Enlightening Favor / Escort Card Idea!

I just came upon this and think its a fantastic idea!! You could set these candles out to "light the way" to their table, and be their favors. AND benefit others in your purchase!!!

Shine a light on the fact that early detection means a better hope for survival. Enjoy the soft pink color, flickering light and lavender fragrance, while reminding yourself and others to make a difference by clicking every day.

Choose a Single candle for $3.95, or a Set of 5 for $15.95.

Want to fund more causes? How about these?

Cute, right? For $18 you get:

Six colorful scented candles create a rainbow of good feelings! Enjoy their cheery colors, flickering light and fruity fragrances, while reminding yourself and others to make a difference by clicking every day.

Each sweetly scented candle represents one of the Greater Good web sites, and are a perfect gift for friends and family.

Set of 6 candles includes:

• The Hunger Site: light yellow candle with "sunflower" scent
• The Breast Cancer Site: pink candle with lavender scent
• The Child Health Site: sky blue candle with sweetpea scent
• The Literacy Site: red candle with apple scent
• The Rainforest Site: light green candle with cucumber-melon scent
• The Animal Rescue Site: light purple candle with lavender scent

Six hexagonal jar candles are 1.5 ounces each. Jar candle measures 2" T x 1.75" dia. (5 cm T x 4.4 cm dia.). Jars have resealable lids and come individually wrapped in cellophane.

Heinz coreless wicks are 100% lead- and zinc-free. Made from a blend of soy and paraffin waxes; each candle burns approximately 12 hours. Never leave a burning candle unattended.

Depending on which Site you go through to get them, you can:

• Fund a mammogram
• Feed starving people
• Feed starving animals
• Fund health services for kids
• Buy books for children's libraries
• Preserve land in the rainforest

Anyone thinking that this site sounds familiar, its because I've blogged about some of the great finds on there before!

Let's Eat Cake!

In case anyone out there in Bridal Blog Land has been living under a rock, Melissa DiStefano of MasterPiece Weddings is heading up a HUGE effort for a St. Jude's fundraiser called Let's Eat Cake! She is truly an amazing woman with a heart of gold. (And on top of that, she has two fantastic blogs I stalk regularly (click on links above).)

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What is Let's Eat Cake?

I am so glad you asked!

Let's Eat Cake! is a Wedding Cake Competition. Pastry Chef's and Bakers will gather with their faux cakes that will be judged by World Renowned Pastry Chef's and Celebrities alike on their artistic abilities, details, intricate work and overall beauty. (and of course taste!)

Then we'll invite in the general public to taste all of the cakes (basically a Wedding Cake Schmogisborg) and they'll judge the cakes on taste as well.

We'll crown a winner in the following categories:

• People Choice Award for Taste
• Amateur 1st Place in Design
• Professional Chef 1st Place in Design
• Professional Chef 1st Place in Taste

I am so excited to be planning this event!! I feel blessed to be guided to St. Jude's Children's Hospital to help the kids.

{image from brides.com}

Posted by Melissa DiStefano
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And then there was today's post... which made me cry.

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Thursday, August 14, 2008

Who We Are Helping!

The other day I was on my way home, and when I got into the car there was this commercial on the radio that brought tears to my eyes about children being the future - as I sat there sobbing, the tag line came up that said "Helping St. Jude's..." curing childhood diseases.

I knew I was doing the right thing, right then and there.

This is a picture of my of my favorite brides, Michelle's nephew who was treated at St. Jude's. Her cousin Ben Barcklay was diagnosed with brain cancer at 8 years old. This meant surgery, chemo, blood and bone marrow transfusions and radiation.

He and his mom lived at St Judes (and the Target House) for 2 years. St Judes paid for everything and even flew Ben's dad and sister from California to visit every month.


He was on Oprah and the Today show and was featured in Redbook, so if you feel the need for a good cry, look him up.

It should be pointed out that St Judes isn't just for families without insurance. My cousins have insurance... it just wont pay the bills that rack up over 2 years of treatment AND travel AND living there while getting treatment.

Curing with Cake,

Yeah. That's my cousin. I left a comment saying thank you for all her amazing effort and she posted his story. I cannot say enough about how wonderful an even this is, and even more about the people running it.

Of course, we can't all be super people like that, but every little bit helps, and Let's Eat Cake still has a wish list.

Wish List!

• Financial Contributions
• Advertising for Event
• Celebrity Endorsement
• Celebrity Judge
• Decor
• Marketing for Event
• Pastry Chefs to Compete
• Printed T-Shirts
• Prizes for Winners
• Volunteers

Most of us here in Bridal Blog Land are planning our weddings including things like FAVORS! And those who aren't planning their weddings (and just read this cause its funny?) will have the Holidays approaching faster than you think. If you've picked gifts or favors that are really specific to the recipient, great. But for the cousin that you are thinking maybe new socks or another sweater? Or the guests that you are maybe going to give a flimsy gift that they will soon forget or throw away? Why not give them a card that says that in leiu of a cheap favor/gift they will throw away (adding to our eco nightmare) you invested in an amazing event benefits families in ways you PRAY never to have to know personally!? Thats my new favor plan.

Go and check out Let's Eat Cake!

Blog Bliss: Ritzy Bee to Chasing Spayde

One of the great things about blog stalking is that it can lead to new blogs and new things you've never heard/thought of. Ritzy Bee is one of my favorite blogs (which, again, I'll post more about soon... wow my "to blog about" list is growing again!) and today they are featuring a giveaway from Chasing Spayde Designs.... Chasing who? Fancy gift boxes? hmmm... seems like its worth clicking over and looking through their gallery and blog!

I was right! It was worth it! They have some really unique and fun paper, candles, monogrammed ribbons, soaps and favor boxes out the wazoo!

Goldfish are not a "thing" of mine, (unless they are the edible kind!), but I love this box featured on their blog!

How great/unique is this beautiful card box they made! hmm.. I like it, I think I'll look more into this one. Any guests of our wedding, if you see something similar to this around, smile to yourself because you know where I got it and how I found it!

Not exactly "me" colors, but I think it's great anyway.

Anyone else find something unexpected through one of their blog stalkings?

Finding Favor in Penguins!

Adam spent 2 years on a Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker that spent 6 months out of the year in Antarctica! It was on the way back from one of these trips that the ship make a port call in Hawaii, and he came to stay with me for the week. Needless to say, Antarctica is a special thing for him, and for us. So while he'll be in a uniform and not a penguin suit I thought some penguins details could be fun. (I'm incorporating a little bit of Antarctica in an unusual tradition during the ceremony.... but you'll have to keep stalking my blog to find out what!) I just came across these from a posting on It's A Jamie Thing... (a great blog I'll feature in my Blog Bliss here soon!), and I love 'em!

Chocolate Penguin Favors

“Dressed for the big day in their tuxedos, our penguins have a dark chocolate and lemon ganache, and their almond arms welcome everyone to the wedding.” - Burdick Chocolates
How cute is that?!!


And how cute is he? =) Yup, thats my fiance and a couple of inquisitive penguins in Antarctica. (Image courtesy of another Coastie aboard Polar Star)

I suppose I'll add this new idea to the list of wedding ironies - Tropical style wedding, with penguin accents!! Anyone else going against their own grain to achieve personality?