Scoop Charlotte!

Well, I’m finally getting out and about these days, meeting more people and networking like a madwoman. I’ve become a big believer in networking these days. You just never know who knows who or how they might be able to help you, simply out of the kindness of their hearts.

Through my own networking, The Candyman’s firm got a nice, fat retainer for law services – simply because I happened to mentioned a specific kind of law to a colleague. I mean, how cool is that? What are the chances? You just never know.

I recently met a woman here, Susu Bear (yes, that is her name), a fellow blogger (WOO HOO! Love me some bloggers!) who runs a great website called Scoop Charlotte. I f you’re a local Charlottean, you simply must follow her to get all the steals and deals going on in the local boutiques. If you’re not local, you should still check her out for the occasional give-away or to hear about sales at places like Nordstrom's, Nordstrom’s Rack or for cool info like the fact that Diane von Furstenberg will be designing a line for GapKids and babyGap come March 2012.

Anyway, I met with Susu for a casual lunch that lasted three hours. Don’t you just love when that happens? She knows so much about Charlotte – all the ins and outs and all the fantastic places to shop. She definitely has the scoop – so an appropriately named website for sure!

She’s been so kind as to allow me a guest post on her blog today, so please show her some link love and check out my post here. You simply will never know what you’ll find on her site. For instance, another guest blogger wrote about the hot and crazy trend, Pajama Jeans. I laughed my ass off and immediately went to the author’s blog called Lola is 40. I think I might have found a blogger who swears more than I do. I know, hard to imagine, right? So check her out too, but NOT before you head on over to my guest post.

So see what networking can do? It can open up a whole new world of shopping, deals and steals and and a whole lotta funny! 

*This is not a sponsored post. It’s all about the link love and sharing good stuff.

In Her Own Words

 

Banner by Joshua Gomby

"In Her Own Words: In Celebration of International Women's Day 2011" was created to share and celebrate the experiences of women from many walks of life. All day Tuesday, March 8th  Any Other Wedding and One Cat Per Person will feature posts written by a collective of intelligent, passionate and opinionated women bloggers from the United States and the United Kingdom. The conversation begins here, but it does not have to end here. We encourage you to comment and create dialogue as well as visit their respective blogs. Be sure to stop by Any Other Wedding and One Cat Per Person throughout the day to read all of the posts in the series. For more information about International Women's Day, visit  http://www.internationalwomensday.com/. 

I find myself in the best of company today as a guest blogger in honor of International Women's Day 2011. Please check back throughout the day to read my post (I will be featured on One Cat Per Person at 11am EST)  as well as the musings of several other incredibly talented writers from across the globe. Celebrate the sisterhood of women everywhere! ~Louise

Love Your Way

What you need to do today is to go on over to Lizzie and Isaiah's blog Love Your Way and read my guest post. It might actually sound like I know something.

But I bet you're wondering about Saturday's photo shoot? I couldn't be happier. Here's a lil' sneak peek from behind my lens. 

Our delightful and fresh-faced model Zoe.

Because everyone spins in a wedding gown.

Recessionista Fashionista

In these crappy economic times, a girl's gotta get creative with her fashion, right? I mean, we can't go balls out and blow our wad on whatever we want anymore, right? Say sayonara to those days, sister.

So of course I'm cruising around the blog-o-sphere and find the cutest idea ever. I don't know if anyone has done it before, but I've never seen it, so I'd like to share it with you. You know how SMP is all about those damn Inspiration Boards all the damn time and all the damn fancy-fancy that is the damn SMP inspiration board? Well, the lovely Red White Bride came up with her own uber-cool version of those damn inspiration boards.  She calls it her <$500 Ensemble. I call it brilliant. 

I snagged these bad boys right off her blog.Yes, yes, she knows I'm snaking her idea and sharing it with others.

< $500 Ensemble #1

Labeled by The Thirty-Something Bride as "So chic, it hurts."

"For a sweet, sassy black & white themed evening wedding, followed by a cocktail reception at a lounge."

Dress: BCBG Maxazria $288
Shoes: ZiGi NY Bloom Pumps $99.95
Headband: NORA Black & Ivory Headband $39
Rhinestone Cuff: 2007 Musara $24.99

Grand Total?

$451.94

< $500 Ensemble #2

Labeled by The Thirty-Something Bride as "Holy crap! Get you're wedding on CHEAP!"

Gown: Amazing White Taffeta Dress from Unique Vintage  $160
Shoes: RSVP Lily in Champagne Satin from Zappos  $70.65
Feather Fascinator: Zara Feather Fascinator from BDiDesign on Etsy $75
Necklace: Jackie Necklace from Denise Jewelry Designs on Etsy $39
Clutch: Ivory Jacquard with Pearl Crystal Pin Clutch from ocstylescreations on Etsy $25.99

Grand Total?

$370.64

<$500 Ensemble #3 

Labeled by The Thirty-Something Bride as "candy-like."

Our Red White Bride describes it better:

"Creating this ensemble was so much fun! Incorporating my fave color, fuchsia, for a stylish, chic and fun wedding."

Dress:  JS Boutique Lace Dress from Nordstrom  $138

Veil: Daffodil Veil from Simple Beauty Veils on Etsy  $36

Shoes: Paris Hilton Senorita  from Heels  $94.99

Earrings:Funky Fuchsia from Iris Accents on Etsy  $18

Clutch: Passion  from Angeew on Etsy  $50

Grand Total?

$336.99

I was so loving this  idea that I asked Red White Bride if she'd be so kind as to do some special <$500 ensembles, just for me! She did! How cool is that? Here are her fabulous Thirty-Something Bride creations!

Dress:Deco Paisley Dress from Marc by Marc Jacobs via The Outnet  $147.20
Veil: Short Blusher Birdcage Veil from brendasbridalveils on Etsy  $19.99
Shoes: Luichiny Kam Me Pump  from Amazon  $68.95
Earrings: Vivianne Jewel Earrings from Forever21  $5.80
Bracelet: Jewel Encrusted Bracelet from Forever21 $12.80
Clutch: Passion Red and White Clutch with Feathery Brooch from angeew on Etsy  $50

Grand Total?

$304.74

 The Thirty-Something Bride's Fave...

Dress: Aidan Mattox Niteline Strapless Gown from Nordstrom  $348
Veil: Short Blusher Birdcage Veil from brendasbridalveils on Etsy  $19.99
Shoes: Unlisted Act One Sandals from Heels  $46.99
Earrings: Chandelier Earrings from G by Guess  $14.50
Bracelet: Bangle Bracelet Set from G by Guess  $18.50
Clutch: Silver Sequin Clutch from Windsor  $22.90

Grand Total? 

$470.88

I'm telling you, this is why I love the internet and blogging, because there are so many people out there with such great ideas! Especially now, when so many people are strapped for cash and frustrated about planning their weddings (A Los Angeles Love, hang in there!) it's great to see that a gal can get her gorgeous on for a whole lessa (versus whole lotta) cash. Just for fun, I think I might challenge myself to see what I can come up with for less than $300. Anyone else game? Where are you going to save your cash? Will it be fashion related? Good luck!

Oh and yeah! Don't forget to enter the contest to win $50 towards some pretty pictures! Enter HERE!

Mixology 101

Check out my new post on Weddzilla about signature cocktails! If you want a signature drink and you're not sure what to serve, check out this post!