Retro Tattoo Cakes and Cupcakes

Remember when tattoos just meant you were a sailor or jailbird? Now days so many people have tattoos. They want their celebrations to reflect more of themselves, even down to the details of the cake. I'm probably the only person on the planet that doesn't have any! That's okay though. I'd rather just put the design on a shirt or cake (LOL) instead of permanently on my skin. I wouldn't want something I would later regret. Or what if I did get a tattoo I really liked and just couldn't stop getting more? See, no thanks for me!

Nicola is pretty much the cake maker extraordinaire though! She specializes in tattoo cakes and cupcakes. If you're in the UK, then you are in luck! Fairycakes and Faces are based in the UK, just outside of London. Too bad her cakes can't ship to the US. The good news is that she has custom cake toppers that can be shipped worldwide! They start at £25 per figure and are clay based and non-toxic which are light and suitable for cakes. More Retro Tattoo Cakes and Funky Cupcakes at Poptastic Bride!

Easy Listening

I've had Duets II for a while now. It was released in 2011. The whole CD is great. Easy listening and big band is to be expected with crooner Tony Bennett. Easy breezy Sunday music for a Thursday. Once I think I have a favorite picked, then the next track is even better than the last! You know, not everyone wants to hear and see the craziness that is so called, "music" or "art" out in the media all of the time. If I've just described your sentiments in that last sentence, then this is the CD for you. I wonder if it's available on vinyl?

"When Do The Bells Ring For Me" (Lyrics)

Tony Bennett (feat. Mariah Carey)

I wonder when do the bells ring for me?
When someone tugs a heartstring for me?
When does it come my time?
When does the poem rhyme?
When do the songs they sing, sing for me?


To those who say, “Hey wake up and feel love”
I say, “I’m ready, show me the way”
Show me those arms that say, "Welcome to real life"
And we’ll stay, we’ll stay


How many parties more can I run to?
How many little loves can there be
Before it’s all a bore?
Forget it, I want more
I want someone who wants more of me


Like making promises good in the daylight
The thing is, here am I – where is she?
When is it my chance?
When is it my dance?
When do the bells ring for me?

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Can you believe Mariah Carey belted out those tunes while still carrying twins?!?

Tupperware Showers

Confession time: I enjoy reusable containers! I even like buying the deli meat that comes in the containers from time to time. They are just so handy and durable.


Selling Tupperware was another way for women to
 make money after World War II.


I would so have a 50s theme for a fun, joyous occasion, like a bridal shower!

Some things I would do whenever that time comes:

1. Everyone would have to bring Tupperware, to go along with the theme.
2. Recipe cards as part of party favors.
3. Play bridal shower games, of course!

It would be so fun! Yes.. I know, I'm a nerd, but I embrace it. So take that you naysayers! Ever since I saw these next ideas in the following pictures, I've been harping on it!

Table settings

Handmade paper pom-poms dangle above tables.

Paper flowers in vases were used.
Guests drank homemade sweet tea and lemonade.

Napkins with 1950s housewives and funny captions
 are an easy way to further drive home the theme.

Champagne in retro style ice bucket

Cupcake tower with variety in flavor

A Pimp My Cupcake station label.

Guests had fun making their own cupcake creations.

Take home gifts for guests

Pop quiz, “Who Knows the Bride Best?” for guests
to take. The quizzes are on white paper
with a retro-style teal and red border.
the winner gets a prize!

Guests also went home with
heart-shaped measuring spoons as favors,
in keeping with the housewife theme.
I've also seen these on Etsy!

Now see, doesn't this look fun?! Gotta love theKnot.com! Though it just happens to be the two colors I really like throwing together, I would try to incorporate more original ideas so that my own function can be uniquely mine. 

Calling All Hopeless Romantics: Twilight

The latest installment of the Twilight Saga has a really lovely style, then again, there was a wedding to be had! There was a huge build-up over the top secret wedding dress. 

The official replica of Bella Swan's gown.

The official replica gown is designed by Alfred Angelo. He has worked exclusively with Summit Entertainment since May to get the gown out in time for the premiere. Dresses were available since Monday at Alfred Angelo stores nationwide, priced at $799. The onscreen dress is designed by Carolina Herrera. She will be selling her dresses at the CHNY boutique starting next year. I like this gown, but I would add more pizazz to it somewhere. It is however, very much a gown for Bella, simple, very innocent, and sweet with lace.

