Say I Do with Mirassou

Mirassou Winery is giving away $10,000; a trip to New York for a 4 hour wedding consultation with a Brides editor; a Reed and Barton 5 piece dinner service for eight; 5 piece flatware for eight; and 3 piece crystal stemware for eight. To enter the contest, enter here. Contestants will be required to answer questions in order to enter the contest.

Shoe Fetish

I love to see brides show their style and personality with their wedding shoes. Here are a few shoes that I found that I like.

Christian Louboutin Petal Sandal

Badgley Mischka

Benjamin Adam

Diane Lyn

Jonathan Jayne

Kate Spade -Lovely

Martinez Valero

Say I Do with J. Crew

Sophia Gown

Whitney Gown

Nathalie Gown


Madison Gown

Lucinda Gown

Cotton Cady Alex Gown

For the Budget Savy Bride, J. Crew offers wedding gowns that will not break the bank. These wedding gowns range in price from $295.00 to $3,000.00. The dresses come in a variety of fabrics such as Cotton, Tulle, Linen, Crepe, Chiffom, and Silk Duponi. J. Crew also offers bridesmaids dress that range in price for $165.00 to $495.00. Bridesmaids dress can match the style of the brides dress or you can choose a style or styles that will compliment your wedding dress. The best part about these dresses is that they can be worn again to any event.

Delores Dress - Bridesmaids

Lorelei Dress - Bridesmaids

Sophia Dress - Bridesmaids

Postage Stamps Increase

On May 11 the price for a 1-ounce First-Class Mail stamp will increase from 42¢ to 44¢. Prices for other mailing services — Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services (including Parcel Post), and Extra Services — will also change.

Make sure you weigh your invitations before purchasing stamps to make sure you have the correct postage.

Cinco De Mayo - Margarita Time

Most people drink a Classic Margarita when going out. I like the flavored margaritas such as Peach or Mango, so I was happy to see that Hostess with the Mostess had 10 unique flavors of margaritas. Below are my favorites from the ten.


Pomegranate Margarita

Ingredients:
32 ounces Pomegranate juice
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, about two juicy limes
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup tequila
1/4 cup orange flavored liquor

Directions:
In a medium bowl, whisk all ingredients. Place in a freezer and mix every 20 minutes for up to 1 hour until the mixture has a slushy frozen texture (or freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s directions). Serve frozen or chilled over ice.

Prickly Pear Margaritas
serves 6

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups crushed ice
3 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
3 oz. frozen limeade
6 Tequila
4 1/2 oz. Cointreau
3 oz. prickly pear cactus juice
3 T. sugar
Lime wedges and kosher salt for garnish

Instructions:
In a blender, add all of the ingredients (minus the garnish) and pulse it until the ice is completely blended. Taste and add more sugar if necessary.

Rub some of the lime around the rim of the glasses and then dip the glasses into the salt. Pour in the drink and garnish with a lime. Enjoy!

Watermelon Margarita

Ingredients:
2 parts, watermelon juice
1 part, orange liquor
1 part, tequila
1/2 lime, squeezed into shaker

Instructions: Add all ingredients into a shaker, shake well and pour into glass.
You could also choose to garnish with lime wedges instead of a watermelon chunk. You may opt to make these super strong or fairly light; play around with the measurements to get a drink that suits your event.

I found this Chocolate Margarita at Margarita Texas. This site has a number of different margaritas to choose from, since I like Chocolate Martinis, the Chocolate Margarita appealed to me.

Chocolate Margarita Recipe

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz tequila (any kind)

1 oz Godiva liquor

2 tablespoon chocolate syrup

3/4 oz cream or half and half

2 oz orange juice

Stirrings Cocoa RimmerIce

Instructions:
Rim the glass with the cocoa rimmer. Combine all ingredients in a shaker and pour into a glass.

To see the other seven margaritas from Hostess with the Mostess, click here.

Source:

Pomegranate Margarita: Skinny Chef

Prickly Pear Margarita: My Sweet and Saucy

Watermelon Margarita: Eat Boutique

Chocolate Margarita: Margarita Texas

Strawberry Margarita Pie - Happy Cinco De Mayo Day

I was reading Hostess with the Mostess Blog and found this delicious recipe for a Strawberry Margarita Pie.

Strawberry Margarita Pie Recipe

from Manchester Highlands Inn

Ingredients:

2 cups hulled fresh strawberries

2/3 cups sugar

1 ½ cup graham cracker crumbs

1 stick butter, softened

¾ cup sweetened condensed milk

6 Tbsp tequila

4 Tbsp triple sec

1 Tbsp fresh lime juice

2 cups heavy cream

Instructions:

Toss strawberries with 4 Tbsp sugar and set aside. Blend graham cracker crumbs, rest of sugar and butter in food processor. Press into bottom and up sides of buttered 9 inch springform pan.

Next, puree strawberries and sugar with condensed milk, tequila, triple sec and lime juice in processor or blender. Transfer to large bowl.

Whip cream until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/3 of cream into puree. Gently fold in remaining cream. Pour filling into pie crust, cover and freeze until firm, preferably overnight.

To serve, run hot, sharp knife around the sides of pan, remove dies and cut into wedges. Garnish with mint leaves and fresh strawberries.

Wedding Day Casting Notice

Do you know of a couple who are planning on getting married or would like to marry Summer or Fall of 2009 who really DESERVE an amazing wedding but cannot afford it in these tough economic times?

“Wedding Day”, a new prime-time series premiering Tuesday - June 16th @ 9pm on TNT, is seeking to cast inspirational couples for our next amazing season!

You can view a promo of “Wedding Day” here: http://www.tnt.tv/dramavision/?oid=47477

Teachers, real-life heroes, volunteers, social workers, charity workers, etc. … we want to hear from you!

If you had to downgrade or delay your wedding plans due to job loss, injury, illness or deployment … we want to hear from you!

If you know of a couple who is so busy helping others they deserve someone to help them out … we want to hear from you – Nominate someone today!

Send a brief paragraph about your situation, or another couple's situation, the current wedding budget, a recent photo of the couple (in .jpg format), and your contact information to:

WeddingDay@markburnettprod.com

Please respond by May 15st, 2009.
***Couples may be asked to make a casting video with friends and family. ***