Get Wedding Dress Ready By Training for a Marathon (And Raising Money at the Same Time!)

When was the last time you did something amazing – like run or walk a marathon?

The American Heart Association’s Start! Training program, locally sponsored by Mercy, offers you an opportunity to do something amazing for yourself and for others.

Start! Training provides personalized training to prepare you to run or walk a full or half marathon. It is designed for people of all ages and from all walks of life, including beginners who have never participated in a marathon.

As a member of the team you will learn to take charge of your health and protect yourself and your loved ones from heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases—the No. 1 and most costly killer in the United States. At the same time you’ll get the chance to do something good for others and save lives by raising funds to help find ways to better understand, prevent, treat and cure these diseases.

Start! Training has inspired thousands of heart survivors and their friends and family to take charge of their own life while saving others. If you had the power to do something amazing and to save a life, wouldn’t you?

Join a 2010 information session near you to learn how you can Start! Training for an adventure of a lifetime.

WHEN/WHERE:

Saturday, January 9, 9am

Maidu Community Center, 1550 Maidu Drive, Roseville

Tuesday, January 12, 6pm

Mercy San Juan Medical Center, Lukens Auditorium, 6501 Coyle Ave.

Wednesday, January 13, 6pm

American Heart Association Office, 2007 O Street, Sacramento

Saturday, January 16, 9am

Mercy General Hospital, Main Auditorium, 4001 J St. Sacramento

Wednesday, January 20, 6pm

The Running Zone, 8470 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove

Saturday, January 23, Info Session 8:30 a.m.; Kickoff 10:00 a.m.

Broadstone Racquet Club, 820 Halidon Way, Folsom

For more information, visit http://www.sacramentostarttraining.org/ or call 916-446-6505.

Real Weddings Magazine * Style Media Group * Contact Real Weddings Magazine

Dynamite Weddings Presents the Bridal Mixer

Your beloved popped the question, and you said "Yes!" You're now officially engaged!

But now what? Do you have any idea where to start? Or better yet, do you have any idea of what a wedding really costs?

To help, our friends at Dynamite Weddings presents the Bridal Mixer!

Come learn and mingle in a casual, intimate environment with experts on hand to answer all these pressing questions. This informal but educational evening will be something you won't want to miss.

Here's the 411:

When: January 7, 2010

Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm

Where: The Citizen Hotel's 7th Floor Terrace, 926 J Street in Sacramento

Pre-registering is not required, but is encouraged! And, you save a little money too...by pre-registering, your name will be on "The List" at the door (cover charge of $10 at the door if not pre-registered).

Click here to register now!

And, we'll be there handing out the current issue of Real Weddings Magazine, and our cover model contest entry forms!

Don't miss your opportunity to check out this gorgeous wedding venue, meet with some pretty cool wedding vendors and get started planning the wedding of your dreams!

About Dynamite Weddings:
Dynamite Weddings is a premium informational resource, providing useful, innovative content from the authority on weddings: industry professionals and brides! Check out our DAILY changing Tips and Trends (aka TNT)! Check out the hand selected Dynamite Experts who are anxious to make your wedding day vision a reality! Visit http://www.dynamiteweddings.com/ today!

Keep On File

Busy brides must manage a long list of last minute details as they countdown the days to their wedding. Flowers…check. Pick-up dress….check. Favors...check. Manicure…check. My poor sister-in-law, she had so many things creep up on her at the end that she almost missed her rehearsal dinner completely. Unacceptable!

It’s safe to say that brides have a lot on their plate, and things may not always go as smoothly as they would like. That said, I’m going to suggest adding one more tiny thing to that to-do list, something I like to call the 911 Beauty Kit.

Sure, you’ll have your hair done the morning of, your make-up beautifully applied, your dress steamed to perfection. But, even the most prepared brides confront unexpected hurdles to making it down the aisle in flawless condition. So, over the next few weeks, I’m going to introduce a few products that should be packed and ready should you encounter a beauty mishap.