One thing I can say is that each soundtrack does a great job in capturing the overall essence of each movie, but with just a few odd ball fill-ins thrown into the mix.

Tracks I adore on The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Pt. 1 [Original Soundtrack] are:
(in the order of CD)

1. Endtapes - Joy Formidable
2. Love Will Take You - Angus & Julia Stone
4. Turning Page
6. A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
10. Northern Lights - Cider Sky
11. Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Wedding Version) - Iron & Wine

Iron & Wine's track ties Edward and Bella's dance at prom and their wedding together. I think when you actually listen to the lyrics instead of just the melody they're quite strange. So Turning Page is my absolute favorite, (not by default) just can't get enough of it. The lyrics fit the melody so well. It just oozes honey! Needless to say, hopefully some day this will be part of my own wedding playlist.

Turning Page  

 Performed by Sleeping at Last

Written by: Ryan O'Neal (of Sleeping At Last)

I've waited a hundred years

But I'd wait a million more for you

Nothing prepared me for

What the privilege of being yours would do

If I had only felt the warmth within your touch

If I had only seen how you smile when you blush

Or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough

I would have known what I was living for all along.

What I've been living for

Your love is my turning page

Where only the sweetest words remain

Every kiss is a cursive line

Every touch is a redefining phrase

I surrender who I've been for who you are

For nothing makes me stronger than your fragile heart

If I had only felt how it feels to be yours

Well, I would have known what I've been living for all along

What I've been living for

Though we're tethered to the story we must tell

When I saw you, well, I knew we'd tell it well

With a whisper we will tame the vicious seas

Like a feather bringing kingdoms to their knees

Etsy shop CarolinePhotographie

A Great Union

Today is President and First Lady Obama's 19th wedding anniversary. Brings me back to January 19, 2009.

That was a very touching, romantic, elegant, and historical moment for me. I mean a complete blubbering mess! Beyonce was emotional during her own performance! I bet even the people who aren't hopeless romantics were moved to at least one tear trying to escape. Etta James beautiful song "At Last" really envelopes around the whole event. That song was very appropriate for the occassion on multiple levels. One level being the long struggle to get into the White House. The second level obviously being that the Obama's were having a first dance. I wonder what the statistics of that song being used at first dances in weddings were after that day? As it is already a popular choice and surely spiked off the charts that year! It doesn't hurt to see a healthy power-house of a couple in the media. I definitely think the key ingredients in a long term relationship are: forgiveness, communication, having an active lifestyle together. If you have that as part of your foundation everything else you want can fall in line with work on both ends.


First Lady Michelle Obama's dress was
designed by designer Jason Wu.

Similar airy appliqued dress for $3,000+ available at BHLDN:

Yeah, that $3000+ was a buzz kill, beautiful gown though! Happy anniversary to the then happy couple and hopefully still happy and strong couple now! Every great man needs a great woman to back him up, and every great woman doesn't deserve to be alone.

The Wedding Cloud

Within the last year I have really caught the wedding bug. Yeah you know it's really bad when you're looking at all the wedding shows and actually getting teary-eyed. Flipping through mags in the check out line at the grocery store. Picking out dresses from BHLDN . Thinking about flowers and other decor. Joining http://www.theknot.com/ . All before you've even been officially* asked to be married. Yeah I know bananas, right? But you love wedding stuff too (because you are here) so we're not alone in this.

*Side note: When I say "officially", I mean presented with the ring WHILE being proposed to.

photo via flickr by sweetpea11215

The topic of marriage has been discussed with my darling on multiple occasions and not even by me initiating the talk first either. So this wedding craze is not without complete reason! It is still a little shocking to me because I've always thought I would elope. I actually have no problem going to the courthouse as a number one option. That way I would already be married and have the option to do a bigger ceremony on an anniversary. Having an extravaganza would be nice, but the only thing that matters is me being married to the one I've loved for years. Truth be told, if he proposed with a candy ring right now I would still say yes! We've had ups and downs at this point and grew out of hard times together. Love is a process. I'm not saying at all that one day I love this person, then I don't the next day. But you have to be willing to work for something good.

 We'll get through this together by looking at more wedding ideas!

Why not mix the passion for retro and music in one for your day?
This perfect item is from Etsy shop Ello There !

Wooden puzzle guest book. From Etsy shop CustomDogBandanas

ADORABLE Flower girls! From Etsy shop OliviaKateCouture
 The talented photographer who took this photo can be visited on her facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Melissa-Eaheart-Photography/273299251207