The busiest shopping day of the year is just around the corner…do you know what to get your special someone?

For that special Man in your life…

Regardless of what man in your life you are buying for, get to know him and his likes and dislikes. One of the hottest new gift trends for 2010 is called Experience Gifts. What is an experience gift? It’s an activity, and it can range from a day of pampering at the spa, a hot air balloon, white water river rafting or riding a Harley. There are over 2000 different activities offered through many companies like Cloud 9 Living or FreemanX to name a couple. So whether you choose to pick an experience gift which is local or plan a dream vacation around it, it will be a truly unforgettable gift.

Cloud9living

                       

                          Freemanx

         



                                                                                                                                            
Hand-picked gifts for women...

Shopping for a nice Christmas gift for her? Try something unique to WOW her., something she wouldn’t expect you to think of. Like getting her something from her favorite designer like a sharp handbag or a pair of shoes she’s had her eye on.
                                                                                                            

                       ChristianLouboutin

 

KateSpade      

                                                                                                              

If she’s a reader you might consider the gift of a Kindle or if she likes to cook get her a cookbook from her favorite chef. No matter which female in your life you are shopping for think outside the box. She will be thrilled you were paying attention.

Kindle

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

We aren't sure who wrote this originally, but received it by email and just had to share!  Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.

I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,

I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.


THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,

THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.

SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.


I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....

HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,

MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.

MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.

MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.

MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,

MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  

What is Your Fashion Trend Fav this Season?

  

White House | Black Market

Well of course we had to start with the shoes!  ;)  And we absolutely love White House | Black Market so our fashion trend fav's this season include the beautiful peeptoe heels - suedes, florals, booties, all of them!

As White House | Black Market's website so eloquently expresses, "the feel of cashmere, the rustle of silk, it's just like a dream", we adore these soft cashmere sweaters and silk, organza tops!

 White House | Black Market

Each of these 3 pieces can be work-to-dinner pieces.  Match the cashmere sweater with a great pencil skirt or the silk tops with black trousers and a jacket when you walk out the door to make that 9am meeting then leave the jacket in the car as you arrive for cocktails at 6pm!  Check out these awesome jackets:

 

White House | Black Market

Don't forget to accessorize!  Complete your look with chunky necklaces and bracelets.

 

White House | Black Market

Or throw on a cute hate and wrap a ruffle scarf around for that cozy, yet sophisticated, look! Love love love these pieces!

 

White House | Black Market 

Mix and match these fashions to keep you on top of the trend throughout the rest of the cold season.  Check back with us in March though! 

We can't forget to remind you - while you are visiting White House | Black Market's website, you MUST click on the Bridal Collection!  Ooolala!!!

Rachel and Michael

Bagpipes and 4-leaf clovers were the start of a beautiful day for Rachel and Michael’s Irish wedding.  Decadent Details had the pleasure of assisting with this gorgeous wedding of fall colors.  After a sparkler send off, the couple were escorted away in a vingtage Bentley from Matchless Transportation.

First Presbyterian Church, Nashville



Cakes by Rebecca

■ Photographer – Betsy Butler

■ Florist – Belles Fleurs


■ Cake – Cakes by Rebecca


■ Musicians –

Rhonda Swanson-Organist

Sam Levine-Penny Whistle
Steve Snoddy-Bag Piper

Reception-Sam Levine -Keyboard, Upright Base & Sax

■ Transportation - Matchless Limo  







Matchless Transportation



Melissa and Brandon

Decadent Details traveled to the Chestnut Hill Ranch Bed and Breakfast to assist Melissa and Brandon on their beautiful wedding day!  Melissa is very eco-conscious so a majority of her wedding and reception decor were hand-made and "green".  Right down to the bamboo dinner plates and homemade cupcakes!  Orange, cornflower blue and chocolate browns were the theme for this outside wedding under a gazebo at nearly sunset.  Wait til you see her bright orange heels!

