Inquiring Mind: Diana

Diana (an Outer Banks bride-to-be!) has beauty on the brain. She asks:

Where did you get your hair and makeup done? The Sanderling?

My hair was indeed done at The Sanderling Spa. I wanted a loose, curly, beachy updo, and Monique gave it to me. Here's how it looked all pristine and pretty, with my hairpiece from Smitten:


And in action:


Unfortunately, it was a really windy day, especially beach-side. (My poor groom is very dissatisfied with his windblown locks in our photos... how about giving him some love?!) By the end of the night my hair really started coming apart, but since the look was so low-key and curly anyway, I don't think anyone really noticed. You can see it getting unkempt here:


My makeup was done by All Eyes on the Bride (and yes, my sister commented on the irony of someone who didn't want all eyes on her on her wedding day using a business with that name!). Lauren was fabulous. She brought her sister along as her assistant and did the wedding party, moms, and me - and I think we all looked great! Here's Lauren in action:


You remember my search for Nars Cruella, right?


My inspiration was this photo of Drew Barrymore. I was working on a pretty good tan by the time of the wedding, and ended up getting much more sun than anticipated the day before the wedding thanks to our kayaking trip (wearing SPF 50, mind you). So I was a pretty summery-looking May bride. But it turns out, the tanner I am, the more comfortable I feel rocking red lips! The final look:


Coming down the aisle...


And rockin' the red lips during one of my dearest memories from our ceremony - listening to our friends share a reading:


Unrelated side note: I really miss that tan. Here I am celebrating my golden-ness with my Boston gals. (I know, I know, my skin is better off without...) And no judging at our sweaty faces! Late-night it got HOT in that tent!


But back to red lips... want more proof that Team Maggie was awesome? Remember how they organized and found the same killer shoes and all loved them, without me even asking them to wear the same shoes? On the day of the wedding, they all decided to go with red lips, too!


Yay red lips! Yay Team Maggie!

Thanks for your question, Diana, and best of luck!

More questions about our wedding? Comment here or shoot me an e-mail at maggie(dot)eatdrinkmarry (at) gmail (dot) com. Ask away!

Also... I've moved! Catch up on my daily adventures at The Freckled Citizen!

F-Word Fridays: Oh, Like You've Never Done It...

O. M. G. there's something I have to tell you, but you CANNOT tell anyone!! No, I'm serious, this is really a real secret. Because it's embarrassing! This is bad, even for me....I totally can't believe I did it. Actually never mind, I can't tell you. Nope. Because! Because. Because I'm ashamed, ok? I was only gonna tell you because I got busted for it this morning, and that jackass Kevin in accounting probably already put it on his Facebook status. What? No it's not ok if you friend him. Jesus. OKOKFINE, fine whatever, I'll tell you. Wait no, no I can't. Because! O-KAY! Fine, whatever, god. But you have to come closer....I can't even bring myself to say this above a whisper.

I went to a tanning salon last night.

I know! I know....I told you it was ridiculous. Um, because I had no choice, obvs. Have you been outside lately? Lemme answer that one for you....um, no, you haven't, because it's rained for like two straight months here. No! I'm only going to go a few times, it's not like I want to look like a Mavs Dancer. I just need a base, cuz you know i burn sooooo easily, and it's pretty freakin' tacky to get married with a sunburn, especially at a beach wedding. Besides, seersucker kind of washes people out sometimes, and obviously I'm a little bit porcelain anyway, and with a tan my eyes will totally pop. The salon? Yeah, it was pretty clean, I guess. I mean it didn't smell like body spray or anything...I definitely got dummer listening to the two girls behind the counter, though. They were tragic. Who, Kevin? Oh, he totally busted me when I was stretching and he saw how pink the underside of my arms were. Yeah it was pretty bad. Whatever, it'll totally fade into a nice bronze by the weekend.

Jillian is my homegirl

The first time I ordered a Jillian Michaels workout video, I did so secretly. I closed the door to my office and clicked through Amazon as quickly as I could, making sure no one saw the embarrassing '80s throwback symbol of desperation I was adding to my cart. You get the picture.

