Diamond Rings Masters Cutters

post from Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, Diamonds and Diamond Jewellery on 09 February 2010 07:09:22 AM. © Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, Diamonds and Diamond Jewellery

The earliest mention of the art of diamond cutting is from Nürnberg in Germany, where the first guild of “diamantaires” (diamond cutters and polishers) was formed in 1375. In the late 1400s the Spanish discovered a direct sea route from India to Lisbon. Antwerp in Belgium was soon flourishing as a centre for the diamond [...]

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Diamond Rings: A Diamond Is Forever Campaign

post from Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, Diamonds and Diamond Jewellery on 09 February 2010 07:08:12 AM. © Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, Diamonds and Diamond Jewellery

In 1999, the Advertising Age, revered as being the foremost adverting magazine in the US stated that the DeBeers ?A Diamond is Forever? campaign was the most effective one in the last century. Looking at it from hindsight, this campaign very effectively took a monopolistic diamond trade and sold its products at the high end [...]

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http://www.samarajames.com/blog/2010/02/09/diamond-rings-a-diamond-is-forever-cam
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Diamond Rings Most Valued Gifts

post from Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, Diamonds and Diamond Jewellery on 09 February 2010 07:04:21 AM. © Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, Diamonds and Diamond Jewellery

Diamonds are easily the most favoured gifts of love. Chocolates and flowers are wonderful of course, but a diamond is at another level. Nothing says “I love you” as beautifully, as romantically and with as much passion as a diamond.Look at Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, stars of the silver screen of the 20th century. [...]

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Project 12 - February

post from Little Miss Planner on 09 February 2010 06:06:00 AM. © Little Miss Planner

Well, better late then never right? This month's project is about being crafty! Time to tackle all those projects you keep saying you'll do. Scrapbooks need updating? Get to it! Want to refinish that end table? Bust out the sandpaper and get moving![...]

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http://little-miss-planner.blogspot.com/2010/02/project-12-february.html

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Homemade Sugar Cookies: DIY Wedding Favors

post from Intimate Weddings - Small Wedding Blog on 09 February 2010 05:55:01 AM. © Intimate Weddings - Small Wedding Blog

I have made homemade sugar cookies with the recipe I’m giving to you about a half dozen times. Sometimes I don’t decorate them, and simply roll them in sugar. No matter how I make ‘em, they’re always delicious . And they would be superb wedding favors!I decided to whip these up for Valentine’s Day. I [...]

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Miami tickets - Done & Done!

post from The Office Bride on 09 February 2010 05:13:00 AM. © The Office Bride

Guess who purchased her tickets for a fun filled girls weekend in Miami last night?!?!

Wooooooooooooooooo!!!!

While there was some intrepidation (Zing! Big word for the day!) on my part about this trip, mostly about money, like everything else I gave it some thought over time and gradually became more and more excited about it. It also helped that the Office Groom was my biggest support for this trip and really encouraged the idea (then again, he's also going to Vegas with his guys so his urging may have been fueled by guilt lol)

The thing about me and trips - and anyone who knows me well can back me up on this - is that I never really get excited until I'm actually on the plane. It doesn't really *hit me* until I'm seated in that tight little space, buckled up, and ready to have some plane food (I am one of those freaks that LOVE plane food).

However I'm excited nonetheless that we've purchased the tickets (I'm going with 3 out of my five BMs) and being an Office Bride, you can bet that I've already started on some internet research. I've heard from girlfriends who have gone there before that Miami is the IT place for Bachlorette parties. Although the girls and I have decided to just call this the "Girls Weekend" (an official Bachlorette will happen in the summer at home) I'm sure a cheesy Bride-To-Be crown will surface at some point during the weekend, if not only to get us a few free rounds at the bar :)

Thinking about doing a Miami girls weekend? Here are a few places I've heard of and checked on the good ol' www.

Nikki Beach - According to one of my single ladies, this is where "dreams come true" lol. Whatever that means!

Mansion Club For a night of dancing at a very fancy shmancy club.

Little Havana - One of my adventure seeking BMs found this. I said I was all for it as long as there was substantial beach time lol.

Photo from Go and Groove.

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http://theofficebride.blogspot.com/2010/02/miami-tickets-done-done.html

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Brides + Cozy Pretty Sweaters

post from Green Wedding Shoes - Southern California Wedding Inspiration for the Modern Bride on 09 February 2010 03:45:00 AM. © Green Wedding Shoes - Southern California Wedding Inspiration for the Modern Bride

If you have a winter wedding or just for a cooler evening, I love the idea of pairing a pretty sweater with your wedding dress. A pale pink is so pretty and super romantic.

photos by Braedon Photography

I love how her sweater plays off the peach in her dress - and his scarf is pretty killer also :)

photos by Braedon Photography

Or you can add a pop of color. Loving the bright yellow that some brides are selecting.

bride with yellow sweater
photo by James Moes

photos by Cameron Ingalls

bride with yellow cardigan
photos by David Murray Weddings via Style Me Pretty

Or maybe a red sweater to match some fabulous red shoes!

bride with red sweater
photos by Elisabeth Millay via Snippet & Ink

Love her super warm sweater - it goes with her dress so perfectly and brings a vintage vibe.

photos by Leo Patrone

You can find pretty sweaters lots of places, but Anthropologie always seems to have the loveliest options - with pretty lace and lots of ruffles. It also looks like that is where the first bride found her sweater. :)

anthropolgie sweaters wedding

If you haven't considered a sweater, I think it would make such a pretty + fun touch to your day - and would keep you fashionably warm!