 

Choosing the Best Fitting Tux

Every lady knows what makes a “Sharp Dressed” Man…it’s his style! And gentlemen, your wedding day is no exception. So to look as spectacular as your bride wants you too, make sure you choose the right tux to fit your style, body type and event.

When choosing a tux or suit, finding a good tux store and working with a tailor is essential. Although jacket size and inseam are important, choosing the right style for your body type is too! Check out these classy styles for the four basic body types.

Tall slender build or medium height guys can choose just about any style of tux and look great. Thinner men look great in a double breasted jacket. Ask the tailor to add some padding to the shoulders and bring the jacket in a bit at the waist to help give you a more muscular physique. The trouser will look best if the legs are a little fuller and the rise sits higher on the waist.

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For the guy who is tall and muscular or a little husky, a shawl collar jacket is the best choice. The jacket should be single breasted because a double breasted jacket draws the eye to the center making the mid-section look wider. Having the right fitting shirt and tie are equally important. For those with a thick neck, avoid a wing tip shirt and be sure that your tie is not too thin - but you don’t want it looking like butterfly wings either. A vest is better than a cummerbund if you are a little on the husky side because they look and feel less constricting.

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A shorter stockier guy should choose a single-breasted, shawl collar jacket with the button placed around the belt line to help make the torso appear longer and leaner. Also, do not add extra padding - your own shoulder line will help to make you look less broad in pictures. The leg of the trousers should be as long as possible without looking like they are unfinished, making the trouser leg and shoe appear seamless. By angling the pant leg toward the back, the legs will appear to look longer. A vest is a better choice than the traditional cummerbund for those on the heavier side.

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A single breasted jacket with the button hung low is great for the shorter thin guy. This jacket will help lengthen the line of your look. A notched or “peak” lapel or double breasted jacket will help give the effect of a broader chest. Pleated trousers are the best choice and the legs should angle slightly downward in the back to help give the illusion of length. Smaller bow ties and vests with an elegant understated pattern are the best choice for this guy. 

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Remember, regardless of whether you choose traditional or trendy, take the time to choose the right tux so she is proud of her “sharp dressed” man!
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What are you doing to better your life?

Getting married? Starting a new job? Getting a college degree? Buying a house? Whatever your future holds, be sure you do it with a plan! Make a task list of items that need to be done today, next week, next month, and finally, the day before the big event, so the first day of the rest of your life will be awesome!

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Perhaps you are planning a wedding. Make a list of all the vendors you need – wedding consultant, venue, officiant, photographer, florist, cake, caterer, tables & chairs, etc. But don’t forget a list with little things like music, unity candle, guest book & whatever else your heart desires for that special day. Check your list 3 times on the day before to ensure everything is marked off.

Say you’ve already been on the final job interview & given the offer of a lifetime, make a list of clothing items you may need to update your wardrobe, review any necessary material to familiarize yourself with your new position, take picture ID’s with you on your 1st day, then do your job & do it well!

Maybe you’re in an amazing 6-figure position but you just want a little something more. Many colleges & universities offer night, weekend & online classes so you’ve decided to get a/another degree. Your plan of action might be to list out all of the possible colleges that your current employer will help pay tuition for, then list the colleges that are within ease of driving in case you need to take exams on campus, then take a look at your budget to decide which college you will choose to be a future alumni of! Make a list of To Do’s that include talking to an advisor, touring the campus, registering for classes, purchasing books, pens, pencils, calculator, binders, paper, etc, then get online & meet your new classmates. You never where class acquaintances might be able to take you down your career path later on!

So you are ready to buy a house! Have you made your list yet? List possible lenders you find appealing online & local then do your homework. List out possible realtor agencies you have seen good referrals about, then read the bio’s of their agents & add the ones to your list that sound as if they might just “get you”. Add to your list appointment dates you’ve made with your top 3 agent picks. Once you’ve selected an agent, make a list of what you want in a new house. Now check off your task list as you go along & always keep the list of necessities as you tour different houses so that you end up with a “home” you will be happy in for many years to come!

