Monday, July 6, 2009

Eco Friendly Mineral Makeup

If you are looking for a pro wedding application that is also friendly to the earth, then I recommend that you try mineral makeup. The huge benefit to mineral makeup in being friendly to the environment is that it has no harmful chemicals or additives, but it is made of all-natural milled minerals that come from the earth. This is a huge asset when you consider how many chemicals and harmful ingredients are found in your normal over-the-counter cosmetics. I would also caution you to read a lot of the over-the-counter cosmetic labels that do claim to be "mineral" because many still do have harmful dyes, fragrances, and parabens. True mineral makeup is made from ingredients like zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and iron oxides.

The benefits to using this type of all-natural makeup for your wedding day are many because mineral makeup is:

· Non-cosmedogenic (won't clog pores).

· Longer lasting for all day wear.

· More natural because you can control the amount that you put on in the powdered form.

· Able to lay on top of your skin in a way that your skin can actually breathe so it is still healthy for your complexion.

· Full of natural sun protection through the zinc oxide content to protect your complexion.

· Able to work best to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles so that your face looks flawless.

· Best for sensitive skin or women suffering from rosacea because it covers redness effectively without irritation.

For all of these benefits and more, I recommend using mineral makeup for an eco-friendly wedding makeup application from my experience as a San Antonio makeup artist.

Another fantastic idea to keep in mind is that you can actually look at easy recipes on the Internet of how to mix your own mineral makeup at home, which is the most green option available to you because you are not only saving on packaging, but you have control of the pigments and natural ingredients that you are using on your beautiful face!

~I'm Bethany North, a San Antonio makeup artist, and I have been a leading makeup artist in my field for over four years. I am licensed as an esthetician, an expert in the field of skin care, and also well versed in the latest makeup styles and applications, but my real passion is bridal makeup!
http://www.facebybethany.com/

Friday, July 3, 2009

Fun Wedding Planning Ringtones from mSpot

With wedding season in full swing, mobile music site mSpot.com has pulled together a list of ten (and certainly there are many more) ringtones that speak to the craziness of wedding planning.

The beauty of these ringtones is that mSpot.com allows you to edit up to 30 seconds of your favorite matrimonial tone – you don’t have to download what the carrier pre-selected.

We went ahead and selected a few choice lyrics for you…

“White Wedding” – Billy Idol“It’s a nice day to start again, it’s a nice day for a white wedding”

"Psycho" - Puddle of Mud“Maybe I'm the one who is the psycho (yeah), maybe I'm the one…”

“Mother in Law Blues” – Memphis Piano Red“I know she heard me callin, she looked back and waved her hand… I heard her tell her mother, that golfer was no good man”

"Can't Always Get What You Want" - Rolling Stones”You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes you just might find, you get what you need”

"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" – Poison“I listen to our favorite song playing on the radio, hear the DJ say love’s a game of easy come and easy go”

"It's my party” Lesley Gore“It's my party and I'll cry if I want to… you would cry too if it happened to you”

“Band of Gold” – Mel CarterI've never wanted wealth untold, My life has one design: A simple little band of gold”

“Ball & Chain” – Thunder“Kick off the ball and chain (get running), get you a ticket and board that train”

"Sounds Expensive" - Stephin Merritt“I would like for you to have this emerald ring, it was crafted many years before the ming”

“No Control” – Nervous Patterns”I can’t control it, I got no control…”

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Eco Festival In San Ramon August 29 and 30 Will Offer "I Do Eco" Advice

ECO-FESTIVALS, INC. ANNOUNCES FIRST ANNUAL SAN RAMON ECO-FESTIVAL
Bay Area Festival will be a Celebration of Environmentally-focused Entertainment, Education, and Eco-Friendly Inspiration


Eco-Festivals, Inc., an organization that encourages people to live simple and cost-effective green lifestyles, has teamed with leading environmentally-conscious vendors and experts to announce the first annual Eco-Festival being held at the San Ramon City Center in San Ramon, California on August 29-30, 2009. The free two-day event aims to provide “good green fun for everyone.” Event hours will be Saturday, August 29 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, August 30 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The San Ramon Eco-Festival will be designed in collaboration with eco-greenroom guru, Robert Craymer, best known for his elite-greenrooms backstage at the Oscars, Golden Globes, Bravo A-list Awards, Young Hollywood Awards, Sundance Film Festival and Al Gore’s LiveEarth concert series.

