Let’s face it — no girl wants to abandon her glass of champagne, depart from her friends at the table, and stand idly on the dance floor while some judgmental DJ or bandleader points out that yes, she is indeed single and yes, she is about a decade older than the others joining her. The bouquet toss is so deeply rooted in tradition that its history goes all the way back to the Victorian ages, when the bride tossed her bouquet to Read more

Okay, so the title of Essie’s “Starting Over” Collection may not be the most uplifting source of inspiration for those beaming brides out there, but this line of nail polishes is truly one of the best of the best. Their extensive variety of toe tints creates pizzazz in a pedicure and adds a splash of fun to the day.

Every bride should have a fresh coat of polish on her toenails, especially if donning a fierce pair of peep toe heels. While most bridal articles suggest the bride wear a subtle shade, something akin to Essie’s award-winning “Ballet Slippers” (designated a classic by beauty industry insiders) or “Adore-a-ball,” a sheer pale pink, consider going against the grain and choosing a bold hue for those toes. The Essie brand has saluted the independent woman by creating a fabulous shade entitled “Wife Goes On,” a bold, true red reminiscent of blooming gladiolas that flatters any skin tone and looks stunning peeping out of chic metallic heels.

For those who are bit apprehensive about color, consider Essie’s new bridal collection. “Blushing Bride” is a sheer pink with a hint of warm gold that looks fabulous on fingernails, though one may need a bit of a tan to pull it off on a pedicure.

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Ah oysters — the food of love. Oysters have been worshiped by food enthusiasts throughout history. The Greeks served them with wine and the Romans so thoroughly adored oysters that they sent thousands of slaves to the shores of the English Channel to harvest them.

Hemingway wrote vividly about them in his memoir, A Moveable Feast: “As I ate the oysters with their strong taste of the sea and their faint metallic taste that the cold white wine washed away, leaving only the sea taste and the succulent texture, and as I drank their cold liquid from each shell and washed it down with the crisp taste of the wine, I lost the empty feeling and began to be happy and to make plans.”

Every oyster has its own unique flavor profile. Salty, sweet, some having undertones of cucumber, fresh melon, copper — all of these factors are dependent upon the waters in which they thrive. A little hip tip for an event — have a member of the catering team be on hand to serve and discuss which oysters the guests are eating. A little lesson never hurt anyone.

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