I am what you would call a “Christmas Junkie” and my eyes were drawn towards all the green, red, & white personalized M&M packs you could buy – they even have a page on their website where they list out all the different offers or discounts they are offering! There are many different ways you can customize your M&M’s depending on your own preferences: colors only; colors & words; or colors, words, & faces. This means you can upload that favorite Christmas, Wedding, or Baby photo and order a whole bag of edible mini-pics!

This is especially a great idea for your upcoming proposal, engagement party, bridal shower, wedding, baby shower, or anniversary.

Gentleman: A great proposal idea would be to order a bunch of red personalized M&M’s with the message “will you Merry Me?” and have one word on a different m&m or the whole sentence on them all. Put them in a candy dish, special box, vase, or in something else that has special meaning to you both and give it to her as a gift. An added touch would be to put the ring jewelry box (with or without the ring) in the middle.

That’s just one idea…guys you can get creative with it

Brides, if you are having a large wedding, if you order M&M’s in bulk it brings the cost way down and makes for a fun wedding favor – you could have different things about the both of you written on them or phrases like “We did it!” and “Mr. & Mrs.” or a simple “Thank You” for coming can be so fun for you and your guests and give it that touch of personality!

Had I thought of it for my wedding I would have definately played around with how I could have incorporated this personal, fun, & tasty idea.

My better half and I will have to settle with sending out our own personal mix with our Christmas Cards, after all, who doesn’t love getting chocolate in the mail?

There are plenty of options out there that do a fantastic job, but I want to feature one product today: The Jane Iredale makeup line.

Despite the fact that it was the first original mineral based makeup founded in 1994, I have only recently enjoyed the benefits of it myself in the last year. I have extremely fair skin and without saying that I am a makeup snob, I do understand and value the importance of taking care of the largest organ of your body – your skin.

Now I could go into all of the nitty-gritty scientific details, but I will spare you what may be a poor job at paraphrasing and allow you to read up on that yourself. What I do want to share with you are the top reasons why this is now the only makeup that will touch my skin:

1. It is the only “medical” makeup that exists. Some fast facts: you can actually buy this at Keiser Permanente. Recommended by Plastic Surgeons and Dermatologists around the world. It’s the first thing that is put on your face if you undergo laser resurfacing or chemical peels because of it’s health benefits.
2. Non-allergenic & Non-comedogenic. It won’t make you sneeze or breakout and it doesn’t block your pores so your skin can breath.
3. It has concentrated pigment. It feels like silk on the skin and simply this: A little bit goes a long way – a very long way!
4. It never goes bad. That 2 month only rule? Throw it out the door! Bacteria can’t survive in Jane Iredale’s mineral foundations and powders so while it seems you are spending a lot on a little ($42), when that little bit lasts you for 4-6+ months you’ll be singing a different tune!
5. It is waterproof. You can sweat or glisten, cry your eyes out but your face won’t melt with you – the only way it’s budging is if you wipe it off yourself. (just lightly dab if you need to and you’ll be fine!)
6. Has an SPF of 20. Most makeups only have an SPF of 6-15. Jane Iredale’s makeup kicks it up a notch for the needed extra protection.
7. It doesn’t just cover irritated & inflamed skin, it cures it. The makeup is an anti-inflammatory as well – I gave it my first test when I got my eyebrows waxed. My esthetician put some of the Amazing Base loose foundation just where she had waxed (my skin was bright red and inflamed). I was skeptical because didn’t notice much of a difference when she first put it on, but 5 minutes down the road and my face was back to normal. Awesome!

So this was the makeup I used for my wedding and was so pleased that it has become part of my lifestyle, and with benefits so great that I can’t help but sharing it with my husband, and family, and friends, and sales associates, and to-be brides, and of course you. But I don’t want you to take just my word for it…here are a couple of links for more information:

Jane Iredale

Skinsational: An Esthetician in the Portland-Metro area

Happy Wedding Planning!

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One thing I love most about weddings is that it is an event that will forever be marked as the beginning of a couple’s new life together. And it is so important to begin this journey with a good foundation and a great start. Which is why your wedding day is so important to me!

Yes I love weddings – I love the planning, the choices, the challenges, the “day of” …but more so do I love to see a good marriage take it’s first steps into a long and happy life together!

I don’t pretend to have been in the wedding business for years. But I have been around weddings for years, and as a newlywed myself, finally having been in the bride’s shoes, it has only driven my love to coordinate weddings and events even more. I take great attention to detail and if I don’t have an answer to something, I will do whatever it takes to find out for you!

So if you want local, up-to-date wedding tidbits, advice, and reviews, keeping reading!