Budget Weddings for $mart Brides: 2013

Free Bridal Shower Games to Print: Bingo, Word Games, Quizzes

Throwing a bridal shower for a bride-to-be? Even simple affairs get pricey. Why not save time, energy and money with free printable bridal shower games? Here are bridal shower bingo games, word games, puzzles and more, free! All the best games for a great bridal shower. Free Printable Bridal Shower Games: Bingo, Word Games, Quizzes and More

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I heard a young couple arguing about their wedding. They were agonizing about costs. Take it from someone who did a complete wedding for under $1,000. You don't have to spend big to have a lovely wedding. And you shouldn't. Money is one of the biggest things that drives couples apart. For most of our married life, we've lived debt-free. Then we hit hard times and rang up $22,000 in debt. We paid that all off a few years ago and have stayed solvent since. Not only has this helped our budget, it's helped our relationship. Here are some shopping tips to help you cut costs. Save Money Unsubscribe from Shopping Emails

Gothic or Halloween Wedding Theme Cards and Party Invitations

Halloween wedding theme, you ask? Yep. Believe it or not. Wedding planning is getting way outside the white lace box and into the gothic, funky, you name it. If you're hosting a Halloween or fall themed wedding how about skipping the expensive cards and invitations? Here are Halloween printables. You could do a wedding theme of zombies, True Blood, Twilight, Corpse Bride. Not my cuppa, but to each his own. Free Printable Halloween Trick-or-Treat Cards and Party Invitations

Marriage isn't Just about Wedding But Staying Married

On this blog, I share cheap wedding tips. But the wedding is teeniest, least important part of being married. You could have a terrible wedding (ours wasn't so great), but great married life (like us). And vice versa. We've been married 26 years, only to each other, kids only together. Lots of people say "wow! you're an anchronism! how do you stay together?"

I always say "lots of red wine and IPA!" That's a joke, but I do have a few less-orthodox tips. I write about them on Yahoo! Voices and Bubblews calling them my relationship glue-recipes. Today's tip--learn to read between the lines. Listen to what he's saying and not saying.

Example: my husband has to work all weekend--third shift--at least 13 days in a row. I invited my daughter for dinner but she had plans. I asked my son, but he was tired and crabby. I could have called a friend. But that's kind of awkward. Most of them would be busy. Plus, our busy, odd schedule doesn't allow time to cultivate friendships. Read more Relationship Glue Recipe Read Between the Lines (photo is us with the youngest).

How to Lose Weight Before Your Wedding

I weighed 110 pounds when I got married in 1987 (left photo). I never had problems with my weight problem till around age 40. I had four healthy babies, then miscarried the fifth at 20 weeks. I was terribly depressed and started taking the antidepressant Paxil (paroxetine). With no nursing baby, I couldn't shed post-pregnancy weight as I normally would, breast-feeding. Then I lost another baby in 2004 and got more depressed. I weaned myself from antidepressants in 2010, but I'd put on about 110 pounds (bottom left photo). I tried dieting and wasn't successful. Then I got serious around fall 2012. Without surgery, drugs or a support group, I lost 82 pounds and gone from size 20 to 6-8. Top right photo is us on our 26th anniversary in 2013. If you're looking to shed weight before your wedding, here's how. How I Lost 82 Pounds, Dropped 6 Sizes Without Surgery, Drugs

How I Lost Weight Without Surgery, Drugs and How You Can Too

I'm going to put this on my wedding blog because weight loss is a big topic with brides-to-be. Maybe you want to slim down a little for the big day. Maybe you bought a dress a little small, hoping to fit into it (not a good idea, but don't panic, we got you covered). Here's how I lost almost 80 pounds (30 in just a few months). Left pic is me (on the right) before, right is me (on the right) after.

I was a chubby child, then slimmed down around 12. I never had a weight problem till age 40, even through four kids. Then I lost a stillborn infant and hit a nasty depression jag. I started taking the antidepressant Paxil (paroxetine). I couldn't shed post-pregnancy weight as I normally would, breast-feeding. I lost another pregnancy, spiraled further into depression and gained more. In all, I put on 100 pounds. I quit Paxil in 2010 and started dieting (not too successfully). I got serious about weight loss in fall 2012. I've lost about three quarters of the weight without surgery or drugs.
How I Lost 75 Pounds Without Surgery, Drugs

Budget Fashionista's Cheap Lingerie, Support Garments for Brides

I've taken off 73 pounds, dropped three blouse sizes and four pants sizes. I purged my wardrobe, but since I still plan to lose, I'm keeping my clothing makeover cheap. I'm buying clothes I can still wear at goal weight. Here's my under-$170 fashion upgrade.

