Summer's Here! Time for a Little White Dress

Maybe you're having a destination wedding on the beach or maybe you're looking for a little white dress for your summer engagement party, bridal shower or rehearsal dinner.

If so, check out these summer loving, little white numbers by Lilly Pullitzer:

Kaylor Dress Eyelet

Betsey Dress Embroidered Eyelet

Adelson Shift Solid

Basil Crochet Dress

Ice Ice Baby! Easy DIY project to spruce up your ice!

How pretty are these ice cubes? They are super simple to make so why not add some flair to your summer events? Directions here.



From Primadonna Bride and Brides.

The coolest bridal shower gift idea, ever!!!

When I was a little girl there was this huge money tree made with real dollar bills at my grandma's bank and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Imagine my reaction when I saw this money bouquet on the Blissful Bride? It was, "OMG, what a great idea!!!!"

This is way more fun than a gift card and I think it would make a super cute bridal shower gift.

Heres me with my bridal shower hat. Imagine how thrilled I'd be if I had a money bouquet too???


Click here for a DIY tutorial.

Give me some sugar!

Prima donna bride posted about these DIY sugar cube hearts and I just had to share.


How fun would they be for a bridal tea party, bridal shower brunch or with after wedding coffee? Click here for the DIY directions.

Jonesing for a cool customized wedding touch?

I love personalized touches for wedding related events so these customized soda bottles from Jones Soda caught my eye.


Just visit myjones.com, upload your photo and personalized text, pick the soda flavor and voila, two-three weeks later, you're personalized sodas are at your doorstep. The flavors are super-fun (think berry lemonade, blue bubblegum, fufu berry, green apple, etc.) and colorful (blue, pink, green. peach, red, etc.). I test drove three flavors and they were all delicious (must be the pure cane sugar). The flavors rotate so be sure to check the site often to find the flavor/colors that match your event.

I think they would be a really fun touch for a bridal shower, engagement party or casual wedding. I also think they'd make great party favors along with a recipe for a signature cocktail.

Bling me some ice....

Do you like your drinks on the rocks? I saw this on StyleSchool and it was love at first sight. Leave it to CB2 (Crate & Barrel's young, hip sibling in case you don't know) to offer up blingy ice cube trays?

Each tray has six different shapes (brilliant, emerald, princess, etc.) so you can pick your favorite or mix and match. I think they'd be great for an engagement party, bridal shower or bachelorette night. They'd also be nice for a signature wedding drink or a city-girl cocktail party.

And at just $6.95, its definitely the most affordable way to increase your bling.

Is that wine in your baby bottle????? Oui, oui!!

Years ago, I spent a semester studying in Italy. Afterwards, I met up with a friend who was studying in Paris and we had dinner with her Parisian boyfriend and his friends. We went to Le Refuge de Fondus where we had to climb over the table to get to our seats. There were long tables of diners and everyone was drinking wine out of baby bottles and eating lots of fondue. I thought this must be a hot new Parisian trend so I embraced it.

Turns out there is a new version of this place in New York's SoHo called La Cave des Fondus and Globetrotting Cindy hosted her recent birthday party there. If you're looking for a fun-filled bridal shower or bachelorette dinner spot, this could be a great fit.

We dined on La Fondue Savoyarde (cheese), La Fondue Bourguignonne (steak you cook in beef bouillion), frites and of course chocolate fondue for dessert. And yes, the wine is served in baby bottles which is a lot less messy than cosmos in martini glasses : ).

Check it out!

Chic Recession Friendly Party Tips

If you're throwing a New Year's Eve fete tonight, here are some last minute tips from famed party planner David Tutura. Keep them filed away since they can be used for engagement parties, bridal showers and weddings too!

Tip #1 - Create a Sexy Centerpiece

David's "Cocktail" Centerpiece is an easy, budget friendly and chic idea. Create a "Drink Glass Runner" on a shimmery linen. Gather every stemmed glass you own (martini, wine, champagne) and place them down the center of the table. Add water and drops of pink (or your favorite color) food coloring in varying amounts and top with floating votive candles.

Tip #2 - It's Not What You Serve, It's How You Serve It

Make your party food festive and impressive by dressing up the serving containers. Serve soup in shot glasses and salads or side dishes in martini glasses with either shrimp forks or fancy chopsticks.

Tip #3 - Signature Cocktails Make a Party Unique

Save money by offering sexy signature cocktails in place of a full bar. Color coordinated drinks add a festive look to any party. Try The Ball Drop (below) or a Midnight Kiss at your next party.

- 3 oz. NUVO Sparkling Liqueur
- 1 oz. Ciroc
- Add a frozen sorbet ball garnish
- Serve in a martini glass

Happy New Year everyone!!!

A glamourous New Year's Toast

Leave it to the French to create the world's first sparkling liqueur called NUVO. This gorgeous soft pink blend of vodka, French sparkling wine, chardonnay and pinot noir is great alone but its even better in event planner extraordinaire David Tutura's signature New Year's drink - Midnight Kiss.

Try this at home:

- Add one spoonful of muddled raspberries and blackberries to a champagne flute
- Fill glass 3/4 of the way full with Champagne or Proseco (about 3 oz.)
- Top with one ounce of NUVO Sparkling Liqueur

If you're hosting a New Year's Eve gathering, this will surely get the party started! I think it would also be fabulous for creating signature cocktails to serve at a bridal shower, engagement party or wedding.

Have you created a signature drink for your wedding?