But now? No longer ashamed. In fact, I'm just going to admit it out loud: Jillian Michaels is my homegirl. She rocks. I love how mean she can be, but in the next turn empathetic and real; I love her Jillian-isms; I love how she knows exactly when your posture is starting to suck and you need her to yell at you and remind you that your ass isn't supposed to be in the air for that move; and I love that when I first saw a quick clip of videos I hadn't yet ordered, I was desperately afraid she'd gotten terrible highlights, and then hugely relieved to see in full that no, those were just light brown headbands. Whew! But mostly, I love that she has whipped me into shape the past few months for many things that life has in store for me, including, but not limited to, wearing a wedding dress. And I love that I feel stronger as a result, not weaker.

Here's the deal. I started with the 30 Day Shred around Christmas. At that point I'd been making a concerted effort to work out 3-4 times a week for months, spending 1-1.5 hours at the gym each time. I was getting nowhere. After just a couple of weeks with Jillian, I was getting more results in less than half the time that I'd been spending working out alone. Even better? I could work out in my own apartment where I don't have a lot of extra room, using hand weights as my only equipment. For anyone who doesn't know, the Shred is designed with three levels that you work up to over time. Each level has three circuits, which combine strength, cardio, and abs. It might not sound like much effort, but doing it regularly (at least four times a week) should have you seeing and feeling major results. In half the amount of time you could spend at the gym. Really.

After Level 3 of the Shred became a little too routine, I was ready for new challenges but wasn't ready to part with Jillian, so I bought her other two DVDs (with my office door open! And while recommending her to friends!). For maybe three months now, I've been working out to both Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism and No More Trouble Zones, and let me tell you - I have never been a bigger Jillian devotee. Her philosophy behind the Shred is very much represented in these videos as well, but they're longer workouts and are each fairly different. BFBM is basically a kickass, heart-pounding-out-of-your-chest cardio killer, while NMTZ incorporates weights (she recommends 3 lbs, whereas I used 5 lb weights for the Shred) to target key areas that we all love to bitch about. Both will make you sweat like a pig. Both will leave you sore. Both really work. And like the Shred, being able to enjoy your progress over time is really gratifying. That move that made you feel like you were going to throw up two months ago? No problem. That move that left you unable to climb stairs? Bring on the stairs! Love it.

These days I alternate BFBM and NMTZ at least five days a week, putting Level 3 of the Shred on for kicks or if I don't have time for a long workout. I'm definitely firmer and somewhat slimmer than I was six months ago - there is less jiggle and more of what I love about my body now. My clothes fit better. I'm buying smaller sizes. But, and I will say this in bold, I have not lost any weight. What I hate about the weight loss industry are the loud claims of "Lose X pounds in X days!" Those claims are on Jillian's videos, too - and I love her and those workouts, but haven't lost a pound. That's just how my body works. I've been one of four sizes my entire teenage to adult life, yet have always weighed nearly exactly the same. So if you're obsessed with the scales (I don't own them), you might be frustrated if you were in my shoes. But I've never been happier in them. And I don't plan on starving just so the scales can reflect something arbitrary back to me.

So that's it. The only fitness-related post you will ever see here, because a few people have asked me to write about it. I'm a Jillian girl. I don't know if it's her attitude, her jump moves, her circuit combinations, or the fact that I can just put her on and turn my brain off for 45 minutes a day, but whatever it is, I'm a fan. She kicks my ass regularly, but respects my time in return, and I think that's a fair deal. End of story.

More is more

First off, how FUN to shop with everyone else! Even if it means posting unflattering photos of myself online!

Second, in order to relieve everyone who'd be anxiously awaiting the outcome of my dress debate all weekend, allow me to announce:

My Welcome Cookout Dress:

My Farewell Brunch Dress:

Best of both worlds, yes?*

*to my checking account's chagrin, obvs

Dress shopping! (not that kind)

I've been on the hunt for a new dress to wear to our Welcome Cookout. The cookout, you might remember, is our version of the rehearsal dinner, only it's ultra-casual with bbq/beer/shrimp, everyone who's coming to the wedding is invited, and it's out on the lawn of the rental house that will become our honeymoon house, overlooking the beach. The worst mistake I could make with this outfit would be wearing something too dressy; it has to be paired with wedges or flip flops and be fine if it gets sandy/dripped on with barbecue sauce.