To add to the sensory experience, the Eco-Festival will feature lively chatter from several HGTV stars, including six-time Emmy-award-nominated actor Ed Begley Jr. and his wife Rachelle Carson-Begley of “Living with Ed;” Nicole Facciuto, host of “Red Hot, & Green;” and Susie Coelho, host of “Outer Spaces” and reoccurring guest on “The View” and “Oprah.”

“The City of San Ramon is excited to welcome this groundbreaking event to help our local and bay area residents and business community experience the positive impact of a green lifestyle,” said H. Abram Wilson, Mayor, San Ramon , California . “The San Ramon Eco-Festival will offer attendees the tools to become more environmentally conscious in a fun and inspiring atmosphere.”

The Eco-Festival will provide no shortage of entertainment as the main stage and several themed ‘zones’ offer opportunities to experience aspects of eco-friendly living, such as:

Main Stage: listen to the sounds of well-known environmentalist rock band U2 through cover band Zoo Station, and additional performances by Bay Area talent.

Meet the Experts: learn about different green industries as experts share their knowledge in sessions designed to raise environmental awareness and provide take-home tips.


Kids Zone: play sustainable carnival games, ride solar/bio-fuel powered rides and enjoy performances by the country’s most famous children’s acts, such as nationally acclaimed PBS children’s performer SteveSongs, as well as the Happy Birds (featured on “The Tonight Show”).

Food Court: experience the future of organic dining while testing the latest tools for eco-friendly cooking, cleaning, and disposal.

Vendor Village: browse the latest sustainable goods and services for the home, garden and office.

Fashion Show: view chic, stylish fashions showcasing clothing, jewelry and beauty products made from organic materials.

Enchanted Island : explore the next level of sustainability for a healthier living.

I Do Eco: learn about sustainable wedding practices from green wedding vendors.

Auto Zone: discover the latest innovations in electric cars, hybrids and sustainable car care that don’t sacrifice quality or style.

Career Zone: learn how to make sustainability a full-time career at the on-site job fair.

“Today, average citizens are eager to minimize their impact on our planet,” said Robert Jacobs, Executive Director, Eco-Festivals, Inc. “The San Ramon Eco-Festival will provide a simple blueprint for sustainable living that demonstrates going green can be easy and fun.”


Anyone interested in participating in or partnering with Eco-Festivals, Inc., is encouraged to contact http://us.mc1100.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sponsorship@eco-festivals.org or http://us.mc1100.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=exhibits@eco-festivals.org. For more information please visit http://www.eco-festivals.org/.

Eco-Festivals, Inc. Eco-Festivals, Inc. is a non-profit organization seeking 501(c)(3)) status that aims to educate everyday people on how to incorporate environmentally-friendly practices into every day life and live a green lifestyle. Eco-Festival events are designed to engage consumers of all ages through interactive entertainment and exhibitions that make learning how to minimize harm to our environment fun.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Enjoying Vintage Wedding Gowns by Tami Parks




When looking for ways to “green” your wedding, don’t overlook the tradition of wearing a family or vintage wedding gown. Perhaps your mother, grandmother, or an aunt saved her gown. It’s not your style? That’s ok; with the original owner’s permission and a qualified gown expert’s help, you can have the gown of your dreams with sentimental style.


I’ve had the privilege of preparing several wedding gowns and flower girl dresses for wearing by the second- and third- generations. Other of my customers have fallen in love with gown that they purchased from a vintage store or EBay. During the first meeting with the bride, I spend a lot of time looking at the construction of the gown, the fabric, and color; while listening to the bride’s expectations for the gown. Usually, I begin by cleaning and/or restoring the color of the gown. This can usually be done with lots of TLC, water, and mild detergent; I try to minimize the use of any harsh chemicals. Next, the bride tries on the gown for me and my seamstress and we begin to envision any changes, alterations, or restyling that needs to be done. The entire process can take from 2-6 months and cost $100-$500.

Unless you’re planning a “period wedding”; where all the elements come from the same decade, let me make a few suggestions. If the bride wears a vintage gown, keep other elements, such as the bridesmaid dresses, more modern or classic. Add a new veil and jewelry to your ensemble. The balance of new and vintage style can combine beautifully!

Photo A: A vintage gown, restyled for a modern bride.
Photo B, C: Jackie wore her mother’s gown, which we completely restored and restyled