* Donation tax credit. I donated my fat clothes to a thrift store and got a receipt which I claimed on taxes. I used tax credit money to fund wardrobe makeover. Here's the Salvation Army's thrift store resale calculator to figure tax credit claim. Even if I hadn't got a refund that would have reduced my tax liability and so saved me money. I only used part and am saving the rest for when I lose all the weight. Budget Fashionista's Cheap, Under-$170 Clothing Wardrobe Makeover

Family Glue Recipes: Habits that Cement Relationships--Advice to Brides

So you're a bride to be--congratulations! I'm sure you're getting advice in bushel baskets and much unsolicited. Well, here's my two pence. 1998, I was hospitalized with my 4th pregnancy (a little girl who was in a big a hurry to be born). I had an adorable nurse, sweet as could be and so professional, who was getting married. She'd come in an talk with me about her upcoming nuptials.

I told her, "don't focus so much on the wedding day that you forget the life to come. Spend time cementing your relationship. Let others worry about cake, flowers and stuff that will be here today and dumpster fodder tomorrow. Concentrate on what will last." We talked of relationship builders and pitfalls. When I left, she whispered "thanks for the pep talk. I feel so much better." I don't know how much help I was, but I do know that advice has worked for me. I tell this to my first-born who's a bride-to-be.

In 25 years as a mom, my best relationship and parenting advice centers on building family bonding habits. These have little to do with money spent and much to do with togetherness. They've seen us through adversity and kept us connected in strife. Life's getting more frenetic and disjointed daily. Take time, now, to grow habits that will see your family through.

* Celebrate uniqueness. You've heard of branding? That's not just a sales term; it applies more aptly to families. A family is more than just the sum of its parts. Each member brings special contributions and together they create something wonderfully, indefinably distinct. Family Glue Recipes: Habits that Cement Relationships

Cheap Bridal Shower Gifts, Prizes Under $10

Bridal showers are loads of fun, but if they find you short of cash, not so much. This article was written about cheap Mother's Day gifts but applies to bridal shower gifts and prizes.
How can you honor your mother and show her that you care when the pennies already being pinched? Here are dozens of great gift ideas for mom under $10. Moms usually say that it's the thought that counts and you will show mom that you really did choose a thoughtful gift, both by it's quality and frugality. Mothers young and old will enjoy these gifts: Inexpensive Mother's Day Gifts Under $10

Homemade Guest Gifts, Bride-to-Be Advice Crafts for Bridal Shower

I just threw a bridal shower for my daughter. I wanted to make gifts personal and meaningful by involving guests. At the shower we had guests write notes to the bride and groom on household items give as wedding gifts. Here are shower games and crafts to make for brides-to-be. Cheap Bridal Shower Crafts

Cheap, Personalized Bridal Shower Crafts for Wedding Gifts

Meadow Brook Hall, Detroit's Period Romantic Wedding, Honeymoon Destination

When I first rode up the cobbled, gas-lit drive to Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester Hills, Michigan, outside Detroit, I felt I'd been transported back to Regency England. Looking for an intimate interlude amid the bustle of contemporary life? Tour the Meadow Brook Hall and grounds. Refuel your inner romantic with vintage Tudor splendor. And be on the lookout for a special treat hidden in the woods. Meadow Brook Hall, Detroit's Period Romance

Double Duty Bridal Shower Decorations, Prizes, Wedding Gifts

I've said before that I'm a party gal. I love planning festivities with a low-cost, repurposed, recycled, homemade Here are cheap, double-duty party prizes and bridal shower prizes and wedding party gifts for receptions or showers. Reuse decorations as game prizes, bridal gifts and thank-you presents. Here are suggestions. Double Duty Bridal Shower Decorations, Prizes, Wedding Gifts

Host a Coed Bridal Shower; Gender Neutral Party for Guys and Gals

I'm a party girl! I've organized kids' parties, receptions, open houses, theme parties and showers. Currently, I'm hosting a different kind of event: a coed shower. No, you don't bathe together; it's a gender-neutral bridal shower with men and women guests. It's a little outside the box and not all guests maybe comfortable with it. Most importantly, throw a coed shower only at the bride and groom's request. They're the ones you have to please, first and last. Here's how to throw one. Host a Coed Shower; Unisex Wedding/Bridal Party

Free Printable Check Transaction Register, Financial Organizers, Wedding Planners

Brides to be, one of the biggest mistakes married couples make is to start out in debt. A good way to keep wedding costs in check (no pun intended) is to record purchases. Whether you purchase with debit card, checkbook, credit card or cash, keep a balance sheet of wedding expenses. Here are free printable checkbook and debit card registers to help keep wedding spending under control. Keeping a balanced checkbook, including ACH and debit card transactions makes financial sense and cents. If you note down every check you write, ACH purchase you make and debit card transaction you complete, you will keep better account of your wedding finances. Printable Check Register, Financial Organizers

Budget Weddings for $mart Brides