Wedding Season Is Upon Us

Along with the nicer weather, wedding season is here again. I'm heading off to Saskatoon on June 1st to see my brother tie the knot. The only problem I had to face (and many of you will as well) is: "What the heck do I wear?!?!?" Yes, I have tons of things that would be suitable, but for me a wedding is a wonderful excuse to buy something new. So I went shopping - a lot. I went to a consignment store, Winners, Smart Set, Ricki's, H&M, Le Château, The Bay, Cleo, WAL-MART and even Mark's Work Wearhouse. I ended up buying two dresses at H&M but wasn't jazzed up about either of them. Finally I just threw my hands up in the air and went to Value Village. I lost hope almost immediately as the dresses looked like they were stolen from an 80's sitcom. But then I saw the cutest dress. And it was my size! And it fit!! Here is my find:

And yes it was only $16.99! Now to jazz it up a bit, I'm going to add some royal blue to the mix:

Here's the breakdown on what I spent:

Dress $16.99 Value Village
Blazer $38.00 Reitmans
Necklace $4.25 eBay
Shoes $30.00
Total: $89.24

So the moral of the story is when all else fails, head to your nearest second hand shop.

To help you out while you look for the perfect ensemble, here is a list of what not to wear to a wedding:

1. White because that is solely reserved for the bride
2. Anything too short. Knee length or longer is best.
3. Anything too sleazy - showing too much cleavage or something skin-tight is not a good idea.
4. Flip flops. They are way too casual unless it's a beach wedding and even then you could find some cure sandals to wear instead.
5. Denim - way too casual.
6. The colour the bridal party is wearing so you don't look like a part of it when you aren't.
7. Shorts - even if they are dressy they are still too casual.
8. Anything that is not part of the dress code if there is one established on the invitation. For example wearing a sundress to a black tie wedding is not acceptable.

Joelle

Monday's Meme

Definitely a shopping one for me. I'm too purdy to go to jail.

How To Shop Smart

My sincere apologies for not being around last week. I was ill and my internet was cutting out every minute or so. I am now well and have a new modem so all is great!

With Christmas on its way, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss how to shop smart.

1. Know What You Need

Always have a list. It can be in your head but better yet, put it on paper so you're not overwhelmed once you reach the mall.

2. Be Sure About It

Ask yourself, "Will he/she love it?" and "Will he/she use it?" And don't buy it unless the answer is a "yes"!

3. Dress For Action

Wear a comfortable outfit and shoes. Bring some bottled water. Make sure you eat enough and eat more when you need to before low blood sugar strikes.

4. Avoid The Crowds

If you can sacrifice a weekday morning for shopping (before the lunch rush), you'll be rewarded with emptier stores and less stressed out salespeople.

5. Shop Early

I started my Christmas shopping in October. For those of you who haven't started, why not start now? It's just going to get busier and crazier the closer it gets to the big day.

6. Have A Christmas Storage Area

Designate a small part of a closet for Christmas gifts. Throughout the year when you see something you know someone on your list will love and it's a great price, buy it and store it in your Christmas area.

7. Feel Happy

Don't shop when you are hungry, tired, or depressed. Once again don't wait until the last minute.

8. Set A Budget

Figure out beforehand how much you can afford to spend on Christmas gifts and stick to your budget. If you have a tendency to max out your credit cards, then shop with cash only.

9. Keep Your Receipts

If someone ends up not liking something or the gift is defective you can easily return it. Many stores also offer gift receipts that don't show the price so you can include it with the gift. Remember that gift receipts are only useful for a return if you pay with cash. If you pay with a debit or credit card, the gift recipient will only be able to get a store credit because they won't have your card.

10. Buy Extra Gifts
Find some "generic" items on sale that can be for a man or a woman, and purchase a couple of extras. Wrap them up and put a sticky note on the box stating what the item is. This way you'll always be prepared if someone unexpectedly gives you a gift, and you can avoid any embarrassment or hurt feelings by returning the favour.

Happy shopping!

Joelle