#1 THE FILE
Your manicure is sensational, why take the chance of an unsightly chip? Be sure to pack the exact shade of nail polish in your kit along with a small file, like the new Matchbox File from Tweezerman. Twelve of these little guys come adorably packaged in a small matchbox-style case. They’re cute, compact and convenient…perfect on the go. Pack them for your honeymoon and open in case of an emergency.

Find them at Target, target.com.

Blog Post by Always A Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.

Honeymoon Destination: Cieba del Mar

Ah, the honeymoon! We all know that the honeymoon is meant to give you and your beloved a much needed vacation after the big day.

In our current issue of Real Weddings Magazine, we present honeymoon ideas for every season.

One of the locales we mention in that piece for a fall honeymoon is Puerto Morales and in particular Cieba del Mar resort. But let's be honest, Mexico can be a good honeymoon option nearly all year round!


And, good news from the travel desk: our friends at Cieba del Mar just let us know about about a special package that they're offering. It's the single best can’t-miss, no-catch deal we’ve heard of for 2010 honeymooners: the Wellness Spa Getaway.

Starting at $1,680 USD ($840 per person), plus 12% taxes and a 5% service charge based on double occupancy for a four-day/three-night stay between Jan 1- Dec 22, 2010, this amazing package provides guests with unlimited spa treatments at the holistic Spa at Ceiba del Mar, a top-notch, Zen-like spa with a progressive approach to healing the mind, body and spirit. In addition to a comprehensive menu of treatments, Spa-goers will enjoy use of a fully-equipped gym and several humid areas. Additional perks of this package include:

• Ocean-view accommodation in a luxury suite appointed with terrace or hammock and spacious living areas, state-of-the-art technology, including free in-room wireless, indigenous art, fine linens, organic bath amenities, a separate bathtub and shower, an in-morning coffee service and nightly turndown service with artisan gift.
  
• A refreshing, welcome champagne cocktail upon arrival.
  
• A Vital Energy Flow Analysis with Bio-Tensor from the spa.
  
• A custom-created gift of signature blended oils.
  
• Complimentary use of water, bicycles, kayaks and snorkeling equipment.

There is a little fine print...this deal is not offered in conjunction with weddings or combinable with other specials.

For more information about Ceiba del Mar Beach and Spa Resort, visit their Web site: http://www.ceibadelmar.com/.

Blog Post by Our Go-To-Travel Girl Jenn Thornton.

Are You Kidding Me?!

Recently, we asked pastry chef, baker and dessert-maker extraordinaire Carissa Jones of Sugar and Spice and... to be a guest blogger on our site and to share some of her knowledge and ideas with our brides.

Her past blogs have included: Mini Indulgences, Invitation Inspiration, and Cupcakes.

Here, she blogs about desserts with a sense of humor!

Dessert is already the most fun course of any meal…why not continue with the fun and have a cake with its own sense of humor? Below are a couple of fun ideas I’ve either made in the past year or have popped up repeatedly and have proven to be crowd favorites.

• Carrot cake…in the shape of a carrot! Get Out Of Town! This is probably the funniest cake I made all year. We were going for realism, but, even before I made it, the idea alone made me giggle!
  
• Peanut Butter and Jelly…this has taken several forms. The PB&J Sandwich: white cake layered with peanut butter buttercream and strawberry jam. Not your Mom’s PB&J, but it’s pretty dang tasty and your guests are going to laugh when they hear the flavor!
  
• S’mores…as cake! Chocolate Cake with graham crackers baked in and topped with marshmallow fluff. Yes, I have had clients who don’t like frosting. This is a great option and just before serving the tops of the marshmallow can be burned so you get that fresh from the campfire feeling.
  
• Chocolate Chip Cookies…nope, not the Toll House variety. This one is made with white cake that has mini chocolate chips baked into it, and then it’s filled and frosted with a brown sugar buttercream. I’m telling you, that buttercream tastes just like cookie dough…totally irresistible.
  