According to WikiHow (http://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Effective-Task-Listhttp://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Effective-Task-List): “Bringing the important things into your day to day life stumps many people. If you want to accomplish things but you never "get around to it," lists are a little helper. This is extremely effective and yet remarkably easy to implement. This concept has worked for others in times of plenty and times of drought. The process is to focus on small steps on a consistent basis, and track the result.”

So start those lists & always have a plan – you will never regret it! 

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The Bachelor and Bachelorette Rings

Choices...choices...oh the choices!  How do you decide on the perfect wedding ring?  Is it cost, style, clarity, faucets, or just the good ol' "that's the one" statement?  


Ed proposed to Jillian with a pear shaped center stone engagement ring with six baguette-cut diamonds surrounding the center stone.  Very elegant!   

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It only took Jason to look at three different rings, when he decided on a three-carat marquise-cut diamond engagement ring to propose to Molly with.  Oh but let's not forget the details - 1.94 carat center stone encrusted with 170 smaller diamonds!  This surely is something royalty would lean towards.  Who would have ever thought it would need to be swapped just a few weeks later!   ;) 

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But have you seen what Jake proposed to Vienna with?!  A princess-cut, platinum diamond engagement ring with a 2.02 carat center stone set with 70 diamonds.  Every bride's dream - the largest diamond among all of her friends!  

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Diamonds are graded according to the 4Cs:  carat weight, colour, clarity, and cut and it is these criteria that determine the stones value.  But you may also consider the type of hand the ring will be adorning for many years to come:  

• Long fingers -- Round rings are often the most flattering 
• Short fingers -- Marquise shape can add the illusion of length; along with; pear or teardrop shapes 
• Narrow fingers -- Thicker band styles and rings with small stones help add horizontal lines 
• Wide fingers -- Wider types of marquise styles, round stones in larger settings and cluster-styles so that not too much skin shows on each side 
• Large hands -- Larger rings, maybe even chunky ring styles 
• Small hands -- Small heart-shaped, oval, round or square stones are all flattering 

No matter which ring you choose, always be certain to match the bride's personality.  This tiny little circle of love is sure proof of the fact that the groom was "the one"!  

1950's Wedding Dress Trend

"History repeats itself" - the era that will always be fashionable has to be the 1950's.  

Don't we all want to be Audrey Hepburn sometime in our life?  


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...or maybe Grace Kelly..? 

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Delicate Chantilly lace, Elizabethan stand-up collars, shimmering rayon, all with an emphasis on layering.  Also, the idea of creating waists with belts, ribbons & ties really make us smile!  :) 


Does the feel of soft floaty vintage lace, tulle, organza & chiffon get your imagination flowing?  Do you begin to dream of exactly how you want your wedding day to look?

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The 1950's might just be your "history in the making"!  

Although we are the new kids in town, we have had so many opportunities this week! Susan Tindill Martin & I, Kelly Knight, got the chance to see Gregory Byerline's (www.gregorybyerlinephotography.com) studio last night - we were completely impressed (oh & the Chianti was great also ;). His bridal portraits were amazing & listening to his ideas, suggestions & excitement about his business was such an inspiration!

Tonight we attended the Tennessee Wedding and Event Specialists Association (www.twesa.com) monthly meeting at Chef's Market in Rivergate (www.chefsmarket.com). Both the location & food were great! But you would not believe how wonderful the members were - so nice, welcoming & absolutely amazing! We cannot thank Ms. Pam Hogancamp from Ribbons of Chocolate (www.ribbonsofchocolate.net) for inviting us to have such a wonderful networking opportunity!

Well, it is now after midnight so we better sign off. Tomorrow night we are meeting with Courtney Hammons from A Magical Affair (www.amagicalaffair.com). She is such a plethera of information - can't wait! Be sure to sign on again soon & read how the rest of our exciting week goes!