H+W Events. Truly Beautiful. Truly Yours.

Growing Out Your Hair for Your Special Day

Washington, DC experienced a couple of Code Orange days over the last couple of weeks, so I decided to get a haircut.  I must have been feeling pretty radical, because I decided to cut all of my hair.  As a result, I was able to donate a 13” ponytail to Locks of Love.

I was quite excited with this accomplishment, so I decided to share this story with family, friends, and brides.

Much to my surprise, I received messages from people asking me “how I was able to grow out my hair.”

Okay, here is the deal.  I have no idea how I grew out my hair, so I asked my sister, Shina (the Howerton family stylists!) the answer to this question.

This is what Shina said –

1. First and foremost, your DNA plays a huge factor in your hair growth.  Talk to your mom, dad, aunt(s), grandma, and ask them how they were able to grow out their hair.  Whatever worked for them will most likely work for you.

2. Start with healthy hair.  Before you can begin the process of growing out your hair, you must trim off the damaged hair and the split ends.  If you don’t, your ends will continue to split and your hair will be long, frizzy and not worth your time.  You should also trim your hair every 4-6 weeks to ensure that you minimize your split ends

3.  What’s on the inside shows up on the outside.  So take your vitamins and try to eliminate foods that are high in fat and sugar (I know, a big ol’ drag).  You will also be surprised to know that smoking, caffeine and carbonated sodas can slow down your hair growth.

4. Stress affects your hair growth. Well, isn’t that a catch 22!?!  No matter how organized you are, your wedding planning (or your future in-laws) can be stressful.  To add to that, I must tell you that your wedding planning stress can affect your wedding hair growth!  It’s a vicious cycle!  My advice – Give yoga a try.  I swear by it.

 

5. Get your beauty rest.  A good night’s rest doesn’t just help minimize your wrinkles and the bags under your eyes bags; it helps you maintain a healthy head of hair too.

 

6. Be consistent in your hair care.  Sis tells me that this is not the time to beauty shop hop.  Stylists have different hair care methods and they use different hair products, and that can affect your hair growth.  Also, openly communicate your desire to grow your hair long with your stylists.  They can provide you with the best advice regarding your hair growth journey.

 

7. Get a weekly scalp massage to stimulate the hair follicles.   You don’t have to go to the spa or the salon for this – This can be a fun little “something” that you do with your fiancé (know what I mean?).

 

8. Make sure that you get a weekly hot oil treatment.  Brushing, blow-drying, and pulling can cause your hair to break easily.  A hot oil treatment keeps it moist and protects your hair's shaft.

 

9. Be patient.  Long hair doesn’t come overnight.  The maximum growth rate for hair is about 6 inches per year. If you are sporting a chin-length bob and are thinking, "It sure would be nice if I had long hair for my wedding," then you are going to have about a two-year wait.

 

10. Consider buying some hair.  Let go of all of this hair growth stress and buy yourself some hair!  Everyone is doing it and I must tell you that extensions get better and better each year.  Again, talk to your stylist – they can advise you regarding the best options for your hair.

 

Good luck!

 

Love & Soul Always, Kay

 

 

(Here is my ponytail!)

 

Wedding Blog Love

Like so many of you, I stalk Wedding Blogs on a regular basis.  I actually confessed to my blog stalking habit last February!

I don't know about you, but it's so hard for me to pick a favorite, so my Google Reader is ridiculously long.  Some of the blogs inspire me, some educate me, and some simply provide me with pure reading joy.  Oh goodness, I must love what I do, right?

So, click away and let me know which one is your favorite!

Wedding Blog Love

Love & Soul Always, Kay

P.S. If you know of a great wedding blog that I am missing, please share it with me.

Happy Fourth of July

 

Happy Fourth of July! 