I headed over to Sak's today to see if I could make some magic happen with their Friends & Family Discount. The shopping conditions could've been more ideal: I forgot to bring along a strapless bra and had to get on my tippies to represent good shoes, which pretty much means every photo is blurry and a bit, um, saggy. Not to mention we're dealing with horrific department store lighting here. But in the spirit of letting it all hang out, and to kinda celebrate that I dropped a dress size, let's review the tape! (click for larger images)

Nope:





I adore DVF, and try to make her work for every occasion possible. This dress needs nude heels and a briefcase, though. Sorry D!











This is Marc Jacobs and it's ultra-cute, but more suited to a fun restaurant than salty sea air.












This is Shoshanna and definitely has the most "rehearsal dinner" look about it. But since we're not having a standard RD, I think it's a tad dressy. But pretty anyway!












As you can see from my artful additions to the photo, this dress shows off one of my pet peeve areas. As many arm, shoulder, and chest exercises that I do, those areas continue to firm up and that smooshy area looks even worse by comparison. So no. But great color!











I originally wanted a red dress, and this tomato shade is great. This dress is cute and casual, but just not cute enough. It also has major tomato-sack potential in photos.












I knew this would look bad on me, but the print is so fun I had to try it on anyway. And yep, it's a green and yellow Juicy disaster.










Hell YES, but not for this event:

I only allowed myself to try on one dress in this category. It's a Nanette Lepore that I've been eyeing for ages. I adore what her dresses do to figures like mine. She and David Meister pretty much have the curvy girl market blanketed, in my opinion. This dress is in no way right for our wedding weekend. But while trying it on, I figured out what it is right for: My engaged friend Amy deciding to elope to an island and inviting a select small crowd at the very last minute, as her procrastinating self is wont to do. I will throw open my closet, grab this dress and my very favorite bright pink patent leather peeptoes, splash on some self-tanner, and run to the airport. Hear that, Amy?






















Tied for First:

So I found two dresses. Tonight, a fashion show to decide, and then this weekend, a sad return of one of them. Unless, of course, I decide I also need a frock for rehearsing, or getting our marriage license, or going to the post-wedding brunch. Hmmm.....

First up, Marc Jacobs. It's a great lightweight fabric, is a pretty blue with flecks of pink, and has an adorable reddish pink belt (I'd cut off those weird belt loops, never fear). Now I'm not wearing a bra in these pics, so we can all imagine an upgrade in that area at the actual event. I think this dress is cuter in person than in these pics, which might be a warning about its value as a dress that will be photographed.























The other contender is Alice + Olivia. In a word, adorable. The top feels like your oldest, comfiest cotton t-shirt, and then the skirt is a flowy little number that's ultra-cute. I wouldn't have guessed purple and yellow for myself, but I'm kinda liking it. The straight-across strapless neckline can be tough to pull off all the time, so I worry about the potential for unflattering photos, although in those photos I'd be damn comfortable even if I didn't appear to have dropped that dress size. ;-)

Dress Fitting #2

40 days out today, whoa. I've been enjoying a mental wedding break during all the bachelorette hoopla, and it's been really good for me to let things be for a while. But now it's time to face reality/make remaining decisions/finish projects... so back to it!

In that respect, this afternoon I'm going to my second dress fitting with my bridesmaid Heather. I'm not nervous at all this time, just excited and ready to dig into the details of how the dress is fitting. In other words, it's time for some serious arm and back inspections...

On that note, did everyone see Kate's wedding reflections post today? Great gems there, including why you shouldn't obsess over how your arms and back appear in your wedding dress. Hmmm.....

By the way (and completely unrelated), Drew Barrymore is totally wearing my wedding makeup here. Yay Drew! Looking forward to your incarnation of Edie.

Hair trial!

While I'm away from the office today bringing transit and walkability to the highways and strip malls of North Texas, I offer up photos of my hair trial during our mid-month planning trip to the Outer Banks.

