Oh my chocolate

Recently while visiting my best friend and business partner at The Oven East where she works part time, I decided to go into the new chocolate shop, Chocolatier Blue. Oh My Freaking Gosh!

I met the owner who is brothers with an amazing chef who started Chocolatier Blue in Berkeley, CA. His brother makes the chocolates there and sends them here to Lincoln. The Blue brothers are both from Lincoln. The Lincoln location is sparse. But it looks like they may be adding tables and chairs at some point. In the ten minutes I was there around 2:30, probably 8 people (all women of course) came in for chocolates.

They are all laid out in rows on a marble counter, again sparse. But they are all so perfectly shaped, shiny and colorful. These chocolates remind me of candy out of Willy Wonka. They are a little mysterious, almost too pretty to be edible. But they are. Oh boy, they are so edible.

I tried 8 different ones (you get one free sample). The Honey Sage with white chocolate was so delicious. Very delicate. I then purchased 7 more to take home and try. So far, my favorite has been the Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam made with milk chocolate and the Between the Sheets which incorporates triple sec, brandy and lemon with dark chocolate. I'll be honest and say I wasn't a fan of the Pomegranate Jewel with dark chocolate and caramel or the Sweetie which incorporates dark chocolate and chai. But again, flavor is all about personal taste.

After researching, I found that these chocolates are made with the highest fat content butter there is, which explains how they are so stinking deliciously smooth. But it frightens me how fattening my 8 chocolates were. Glad I've spread them out over several days as difficult as it was.

At $1 a piece, these could be a very special and affordable wedding favor. The vibrant colors could add perfectly to any decor. Check out the website, or better yet, head down to Chocolatier Blue yourself and try a free sample. It's at 70th and Pioneer next to The Oven East and Edible Arrangements.

Seating Your Wedding Party

Most weddings end up with the classic head table seating for the wedding party because they don't realize there are any other options. So I wanted to showcase some great options and the advantages of each.

Classic Head Table
The classic head table usually seats the bride, groom, and the wedding party. Each of the groom and bride's families sit at separate tables. This is usually a good option when space is at a premium. It gives the room a focal point. However, it sometimes makes for an awkward situation for wedding party member's dates because they don't get to sit with their date. It also doesn't make for very much conversation at the table. It might not be the most ideal setup.

Facing Head Table
Recently I went to a wedding where the wedding party sat at a large table in the middle of the room facing each other. This I thought was different from what I had seen before because it allowed for more people to sit at the table. You could include dates or family at the table with the wedding party. Also, the facing setup allows for more conversation. You can also slap a sweetheart table on the end of it to make it more visually interesting.

Sweetheart Table
I love the idea of a sweetheart table. This allows for an intimate dining experience for the bride and groom without the huge table you have to walk around. The question is, what do you do with the rest of the wedding party. At one wedding I filmed this summer, the wedding party was sat at tables around the sweetheart table. This enabled them to sit with their dates and be at a table conducive to conversation. You can also intermix wedding party with family of the bride or groom.

Tuesday Shoesday Pt 8

Shocked to actually find some fun shoes at David's Bridal. But I did. These are really fun. They have a great couture flair. They are a Satin Sandal with Chiffon Petals. It's also very affordable set for just $59. I can't attest to to the comfort of these. But they are a great deal.

Tuesday Shoesday Pt 7

Ok, so lots of these cute trouser shoes have been popping up lately. I particularly love them in Janelle Monae's Tightrope video (below). They are the perfect dancing shoe which is why I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. But today I found these blush colored patten leather trouser shoes on the Steve Madden website. When I saw them it hit me that these would be adorable reception shoes. They'd even be cute with a tea-length dress.


Janelle Monáe - Tightrope [feat. Big Boi]
Uploaded by AtlanticRecords. - See the latest featured music videos.

Tuesday Shoesday Pt 6

OK, so if you looked at the BHLDN website, you had to know that I would fall in love with the shoes.

Here's why I love them: they look like gorgeous antiques. They tell a story. Each have intricate details. The colors are gorgeous. The blue pair to the right are called elopement pumps.

BLING ON THE BRIDE

Today I got to watch a show on WE all about Bling. It was called "Bling on the Bride." The part that stuck out to me was the part about engagement rings.

Some of the women talking about how big of ring they wanted and how size is directly related to how much a man loves you. One woman said she wanted at least 3 carats.

Tiffany's general manager was sure to remind people that it really isn't the size that matters as much as the 4C's: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight. In fact Tiffany diamonds are cut more for beauty than size. Tiffany sacrifices more of a the raw diamond than customary to ensure the most brilliant and beautiful cut.

Currently, vintage is new again. More jewelry is designed with pave and cushion settings. But some people think that is too bling-y. I love vintage looking rings, but I think I would rather have an actual heirloom with a story.

I have to agree with the Tiffany's philosophy. I'd much rather have a half carat that sparkles intensely than a bling-ed out ring that is dull unless under spotlight.

Tuesday Shoesday Pt 5

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to any of you that these are Jessica Simpson Heels. They are the CHEETAH heels. A more modern take on a Mary Jane, they marry gorgeous colors for this spring with the blush camel and mahogany brown. I am in love. Consider something like this for you or your bridesmaids if you're going for a vintage feel.