Love & Soul Always, Kay

Friday Happy Hour: Long Island Green Tea

I found this recipe on the Food Network web site, and I thought that it would be a great cocktail to enjoy during a 4th of July barbecue!  I created a sample batch in my own little kitchen stadium last night, and I must tell you that this refreshing little drink packs a mighty punch!  Enjoy!  Love & Soul Always, Kay

Ingredients – Ice 2 ounces Green Tea Vodka, recipe follows 1/2-ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice 1-ounce orange liqueur (I recommended: Cointreau) 1/4-ounce golden rum 2 to 3 teaspoons Simple Syrup, recipe follows Directions -- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add Green Tea Vodka, lemon juice, orange liqueur, and Simple Syrup. Cover and shake until mixed and chilled, about 30 seconds. (In general, the drink is ready by the time the shaker mists up.) Strain into a tall glass filled with Flowery Ice Cubes, if using. Directions for Green Tea Vodka: 1 cup vodka 2 gunpowder green tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose gunpowder green tea Place both tea bags into the vodka. Cover, shake, and let steep for 2 hours. Remove and discard the tea bags. Directions for Simple Syrup: 1 cup sugar 1 cup water Put the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. (Alternatively, heat in the microwave.) Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

 (Photo: Courtesy of www.foodnetwork.com)

There is something about a wedding!

This morning, I was rushing to get my little guy to the camp bus on time when my car (the one that I just got out of the shop) broke down.  It was a morning that makes you want to get back into bed.

While I was waiting for a ride, I turned on the SlingPlayer on my laptop, and realized that the Today Show Wedding was taking place.  It made me take a pause.  No, it made me cry.  Yes, I still cry at weddings.

In a time when jaded opinions and cynicism is considered comical, there is something refreshing about a couple that stands before God, family and friends to declare their love for each other.  This young couple, Darnell and LaDonna, shared the most beautiful, heart-felt vows with each other.  (Ah!  I am going to start crying again!)

They finished off their beautiful vows with a passionate kiss and the African American tradition of jumping the broom.  It was lovely.

So, when you are deep in the minutia of wedding planning and the crazy details start to get to you, know that the one goal on your wedding day is to unite with that fabulous person standing in front of you.

Sure, it gets crazy.  So, take a pause.  Remember why you are saying, "I Do."  And know that this is a celebration of your love.  Love your new spouse and enjoy your wedding (imperfections and all) for what it truly is -- A true gift and a blessing.

Love & Soul Always, Kay

PS.  Can anyone give me a ride downtown?

 

 

 

(Photo: Courtesy of www.todayshow.com)

Product Love: Toby's Homemade Ice Cream

I love ice cream, and one of my super duper favorites is Toby's Homemade Ice Cream.

Toby's Homemade Ice Cream is a small company based in suburban Maryland that produces, markets, and distributes their own homemade, super premium ice cream and sorbet.

I became familiar with Toby and his icecream when I worked with his wife several years ago.  As a new twist, I decided to serve the ice cream with my famous cakes during Thanksgiving one year and for the first time in years, my cakes were not devoured.  The ice cream stole the show!  I must admit that I was pleased and offended at the same time.

Toby's offers several flavors -- I swear it takes me an hour to select one.  They have classic flavors such as Vanilla, Strawberry and Peach, and they offer tropical flavors such as Philippine Mango and Sweet Lychee.  My favorites are the Caffeinated Coffee ice cream and the Banana ice cream.

Toby's offers ice cream catering too, and I must tell you that an icecream bar would be a fun option for a summer wedding.

Unfortunately, this fabulous ice cream is only available for delivery in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. If you are in the area, give them a try.  You will develop such an icecream crush!

Oh!  One more important piece of information to note:  You have to order their ice cream (even if you want one gallon) at least 7 days in advance.  Yes, they are that good!

If you give them a try, let me know what you think.

Love & Soul Always, Kay

(Photo: Courtesy of Toby's Ice Cream)

Friday Happy Hour: Harlem Nights

Last month, I had the pleasure and privilege of designing and managing a fabulous launch party for the B. Hamilton Group (more to come about that soon).

Absolut was the party's bar sponsor, so the bar featured several of their summer cocktails.  I was fortunate enough to check out some of these hot, hip cocktails, and I must tell you that they are delicious!

I have several favorites, but my favorite new Absolut Cocktail is called Harlem Nights (see recipe below)!  If this drink doesn't tickle your fancy, check out Absolut Drinks at www.absolutdrinks.com!