As you can see, it's just as beachy-curly as I'd envisioned. Imagine a funky flower/feather creation in the back too... Smitten XOXO is hard at work as I type creating fab pieces for me and the girls. The stylist didn't add volume and curl to the top of my hair during the trial, but will do so for the wedding. This loose curly do took her all of 8 minutes, by the way, and she assures me I'll be deceptively carefree-looking (read: windproof) on the big day.


Random... see that spot of really wispy curly hair on the left side of my neck in the top photo? Does anyone else have those... and what do I do with it? If I kind of slick it into the rest of the normal hair will that look weird? But it looks weird as is, right?

Also (to change the subject in case that was awkward)... I've heard a few reports that our invitations have made it to mailboxes, so after one more day for the stragglers to make their way, I'll post them in full!

All in a day's work

See what happens on an innocent Sephora outing? Dangerous. But all this, and those who know me will be proud: not a single pot of shimmery highlighter or lip gloss - my big weaknesses. Still. Damage.

















I'm outing my hopeless consumerism for a good cause, though: to announce that I have my red! It's Nars (big surprise after seeing that photo, right?) "Cruella." HA!

I was a little shocked with the color at first - as I always am with matte red - but I took it as a good sign that while I was in the chair with Mr. FancyPants Makeup Artist Straight from the Marc Jacobs Show, three customers asked what red it was and bought it. Even I have to admit that's a sign to get over my fear and go red.

What do you think? (No makeup here but lips, folks - I'll be much more pulled together on the big day, never fear. Not to mention, um, tanner. Holy whiteness!)

Professional prettiness

One of my many appointments in the Outer Banks next week is a makeup trial. Like most gals, I'll probably go for the "me just more" look at our wedding, but I'm looking forward to "playing makeup" with a pro. Makeup is fun for me... in college I was a nerdy Honors Program student and Senate intern by day and top-selling makeup/skincare guru by night. It was a great release, actually, a way to shut off the more serious things flowing through my brain and be creative (kind of like this wedding blog compared with my neglected politics blog, hmmm...).

My fave products these days? A healthy mix of Nars, Benefit, Stila, and Laura Mercier. I'm a sucker for lip gloss, shimmery potions, and anything that makes green eyes pop. Here are a couple of ideas I have going into the trial run:

• Red lips? Normally I'm a berry girl, but the vintage vibe of our wedding has me curious to try red lips. Not dramatic dark red, but more of a sheer red, paired with bright skin and low-key eyes. (Moment of silence for my favorite discontinued red, please... Laura Mercier's Just Lips) We'll see what the pro says.
  
  
• Eyelashes. I have pathetic lashes. Trevor doesn't have lashes, either, so our kids are screwed. At any rate, I was considering doing lash extensions, but Our Fair Economy is pushing fakies the day-of as a more viable alternative.
  
  
• Looking like I have makeup on. The primary reason I wanted to hire someone to do my makeup was because on that day, I don't want to stress out over it myself. While I do have fun with makeup, I don't want that kind of pressure on my wedding day (also, I'll need a free hand for mimosas, helloooooo). My biggest complaint with my own "special event" makeup is that every time I see photos of myself when I know I spent a considerable amount of time getting ready, it still looks like I have nothing on my face. My hand is way too light; my hatred of too much makeup runs too deep. So I just need to put the power in someone else's hands. And don't bother talking to me about primers, either - I own three different brands, and still look like I'm bare-skinned. (Waaay back on prom night, my mom actually sent me back inside to apply more makeup... twice. Ironic, then, that I ended up getting paid to do other people's makeup, isn't it?)
  
  
• SKIN! I'm a big fan of skincare and the rule that if you invest more in your skin, you can invest less in your makeup. Since our wedding is outside at the beach, this will most definitely be a sheer, sunkissed, freckled, glowing kind of celebration. Which reminds me: sunscreen. I'll leave that for the next beauty-related post.
  

For more wedding-related makeup chatter, check out the great column over at Weddingbee PRO by Laura Nadeau. A makeup artist herself, "Lo" has the best day-of makeup tips, including posts on red lips and fake lashes. Her how-to video on applying fake lashes is great.