April Reed Makes Pink and Black Look Amazing

I love this pink and black cake by April Reed. How creative. Her cakes are almost too beautiful to eat! You can view more of her delightful works at: April Reed

Viv and Ingrid - Pearl Earrings & A Cute Pouch

I love Viv and Ingrid. I bought their monogram pouches for my bridesmaids to hold the earrings/necklaces that I had made for them. My girls loved it! They have added to their line of earrings. These hoop earrings are perfect. Look at the extra cute pouch that the earrings come in. Gotta love it. The hoops come in different colors. You can check it out at: Viv and Ingrid.

The Brilliance of Bernard Maisner

I absolutely love Bernard Maisner. His calligraphy is to die for. His work is some of the most beautiful around. Mr. Maisner graduated from The Cooper Union College of Art in New York City and studied at The Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. His ability to render Spencerian/Copperplate writing by hand while embellishing letters with intricate flourishes, make his work one-of-a-kind. Masterpieces. You can see more of his work on his site at: Bernard Maisner

You Too Can Wear Marie Antoinette's Pearls

A set of pearls once belonging to Marie Antoinette and taken to Britain by a friend for safekeeping will go on sale in December, and are expected to fetch up to $800,000. The necklace will be auctioned off by the British auction house, Christies. Just lovely.

Blog for a Cause

The Bridal Wishlist is taking a pause for the cause.

Stop Domestic Violence!
I do not know too many women who have not been touched in some way or another by domestic abuse. It is an issue that affects all of us in some way or another. Unfortunately, it is still a "hush-hush-that-is-not-any-of-my-business" issue with most people. But we all need to get involved.

Here are the stats - Take it in!

Every 9 seconds, a woman is battered in the U.S.
Family Violence Prevention Fund, 1994.

95% of all victims of domestic violence are women.
Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report, U.S. Dept. of Justice.

Domestic Violence is the single major cause of injury to women, more than muggings and car accidents combined.
First Comprehensive National Health Study of American Women, The Commonwealth Fund, 1993.

Domestic Violence is the cause of 30% of physical disabilities in women.
California Department of Social Services, 1994.

50% of all women murdered in the United States are killed by a spouse or an acquaintance.
Journal of Trauma, 1992

Domestic Violence occurs in 60% of marriages and is the most underreported crime.
National Crime Statistics Report, 1993.

90% of battered women reported that their children were present when they were beaten.
National Crime Statistics Report, 1993.

25% to 30% of adolescent relationships are abusive.
L.A. Commission on Assaults Against Women

1/2 of all rape victims are raped between the ages of 14 and 17.
L.A. Commission on Assaults Against Women

As few as 5% of domestic violence victims are identified as such in Emergency Department records.
American Journal of Public Health, 1989.

Domestic Violence costs an estimated $1.4 billion annually in medical bills, and an additional $900 million in mental health treatment.
National Public Services Research Institute, 1994.

Domestic Violence is responsible for a $3 to 5 billion loss each year for employers due to absenteeism.
California Department of Social Services

If you know someone who is a victim of domestic abuse, instead of judging her, give her options. Find out where your local shelter is for battered women. Give her your ear when she needs it. Pray for her. Let your circle of friends know what is going on. The danger is in keeping it a secret.

Here are some sources of information on domestic violence for all to take note:

For Emergencies, Dial 911 or your Local Police

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
http://www.ncadv.org/

American Institute on Domestic Violence
http://www.aidv-usa.com/

Stop Family Violence
http://www.stopfamilyviolence.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3244 (TTY)
Toll free, confidential, 24 hrs. Translators available.
http://www.ndvh.org/

Rape Abuse and Incest National Network
1-800-656-HOPE (4673) Toll free, confidential, 24 hrs.
http://www.rainn.org/

National Center for Victims of Crime and National Stalking Resource Center
1-800- FYI-CALL (1-800-394-2255) M-F, 8:30 am- 8:30 pm EST
http://www.ncvc.org/src/index.html

Miles Foundation (for victims of Interpersonal Violence in the Military)
203-270-7861 Confidential, EST
milesfdn@aol.com


Stop It Now! offers a national helpline (1-888-PREVENT) for adults who are concerned about inappropriate sexualized behavior in themselves or people they know. Toll free, confidential M-F 9am-6pm ET. For more information, visit http://www.stopitnow.com/

Women’s Law Initiative
State-by-state legal information on domestic violence and orders of protection
http://www.womenslaw.org/

American Domestic Violence Crisis Line
From within the USA, dial 1-866-USWOMEN. If you have a safe email, email them anytime at crisis@866uswomen.org All communication is confidential.
http://www.866uswomen.org/
[For American women and children living abroad.
International toll free domestic violence crisis line from 10:00pm to 6:00am, Pacific Standard Time, Monday night through Friday morning and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm. (these are daytime hours for people living overseas) To call from overseas, contact your local AT&T operator and ask to be connected to 866-USWOMEN.]

Lynn Lugo - Modern Bridesmaids Dresses

I love Lynn Lugo's Bridesmaids dresses. I posted about her spring line. She has added some beauties to her new line. I love the colors and the styles. You can not get more modern and stylish than this. You can see more at Lynn Lugo Bridal. Here are my favs:

The Vintage Groom - Wedding Bands

If your groom is more into the vintage look, try The Antique Jewelry Mall. They have some great choices for him and for the bride, too! Here are a few of my favorites:

The Adventurous Groom - Wedding Bands

My husband was so easy when it came time to pick his wedding band. He just wanted a simple band so I got him a 14k white gold slim band. No frills. But if your groom is a little more stylish and adventurous, here are some good choices:

Gilletts of Australia (www.gilletts.com.au)







Handcrafted Rings from Krikawa (www.krikawa.com)






Handwoven Rings by Todd Allen (www.handwovenrings.com)

Lisa Ling Gets Married

Her official wedding photos have not been released yet. I believe her wedding will be in the next issue of Instyle Weddings. But here is the photo that she has released to the public. I love her dress.

My New Favorite Wedding Dress Designer - Rosa Clara

Oh my goodness! I was checking out the latest designs for Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 and I came across the designs of Spanish designer, Rosa Clara. Her dresses are magnificent. Just breathtaking. [edit]Her web site is up and running[edit] You can view all of her designs on her web site at: Rosa Clara. Here are several of her drop dead gorgeous wedding dresses for Spring 2008:

The Bride Wore a Hat

I am not a big fan of brides wearing hats, but if you are looking for a lovely hat, check out Erica Koesler Hats. She offers several beautiful hat and tiara designs. Here are my favorites:

Hats


Tiaras

A Few More Wedding Dress Alternatives

Just a few more...

Eliana Ben-Zeev (www.elianabenzeev.com)

Jenny Yoo (www.jennyyoo.com)

More Wedding Dress Alternatives

I noticed recently that a lot of women are searching for alternatives to the poufy or traditional wedding dresses. So here are some additional options to the traditional dress that I love (all available at Nordstrom):

Calvin Klein

Carmen Marc Valvo

BCBG by Max Azria

Nicole Miller

ABS