerous variations for making a Lava Flow. This biggest difference is that some recipes use 1 oz. of light rum and 1 oz. of Malibu® coconut rum. When Malibu® coconut rum is unavilable you can use 1 1/2 oz. of light rum and 1/2 oz. of coconut cream.

INGREDIENTS

•  1 oz. light rum
•  1 oz. Malibu® coconut rum
•  2 oz. fresh or frozen strawberries
•  1 small banana
•  2 oz. unsweetened pineapple juice
•  2 oz. coconut cream

PREPARATION

Blend the 2 rums and the strawberries in a blender to form a smooth paste. Pour this mixture into a tall (Collins or Hurricane) glass. Rinse the blender. Blend the banana, the coconut cream, and the pineapple juice in blender with crushed ice until smooth.

Pour this mixture into the glass with the rums very slowly and watch as the strawberry mixture oozes its way to the top along the sides of the glass creating the flowing lava effect. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and paper umbrella.

This week we have rounded up some awesome favor boxes for you!! You know gift boxes…. those things you buy to put the things you buy in them. Well, presentation is everything so check these out!

So I know I have posted these boxes before, but I kinda love them! I especially love the contrast between the dark box and the bright colored flowers. These hand made beauties are hand made and come in a variety of colors. And guess what?! Imeon Designs is going to offer you 15% off your entire order just use coupon code theaislestyle at checkout!!!

Photo Credit: Imeon Design

It’s no secret that I LOVE FLOWERS, so it’s only natural that I would love this beautiful favor box by Simple Taste. It is made of thick brown cardstock and features a large deep red mum right on top! They come in multiple sizes and would make the perfect addition to a fall wedding!

Photo Credit: Simple Taste

I also love owls I thought these were absolutely perfect for a fun and casual affair, and I know I’m not the only one who loves owls! The set features 3 different owls on 12 muslin drawstring bags. Check out Papermoon by Kat‘ s shop for other variations! Great for candy favors!

Photo Credit: Papermoon by Kat

Photo Credit: Kat Blu Studio

My favorite new addiction! A friend of mine posted on Facebook saying she got her first birchbox in the mail. Naturally, I was intrigued and checked it out myself. I went to their website and quickly signed up.

Birchbox is a company puts together “boxes” of products and sends them to you every month, sort of like a magazine subscription. It is $10 a month, and you can choose to be billed monthly or in advance. Products can range from skin care to makeup, nails and hair to fragrance. Now just so we are clear, these are not full sized products. They are not big but I would say they are larger than sample size, and they are great products (not stuff you would be able to buy at your local drugstore). Here’s the kicker: You get free shipping on the full size version of the products you receive in your birchbox for the whole month!

Now you ask yourself, how does this benefit me as a bride? Well there are several ways this can help you!

• Sign up now, and find beauty products you may want to incorporate into your wedding day beauty regimen.
• You can buy subscriptions as gifts! Use this as an opportunity to get your bridesmaids something they will love!
• Keep all your boxes from the time you get engaged to the big day and throw them together for everyone to use while getting ready!

Each month has a different curator of products. This month was Cynthia Rowley!

Here’s what mine looked like!

Then you unwrap it and looks like this!! Every curator helps design their look for the month. It’s really neat to see the differences.

And then this!!! I love the products so far and have already found a few that will become part of my beauty collection at home!