 

Ingredients –

Two (2) parts Coffee Liqueur

Three (3) parts Cruzan Coconut Rum

Three (3) parts Tequila

One (1) splash of Peach Schnapps

One (1) splash Pineapple Juice

Maraschino Cherries

Oranges

Directions –

Fill a highball glass to the rim with ice cubes.

Pour coffee liqueur, cruzan coconut rum and tequila into a shaker.

Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake it until the shaker is very cold.

Strain the drink into the highball glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry (whole) and an orange (slice).

(Photo: Courtesy of Absolut)

I love this dress!

This dress comes from the Angel Sanchez Fall/Winter 2008 Wedding Collection

Um, um, um!  It's feminine.  It's light.  And, I love it!

Love & Soul Always, Kay

Keeping your wedding guests comfy

As the bride and groom, you are the guests of honor of a significant celebration.  Family, friends and colleagues are going out of their way to ensure that you are honored, happy and comfortable on your special day.

 

To ensure that your wedding guests are as comfortable as you, I recommend that you avoid some of the little wedding missteps below.

 

 

Come dressed to impress!  I saw this phrase on a wedding web site once, and I must tell you this – this is definitely not the best place to be clever with wording.  Sure, your “fashionista” wedding guests will know exactly what to wear, but the rest of your guests will find this phrase a little uncomfortable.  If noting the proper attire is important to you, then go with the most popular terms – Casual, Semi-Formal, and Formal.  Everyone tends to get that.

 

Valet parking – Please allow me to clarify – Having a cute young guy take your car and park it for you can be "quite" comfortable.  Not knowing that you had to pay for the valet parking isn’t.  If your budget can afford it, I recommend that you pay for parking.   If you cannot cover the cost of valet parking for your wedding guests, please note the valet parking fee on your map/direction card.  If you don’t want to pay AND you don’t want your wedding guests to pay, then seek out wedding venues that offer free parking.

 

Inappropriate wedding toasts – Sure, nothing is probably funnier than hearing about the bride’s risqué antics at her Vegas bachelorette party, but it may be a little difficult for her grandma, godmother and (gulp) dad to hear.  As tempting as the revealing toasts may be, I recommend that you keep them rated G for the ease of everyone involved.

 

Monetary gifts preferred – Given the state of our economy, I can understand a couple’s need for cash, but your wedding invitation has one purpose – To invite your guests to the wedding.  Anything regarding your gift preferences would be considered inappropriate and off-putting.   If cash is what you need, I recommend the following:

**Tell your best friends and your immediate family about your gift preference so that they can get the word out.

**Don't register for gifts. It sends a mixed message.

**If you have a bridal shower, let the shower host know so that she can relay this information to your shower guests

 

Cash Bar -- Speaking of money, nothing sucks the cash out of your wedding budget like an open bar.  So, I can totally understand why a cash bar is tempting.  But even in the most contemporary circles, cash bars are considered un-cool.  It’s like inviting friends into your home and asking them to pay for the wine that you served at dinner.    If you are trying to stay within your wedding budget, but you would like to serve alcohol, consider the following tips: 

**Purchase your own alcohol.  Some venues will allow you to bring in your own alcohol as long as you pay a corkage fee. (but be careful.  a corkage fee can send the price right back up!)

**Talk to your caterer and explain your budget for beverages.  Caterers deal with this all of the time, and they can probably make a few less expensive recommendations.

**Serve alcohol during your cocktail hour only.

**Serve a signature drink, and nothing else.

 

So, there you have it!  Avoiding these missteps may take a little fortitude and forethought, but it’s well worth the effort to ensure that your wedding guests are comfy and having fun!

 

Love & Soul Always, Kay

Heads Up Fashionistas!

If you are looking for a chance to get up close and personal with the DC Fashion scene, then you should consider applying for a volunetter or intern for DC Fashion Week.

DC Fashion Week is looking for volunteers and interns (non-paid) for the next fashion week (September 14 - September 21, 2008).

They are accepting applications now.  Please know that all applicants will be required to sign a non-compete clause. This is a wonderful opportunity to work behind the scenes at the hottest local fashion events.

Love & Soul Always, Kay