• Malted Milkshake…who says that malted milk balls have to stay on the candy station? This cake is made up of alternating layers of vanilla cake and chocolate ganache, and then is frosted with malted buttercream and decorated with crushed malt balls. An easy wedding translation would be to bake the malt balls into the cake or to nestle the pieces into the ganache. Either way… YUM!

Ok, love these ideas Carissa!!! How fun!

About Sugar and Spice and...
Sugar and Spice and... creates desserts as unique and special as you and your event. They believe you CAN have you cake and eat it too, but you can also have mousse, pies and tarts, crème brûlée, or éclairs! Special events are just that, SPECIAL and nothing says PARTY like those sweet little bites at the end of the party.

Be sure to check out Sugar and Spice and...'s Web site: http://www.sugarandspice.me/ and Carissa's blog: http://sugarandspiceand.blogspot.com/

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists, www.memoryjournalists.com.

Make Scents

This is one of my favorite gifts for brides-to-be (and a unique give idea for your bridesmaids or your groom!).

Sarah Horowitz Parfums, creator of sensational scents for major retailers like Barneys New York, offers a custom fragrance service she calls “Online Journey.”

Here’s how it works:

You visit their Web site at http://www.sarahhorowitz.com/ and click on “Online Journeys.”

Once there, you will be prompted to fill out a questionnaire, asking you to reveal your favorites, like time of day, color and season. From these answers, one of their professional Perfumers will personally blend a fragrance designed especially for you.

I had one of these done once and it was not only fun but also thrilling to wear a scent designed just for me, as none of the fragrances are pre-blended or duplicated from pre-existing concoctions. They keep your recipe on file so you can later enjoy perfume oil, eau de parfum, shower gel, body lotion or massage oil, or for your groom, aftershave lotion.

Take the “journey” before your wedding and create a signature scent for your special day, or give them to your girls as bridesmaid gifts. If you don’t have time to fill out the questionnaire, Sarah also offers a whole line of products available at Hues Hair & Skin in Rocklin and Scruples in South Lake Tahoe.

For more information, visit http://www.sarahhorowitz.com/.

Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.

Get Into the Holiday Spirit with a Vintage Christmas Faire

It's time to get in the holiday spirit -- and to help get you in the mood is the Vintage Christmas Faire in the Historic “Red Horse Barn” in Newcastle (at Newcastle Wedding Gardens)!

Everyone is invited to experience truly unique gifts, music, food, trees and wine tasting…Saturday, December 19 from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m at the Historic Red Horse Barn, 950 Taylor Road in Newcastle.


Some of businesses and exciting things you'll experience at this holiday event:

Wine Tasting by Casque Wines…
The Winemaker will be here to sign bottles for your gift giving


Live Music by Billy Bensing & Kellie Garmire
Enchanting Guitar & Mandolin Duo-CD’s & Guitar Lesson Gift Certificates


Queen Bead
Wearable Art from the Heart


Visual Impact Floral Design
Fresh Wreaths, Earrings & Lovely Gifts with an English Flair


Rejuvenate Day Spa
Complimentary Mini Chair Massages…Gift Certificates & Soy Candles

Fresh Cut Christmas Trees & Mandarins
Plus Unique Gifts From Foothill Feed & Gift


Felted Fleury
Exquisitely Handfelted Wool Hats ~ Heirloom Quality


Harvey Issac Design
Handcrafted Jewelry Featuring Gemstones, Crystals & Silver


Old Soul Studios
Repurposed Treasures & One of a Kind Winter & Holiday Gifts


Gourdian Art
Engraved & Dyed Gourds…Vintage Appeal Santas to Snowmen


Dawn’s Design
Sparkling Handmade Earrings & Necklaces


Tré Events
Delicious Cuisine from Chef Chris Jackson!
Turkey Legs, Potato & Corn Chowder, Smoked Turkey & Almond
Croissants with Cranberries, Cookies, English Toffee, Hot Cider, Wine, Beer & Coffee


The cost is $1 admission or a can of food for their local food basket.

For more, visit: http://www.newcastleweddinggardens.com/.