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http://greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com/2010/02/brides-cozy-pretty-sweaters.html

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Tuesday Talk

post from From Marriage to Motherhood on 09 February 2010 02:27:16 AM. © From Marriage to Motherhood

Ok, so I now know what mom's mean when they say that they haven't had time to eat because they've spent their day tending to their little one{s}. But what's Rachel Zoe's excuse? We both need to carve out at least 15 minutes a day to throw back a meal. Where ya wanna meet up Rach?

I get to pop Execedrin pills again. PTL. It's the only headache medicine that actually works for me.

My husband now get's to scrub down with scented body wash and wear scented deodorant again {welcome back Axe!}. When I was pregnant, these things made me heave so he had to put them on the shelf for a while!

No longer car sick {one of my side effects of pregnancy}, I'm all about wanting to drive my car anywhere - including loops around our subdivision - just cause I can.

I can't go into any store without wanting to buy Ilah a little something.

I've been enjoying documenting life with Ilah and filling up her baby book pages!

I've already purchased things for Ilah's first Easter {more to come on that; including pictures of what I bought!}

Ilah's birth announcement will soon go out {will share it here once they've hit our recipients!}

I'm dreading March 13 - the day that Ilah get's her 2 month immunization shots. Poor baby! I'm not sure who will be in more pain...her or me! Daddy may need to hold both of our hands through it.

I can't believe that next Tuesday Ilah will be ONE MONTH OLD! {I'll do a post next Tuesday on all that she's been doing!}

We're making it a point to read to Ilah {from her prayer book} every night and sing at least two worship songs to her as we prepare her for bed. I love this sweet time together as a family.

I'm really missing my dad these days. I wish that he was here to share in the joy that we're all experiencing with having Ilah in our life.

My husband took some adorable pictures of Ilah this past weekend {will share soon!}

Our little babe is about to transition out of newborn diapers and into the 8 pound {and up} ones by Pamper Swaddlers! I gotta say...she looks cute in anything she wears but i find her to look the cutest when she's wearing nothing but a diaper!

Today I came across the hat that Ilah was given by the hospital to wear when she was just born and I began to recollect those sweet early moments of her life.

We're looking forward to all that's ahead!! We love our girl!!

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http://jessicaralph.blogspot.com/2010/02/tuesday-talk.html

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Chic Vendor Spotlight: poppies + posies

What happens when two creative ladies move to the Big Apple, meet by chance and share a love for design, florals and parties? Why sparks fly, of course... creativity abounds... and {lucky us!} the ever-bright and beautiful poppies & posies is born. Now a well-known event and floral design company nestled in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, owners Sierra and Juliet sat down with Merci New York to chat about their fabulous craft...So tell our readers how this all began...
This is truly the smallest big city out there! At the time, Juliet was working in the product design department at Martha Stewart, I was an event coordinator, and we shared a mutual friend, so we met by chance and realized we shared so many interests. I have this funny little memory of sitting down together in this tiny wine bar in Brooklyn to have our first convo about starting an events company. It?s been really fun working beside her for the past few years and building poppies & posies together...we have shared a lot of laughs and of course a few tears too.
Were you inspired by particular events or experiences?
Both of us were inspired by our childhoods, families, and most recently by this extraordinary city we live in. Juliet spent a lot of time as a child gardening with her father and I know this had a big impact on her life. My mom is an entrepreneur and I use to help out in her store as a kid. Seeing my mom build a successful business has definitely encouraged me to pursue what I love and believe that it is possible.
Lately, we have been inspired by all of the incredibly talented people and companies in this city - their work always inspires us to create unique florals and décor elements for our clients.
How would you describe your aesthetic?
When we're brainstorming ideas for a wedding design, we both draw inspiration from country gardens and vintage items. We're like two kids in a candy store when we're antiquing. Sometimes we go just to see what we'll find and what ideas we might come up with from looking at all of the glass bottles, tins and crates.

What sets poppies & posies apart from the rest?
We?re very hands on. We take pride in the personal attention that Juliet and I both give to each client. 99% of the time we?re both present at all of our client meetings, we work side by side on all of the floral and event designs, and we hand make all of our décor elements whenever possible. This gives each wedding a personal touch that you might not find elsewhere.

All photos courtesy poppies & posies

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http://mercinewyork.blogspot.com/2010/02/chic-vendor-spotlight-poppies-posies.htm
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Real Wedding: Washington D.C.

A couple weeks ago we did a post on a wedding at Andrew Mellon Auditorium, and we have another one from the lovely planner Jen Stiebel at Soco Events.

The escort cards were written in Elegance Script with black ink on a pearl white card and envelope set.

The menus were done in the same writing with a gold foil motif in our Venice design also on pearl white paper.

We also created matching signs for the adorable popcorn buffet!

Other items not pictured: 8-page programs in the pearl white paper with blind embossing in the Venice motif and golf foil lettering. It was tied with a double faced Vanilla satin ribbon; itineraries and welcome notes. The couple also had baseballs for the guests to sign - a great memento!

And here are some ambiance shots just because!

Congratulations to the bride and groom!

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http://www.luckyorchidweddingblog.com/2010/02/real-wedding-washington-dc.html