 iStockphoto We love a roundup like this from Be Well Philly! Especially one that involves recipes.
Up this time is a list of 10 ingredients you should be adding to your regular smoothie for added health benefits—and as they mentioned (“kale, smale”), each of them is probably not something that’s undoubtedly already on your list. Like, have you ever added cottage cheese to your blender before? I sure haven’t. (Though I have done almonds and dates, I am pleased to say.)
There are links to a fab recipe for each ingredient, too, to help keep you on the straight and narrow with this whole looking-amaze-in-your-dress thing you’re trying to do right now! Got another fave healthy smoothie that’s not on here? Share, please.
RELATED: Bridal Diet: 5 Healthy-Food Delivery Services in Philly
RELATED: Eat These 6 Foods to Get Glowing Skin For Your Wedding
RELATED: 10 Vegetables You Should Be Incorporating Into Your Bridal Diet
Read more about bridal health and fitness here.
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With product recs from a local makeup artist!
 iStockphoto I think it’s safe to say that every girl has got her little list of items that can always, always, always be found in her purse, no matter where she’s heading. That list might include blotting papers or lip gloss or a hair tie—and when you rummage around in your bag for one of them and come up empty, panic ensues. You do not want this to happen on your wedding day.
No, on your wedding day, you want to have put some actual time and thought into what supplies will be in your presence—not in your beautiful little vintage clutch, of course, but rather, in some handy tote stashed somewhere out of the way but where you can always get to it, and in the charge of one of your bridesmaids.
This topic happened to come up this week when a friend asked me what she should be bringing along by way of a bridal emergency kit like this for her sister’s wedding. To help her out, I dug up something I wrote several issues ago that put together a pretty comprehensive list, which I’m going to share with you, now, too. (Though I have, since the below was written, added band-aids and Advil, after the lovely experience of toppling out of the trolley and onto my knees when the bridal party I was in stopped at the Museum of Art for pictures before my friend’s wedding. Ouch. And blood.)
Here it is. Go forth and be prepared.
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 My new bridal nail art, courtesy of Sally Man at Rescue Rittenhouse Spa. It seems like in the past year and a half or so, manicures, for lack of a more all-encompassing term, have really become a thing. What would have been considered crazy colors just a few years ago, I feel like, are now as common to spot on fingertips as Ballet Slippers. Many ladies will look at you as if you must live under a rock if you haven’t tried a gel mani yet. And a quick pop into Google or Instagram or any beauty blog will reveal nail art more intricate and eye-popping than some of the coolest, craziest wallpaper out there. So it’s no wonder the whole thing has made its way over into the bridal scene.
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 Hemera To veil or not to veil?
This has been my ongoing debate for the past few months. I really didn’t think I’d be losing sleep over this decision, since it seems so minor compared to the mountain of decisions we’ve made throughout the wedding planning process. But I think I’m taking this one very personally, since I think it says a lot about a bride’s style, and lends a certain feel to the wedding day.
So here I am, two months before the wedding, still debating and constantly researching this accessory. I’ve done it all: researched the history of veils, types of veils, hairstyles with and without a veil, and even purchased hair accessories to incorporate into my hair style if I opt to not wear a veil. So, when I visited a dear family friend, Janet, a few days ago for hair trial number two and she said, “Well, where’s the veil?” I honestly wasn’t sure how to reply.
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All packed: Besides the SPF and loads of bikinis, of course, here's what you need for a perfect post-nuptial island getaway.
 Courtesy Bobbi Brown Cosmetics To add to the glow you’ve already got. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick, $42 at Bluemercury, multiple locations.
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 Essie's Lapis of Luxury, $7.99 at Beans Beauty, multiple locations. You already know that we are huge fans of brides having a little fun with their nail polish—though when it comes to the actual wedding day, we tend think y’all should stick in the nude, pink, red and wine families. (Though, we will admit, we have found a few exceptions from time to time.) We’re all for trying something different—we just wouldn’t want you to wish you hadn’t tried it on that particular day when you look at the photos ten years from now.
But on your toes? Well, we’ve been hearing about brides using their wedding-day pedicure as a place to get in their ‘something blue,’ and we think it’s super cute. And the best part is, it works for whatever season your wedding is in. Just go for a tropical blue (like Essie’s Lapis of Luxury, pictured) in the warm months, and a deep navy in the colder seasons of the year.
For some inspiration and color recs, check out this roundup from SHEfinds—though if you’ve got another color you’re planning to use that’s not in here, do share!
Would any of you do a blue wedding-day pedi?
RELATED: Show Your Love For Your Groom With Your Nail Polish!
