Pretty things and good deals

Happy Saturday! (and a belated Happy Thanksgiving)

Today's post is a short(er) one....in honor of Small Business Saturday!!

I work retail, so Thanksgiving week means Black Friday - one of the busiest weekends for us, and the official kickoff to the holiday season!  Today is also small business Saturday.  One of my favorite things about living in Guilford is that we have so many small local businesses in town.  There is nothing more fun than spending the afternoon wandering in and out of the stores around the green!  I have a busy work weekend - so I didn't get to participate in too many deals - but this one jumped out at me as something I HAD to share - especially if any of you out there are local CT shoreline brides!!

A couple of weeks ago I spent my Halloween afternoon up in Hartford at Alicia Ann Couture's studio.  As you know - Rachel from No Eye Has Seen is our wedding photographer....in our initial meeting with Alicia - when we decided to hire Rachel, I found out that Alicia also does glamour/boudoir shoots! Her brand, Alicia Ann Couture launched just a few weeks later...and after a little bit of thought I decided to go for it and book a session with her!  A friend of mine had done a boudoir shoot for her fiancé as a wedding present, and only had good things to say.  I thought it would be a special thing to surprise Ant with - as well as a fun way to treat myself.  (I can safely write about this here, because he just got 3 photos as a teaser on our 5 year anniversary....he has to wait to see the rest!)

I can NOT speak more highly of the experience!!  I brought my middle sister with me for moral support (which I also highly recommend).  We told Ant we were busy all morning doing wedding things...not a lie, and enough to keep him from asking any more questions! Erin Infantino from Simply Gorgeous by Erin did my hair and makeup in the studio (again - HIGHLY recommend).  She was incredible and made me feel - and look - absolutely amazing (which is why I have since booked her for our wedding!).  Alicia was so professional and made me feel so comfortable throughout the shoot....and the pictures are stunning.  She advertises her shoots as glamour/boudoir which I think is the perfect description.  While I busted out some incredible lingerie I bought for the occasion from Beneath the Gown and Victorias Secret - the photos are not raunchy or in-your-face sex - but more soft and feminine - with a touch of sexy, of course!

Here is one example from my shoot (stolen bad quality screen shot - since I haven't purchased my album yet!)

Anywayyyy....long story short - Alicia just posted her 2013 Holiday Promo - and I am passing it along to all of you!!!  If you book now for a shoot this winter, you get a gift certificate for a free massage along with your glamour session!

I would recommend this to any woman - whether or not you are planning a wedding.  The photos make a perfect birthday gift, anniversary gift....or present to yourself!  It is a fabulous way to pamper yourself.  For me, it was honestly just a fun afternoon.  If you need more convincing - let me know! I can put any of your fears to rest :)

Have you ever done a boudoir shoot?  What was the occasion?  

It's here!!!

My wedding dress is in!

You would've thought Christmas came early in Guilford, I was basically a giddy school girl when I got the voicemail. I wasn't expecting it to be in until after the holidays!  I immediately called the White Dress by the Shore back, and Shana answered. She was very sweet and patient while I asked ridiculous questions - like where does my dress live until I get it fitted? And explained to me how the whole process works! Yes, they keep it safe until I come back for fittings.... yes, I can visit it if I want to (how did she know that was my next question!)... I could come in for an accessories appointment anytime, etc. etc. etc... yay!

I pretty quickly made an appt to go in and and see it.  My sister Alison and my mom went with me...and in case you were wondering, yes I am still madly in love with it!! It is actually bigger than the sample, so it doesn't fit me as well (the sample had been an ALMOST perfect fit, aka a little too snug for comfort)....But that will give us the room we need to tailor it perfectly, especially in the bust region! While we were there we took pictures of the back, so I can make sure I buy a bra that matches the silhouette.  Shana also gave me the belt that originally came with the dress! In my opinion that belt dresses the gown down, so the day I bought it I had chosen a different belt that I will be wearing for the wedding. But the original belt is beautiful...I can't let it go to waste! My plan is to find a dress for my bridal shower or rehearsal dinner that I can wear the belt with as a fun and special way to add some sparkle!

Unfortunately, I can't post any of the pictures from that trip, since they all include the dress....but I've attached one of the belt! What color or style dress do you think would compliment it well?

Also, if you missed my initial post about finding the dress, you can read about it here.... Or on TWD's blog here!

5th anniversary - #becomingmrsmascia

Happy Wednesday!

Today, November 20th - is our 5 year anniversary! It is the day that our trial period ended and the rest of our lives began...

When Ant and I first started dating, I had just found out I was going to be spending the following semester abroad in Spain - and I thought he was crazy for wanting to commit to a relationship while I was on the other side of the world!  He had just transferred up to UConn, and I thought he would regret   being tied down while I was away for four months...so one of the terms of our relationship was a "trial period"...a period of time where he could change his mind and take it back, no hard feelings!  I had just met the cutest boy ever and did not want him resenting me - I am not exactly a patient person but I was willing to wait until I got back to see where things would go! Less than a week into said trial period, Ant, with a bit of exasperation, asked me if the trial period could be over and we could just date.  That's one thing I learned pretty quickly about Ant, and have learned to absolutely adore...the guy knows what he wants! So anyway, long story short...November 20th has been our anniversary for the last 5 years.  and it's our last official dating anniversary!  Next year, 8/8 will become our date.

A quick photo dump of the last 5 years, primarily previous anniversaries...

*Our first picture together, ever.  This is the one I showed everyone when they wanted to know about my new boyfriend.  We look like babies...

A few shots of us in Spain.  Yes, he came to visit me, a whopping 3....4? months into our relationship.  Whatta guy.  (THANK YOU Bettie & Tony) :)

First anniversary:  Road trip to Niagara Falls & Toronto

...and then we graduated! UConn Class of 2010.  Can we go back??

To be honest, I can't find a single picture of our 2nd anniversary....but we had just moved into our apartment together!  Here's a pic of our first Christmas in the apartment in the meantime.

Our 3rd anniversary - my grandfather had just passed away, and we took a much needed mini getaway to Providence, got fancy in the Biltmore. and fancy for us means opening bottles of wine with toothbrushes.......yep.

Year 4...took a long weekend, this time to Mt Snow, VT!  Oktoberfest there (AMAZING foliage), followed by Brewfest at Mohegan Sun. 

As a way to transition from our old anniversary to our new one, and start the official wedding countdown - I am going to document the next 261 days through pictures on my instagram with the hashtag #becomingmrsmascia! (if you don't already - follow me! @theshorelinebride) If it is blogworthy, you will also find it here.  Anything wedding related will certainly be the priority - but otherwise you'll get a snapshot of whatever other exciting things are happening in my life! (exciting being a relative term, of course)

My first official #becomingmrsmascia pic is just me and my guy.  Keeping it simple :)