Gifts for a bride-to-be

Here are some last minute holiday gift ideas for a bride-to-be. They would also work for shower or engagement gifts so file them away in case any of your friends should get engaged this holiday season...

1) Inspire Romance Collection ($48) from C&M Couples. This cute lunchbox kit includes travel-friendly 2-ounce bottles of aromatherapy massage creme, bath and shower gel, linen mist plus a travel candle and sea sponge. Also Inspire Passion version is also available. Both are perfect for a weekend getaway.

2) Every bride loves her bling so why not give her something from Girl ExtraOrdinaire like this blingy "Just Married" bikini.

3) The more bling the better, so why not throw in some cheeky panties from Victoria's Secret?

4) This Bling Ring coffee mug is would make a cute gift for a newly engaged co-worker.

5) Wedding magazines are a nice idea for any bride-to-be. Wrap up a couple of faves like InStyle Weddings and Martha Stewart Weddings and throw in a couple of European bridal magazines for added inspiration.

Mix it up, baby! Click and snack.

1) Do you love mixing and matching in the kitchen?

2) Want an idea for a super personalized gift everyone will love?

3) Are you looking for something unique for your wedding favors or out-of-towner wedding bags?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you'll love Mix My Granola.

This cool new site lets you custom blend your own 16 ounce canister of granola in a few easy clicks starting at just $3.99.

- Choose your base (Organic granola, French vanilla granola or organic Swiss Muesli)

- Add your toppings (more than 48 natural and organic ingredients like fruits and berries, nuts and seeds, and fun "extras" like Wasabi peas, organic gummy bears, peanut M&Ms, etc). For every ounce of toppings you add, the nutrition and pricing will adjust.

- Give it a fun name

- Wait for it to arrive in the mail and then gobble it up!

I created my own batch and it was delicious and oh-so-fresh compared to many pre-made granolas out there. I went a little crazy with my "Globetrotting Bride's Tropical Honeymoon Nosh" and added dried mangos, dried plums, Goji berries, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, coconut shreds, crystalized ginger, peanut butter pretzel bites, pomegranate cordials and mini yoghurt pretzels!

Doesn't this look yummy?

I think this would be a fun gift for newlyweds (breakfast in bed, anyone? snack for a long flight?), a fun shower gift and a unique wedding favor/out-of-towner wedding bag addition (group discounts available). Gift certificates can be bought online too.

Want your own? One lucky Globetrotting Bride reader will get the chance to create his or her very own Mix My Granola blend. Just comment below by Friday, December 19th and tell me your favorite Mix My Granola fruits, seed/nuts, or extras.

Jet Setter Holiday Gift Guide

Still working on your holiday shopping? Here are some ideas for the jet setters on your list:

J. Crew has a great metallic Jet Setter mini-notebook ($20) and passport holder ($30) available in glittery silver, gold, turquoise and fuchsia.

I don't go anywhere without a sleep mask and the cozy Opulence Deluxe Fashion Sleep Mask ($25) is one of my favorites for winter. The tiny pocket on top holds your ear plugs.

Why not custom design a beach bag ($30) with a photo for a unique gift. My friends and I like to add a travel guide or two for some travel (or honeymoon) inspiration. I think this is a great idea for a bridal shower gift too.

The Globetrotting Groom got me a Gorillapod ($22-$55) and we use it all the time for self portraits. Attach your camera or camcorder to the flexible tripod stand or wrap the twisty legs around something sturdy. A great idea for a honeymooner too!

Kate Spade has a fun holiday travel ticket holder ($95). If you're feeling generous, why not throw in a ticket for an around-the-world trip. I know I'd love that.

Let there be exotic candy!

One of my favorite things about traveling to far off lands is getting to taste the local delicacies. From turtle soup and springbok biltog to lobster ice cream, I've tasted the good, the bad and the ugly. Best of all, I love to raid international supermarkets for local candies which often look and taste nothing like their counterparts back home.

Since Halloween is upon us, I thought it would be fun to talk about ways to incorporate exotic flavors into a candy bar. What a great way to recognize your cultural heritage or favorite vacation spots. Like you, I drool over Amy Atlas's gorgeous monochromatic candy buffets like this one.

If you're planning one for your shower or wedding, why not incorporate some exotic flavors into the mix?

Thinking pink? Try Strawberry KitKats from Japan.

Gotta have green? Try Gomas Eucalypto from Peru.

Yummy yellow? Try Darnell Lee Soft Eating Ginger Licquorice from Australia.

Better be brown? Try Crown Nuggets - Licor de Cafe & Tequila Nuggets from Mexico.

Winter white? Try Loukoumi Artisan Confections from New Zealand.

For more inspiration, check out this New York Magazine's recent story on Japanese candy and visit the Candy Blog to search for international favorites by country, candy rating or type.

Let them eat cupcakes!

It's DIY week at Style Me Pretty and I've been eating up all the clever project tutorials. My favorite so far is this Map-Inspired Cupcake Tier made with Italian map wrapping paper in honor of an Italian fiance.

This could be done with maps showcasing your honeymoon destination, your home towns, locations where you met or traveled together or even a map of your wedding locale. It would be so fun for a wedding, bridal shower or a post-destination wedding celebration. It could also make a cute groom's "cake" for a globetrotting groom.

All you need is a cardboard cupcake tower, maps or decorative wrapping paper, craft paint and ribbon. Complete instructions here.

Now, for some cupcake inspiration, look no further than Cupcakes Take the Cake where you'll find recipes, photos galore and links to cupcake bakeries around the world!