RELATED: Photos: 12 Bridal Manicures (Cool Colors! Nail Art! Embellishments!) For Your Wedding Day
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 Hemera More than a half hour late to my appointment due to the absurd amount of people bustling around the Convention Center for the Flower Show and the resulting traffic jam, I arrived at Architeqt Salon for my hair and makeup trial flustered and winded.
Alexey, the salon’s owner and my stylist, had me take a second to breathe before we started discussing ideas. Through some extensive Pinterest searching, I had printed out a handful of styles I liked that all had a common theme of loose curls—just styled in so many different ways.
Alexey took a look at the pictures and immediately began curling and experimenting. Not having a super specific vision in mind, I loved that he just got to work.
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At-home exercises and local classes that'll get your arms trim and toned for that walk down the aisle.
 FOGSTOCK/THINKSTOCKPHOTO BEAR YOUR ARMS: Philly personal trainer Brian Maher spills three no-fail moves to seriously sculpt your arms Do ‘em to to three times a week for best results.
BENT OVER ROW
- Works: Upper back, back of the shoulder and biceps.
- Form: Holding two dumbbells, stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Keeping your chest out and shoulders back, bend over until your back is just about parallel to the floor. Let the arms hang straight. Squeezing your shoulder blades together, slowly pull the dumbbells up to your chest and lower down.
- Count: Three sets of 15 reps using eight-to-12-pound dumbbells.
BENCH DIP
- Works: Triceps.
- Form: Sit on a bench or chair with your hands gripping the edge, fingers facing forward. Keeping your knees bent, scoot your butt off the seat and lower it to the ground slowly by bending your arms at the elbow. Stop when your elbow is bent at 90 degrees, and push yourself back up to the starting position. For more difficulty, straighten your legs and put a weight in your lap.
- Count: Three sets of 15 reps.
LATERAL RAISE
- Works: Shoulders.
- Form: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding two dumbbells with your arms at your sides. Keeping arms straight, slowly raise your hands to eye level and return to the starting position, lowering the weight with control.
- Count: Three sets of 15 reps using three-to-five-pound dumbbells.
GET TO CLASS! Three local fitness classes that keep arms in focus.
- What: Armed and Dangerous
- Where: Ploome, NoLibs
- Why: This class couples cardio conditioning with isometric chest, arm and shoulder work for an all-over burn. You’ll use free weights, ankle weights and small medicine balls to achieve sculpted perfection.
- What: tankLOGIC
- Where: bodyLOGIC, Philadelphia
- Why: Channel your inner ballerina with this arm-focused barre workout. It includes work with an exercise band for tailored-to-you resistance.
- What: Armistice
- Where: Lithe Method, multiple locations
- Why: Three-to-five-pound weights are all you need to blast your core and upper body. The class focuses on combo moves—think static crunches with biceps curls—so you get the most bang for your fitness buck. — Emily Leaman
Read more about bridal health and fitness.
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 Photodisc Finally this week, we got down to some details! It’s my professional and personal preference: I love the knitty gritty details. It was a wedding-packed week, but I was excited to start some new tasks and cross a few more off our ever-growing to-do list. With that being said, I’d love to share with you how we made some tough decisions, easily and stress free.
First things first: We sat down with Donald Conner of Conner Catering this past week, and finalized our menu selection, linen selection, time frame of events, and discussed other planning-related topics. In preparation for our meeting, we had marked off our preferred hors d’oeuvres and picked out a few salads and sides that interested us, but left the final decision up to complement our main entree, the narrowed-down list of which (we decided on a chicken and a fish) we presented to Donald at our meeting. We wanted his opinion on everything, since he is much more familiar with each selection on his menu and how they compliment each other. He also allowed us to adjust and customize choices, like combining certain elements of one salad with another or eliminating a spice in a dish we didn’t prefer. We ended up with a lovely summer selection that we are satisfied with and can’t wait to enjoy!
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 Volt Salon at the Bellevue. For a long time, the space held Pierre & Carlo. For a quick minute, it held Helicion. But now, after a year of construction, the salon space on the food-court level of the Shops at the Bellevue holds the new Volt Salon—and lucky for area brides, bridal beauty services are one of their favorite things.
For them, when it comes to brides, they really like to focus on the consultation. There, not only will they discuss options for your Big-Day hair and makeup and try some looks out, the meeting also acts as a bit of a lesson on how you can prep your skin and hair in the coming months before you walk down the aisle, so that you know you look your best on that day.
They also offer some fun options for a pampered night out with your ladies for your bachelorette party: Up to eight of you can either head to the salon for a combo of hair, makeup and mani/pedis—or, if you book ahead of time, the salon can work with you to book a room at the Bellevue, and the pampering—along with bubbly and whatever else you’d like to bring!—can happen there. And once you’re all beautified, you can continue the party in your room and head out on the town.
Updos start around $75, though pricing is discussed with your stylist during your consultation.
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