Serendipity Mommy

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How to Rock Your Mother of the Bride Duties

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When your little girl is getting married you’ll want to be ready to play your part in the wedding planning and the big day without overstepping your boundaries. Here’s how to fulfill your Mother of the Bride duties like a rock star.

Your daughter has just told you that she is marrying the man of her dreams.

What an exciting time for her and you!

When your little girl is getting married, you’ll want to be ready to play your part in the wedding planning and the big day without overstepping your boundaries. Here’s how you can fulfill your mother of the bride duties like a rock star.

Help Scout Locations

When the bride and groom decide on a city, help them scout locations. This will be especially helpful to them if they are living out of town from the actual destination. You can also help them with getting hotel room blocks together for out of town guests.

Be the Go To Contact

Often times, people want to bombard the bride with questions that someone else can easily answer. As the mother of the bride, take some pressure off your daughter and offer to be the go-to contact person for vendors and the wedding party.

You can get with your daughter so you have all the details of things she wants and expects so you can answer any questions and give her a break to focus on other things.

Help with Flowers

Helping the bride choose flowers is a great task for mother of the bride. Ultimately, it’s her decision, but she may need your input on what flowers will be best depending on the time of year of the wedding. Finding the right flowers is a big deal for any bride.

Help with Dress Picking

It’s tradition for mom to go with her daughter to try on wedding dresses. You can also help her decide on the style and colors for her bridesmaid dresses. You can check out Baby’s Breath Bridesmaids to find the right style and color for each woman.

Help with the Bridal Shower

Another task you can check off your mother of the bride checklist is helping with the bridal shower. Traditionally, parents of the bride don’t host the shower, however, you may choose to do so and that’s totally fine. If someone else hosts, you can offer to help with food or setting up.

Be Supportive

While this is an exciting time in her life, your daughter may also feel stressed and overwhelmed. Be the supportive ear that she needs. Remind her how special she is. On the big day, tell her that she is the most beautiful bride. Be a shoulder to cry on and someone to vent to.

Other Mother of the Bride Duties

The most important of all the mother of the bride duties is to enjoy the experience. Sharing in your daughter’s special day will be a memory neither of you will ever forget. The role of mother of the bride is a wonderful one that you will cherish.

Be sure to check out our blog for other ideas for all stages of motherhood and contact us with any topics you have questions about.

How to Pick a Formal Dress For Your Body Type

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Finding the right dress can be difficult. Especially considering we all have different body types. Here is how to pick a formal dress for your body type.

Do you have a business meeting or a fancy date set on your calendar? Events like those may have you scrambling to find a dress fit for the occasion.

Out of all the options, a formal dress is the way to go. But now the question rises: which one is right for your body type?

Surprisingly, not a lot of women know their body type. And if they do, they mistake it for another type.

All in all, there are roughly six main body types: A frame, H frame, ruler, V frame, oval, apple, and hourglass.

If all of this sounds confusing, don’t worry. We’ll help you find the perfect dresses for your shape using easy-to-understand descriptions.

Ready to start?

Here we go!

Full Thighs and Hips

This would classify you as a pear shape. If you find you wear a different size on the bottom than you do on top, here are some options for you.

Go for a dress with an A-line skirt. This will help you look more balanced.

As for the top portion, feel free to pick out dresses that are strapless or sleeveless. Fairweather dresses offer a wide variety that’ll look stunning on you.

Full Midsection

If you carry weight mostly in your midsection, you’re an apple shape. Because of the roundness, you want to elongate your torso.

Deter attention from your waist by choosing an empire or drop waist. Don’t wear thick belts as they’ll emphasize the fullness in your midsection.

Self-conscious about your arms? Aim for cap sleeves or sleeves that are billowy.

Slim All Around

Some women have a more athletic build, which means they’re more lean than curvy. Sound like you fit the bill? You’d be considered a rectangle shape.

With that said, you’ll want to add layers. Ruffles, peplums and even bubble dresses give the illusion of fullness.

For added bulk, opt for a contrasting blazer or cardigan.

Small Bust

For this body shape, you’ll want to avoid plunging necklines. Instead, go for dresses with sequins or other embellishments to add interest.

As with pear shapes, A-line dresses will great on you. Choose ones that come up about two or three inches above your knee to give more balance to your shape.

Full Bust and Defined Waistline

If this describes your body shape, you’re an hourglass. Dresses that emphasize your curves will look the most flattering.

Bodycon and bandage dresses will follow your silhouette and won’t look frumpy. Avoid high necklines as they’ll give the illusion of an abnormally large bust.

Fuller on Top

This body shape is classified as the inverted triangle or V shape. You find yourself to be fuller on top with broad shoulders but slender legs and a narrow waist.

To balance out your proportions, focus on adding volume to your lower body. Dresses that are fitted in the waist with a fuller skirt will be flattering. Go for A-line skirts, ones with pleating, or that are flowy.

You can also go with sweetheart necklines and spaghetti straps to give the illusion of narrow shoulders.

Time to Pick Out a Formal Dress

Now that you’ve got a run-down on the six main body types, it’s time for you to choose a formal dress. Take what you learned into consideration and whether it’s a date or a party, you’ll light up the room.

Looking for more fashion advice? Check out our fashion category today!

A Guide to Dressing Yourself Post-Partum

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That period after you’ve given birth while your body readjusts can be tough on a new mother’s self-confidence. Once you’ve been pregnant, it’s common to feel as though your body is no longer your own, and you have no idea how to dress for this next phase of your life. Rest assured, you don’t need to hang on to your stretchy jeans and maternity tops to feel comfortable during the first few months after giving birth; instead, now’s the time to embrace your new shape and dress for comfort and style simultaneously. Apart from wearing postpartum girdles and eating healthier, there are other things you should consider doing to get your confidence back and be comfortable in whatever you want to wear. To help you get your groove back, here are six top tips for knowing what to wear post-partum.

Measure Yourself Properly

If you’ve never taken the time to properly measure yourself, this is the perfect opportunity. Using measurements to find clothing rather than relying on traditional sizing will help you find clothes that fit perfectly and flatter your figure. It may seem pointless to buy yourself new clothes if you expect your size and weight to change over the next few months, but treating yourself to a little retail therapy will help you feel more confident during your time as a new mother and maximize your comfort.

To find your unique clothing measurements, take a tape measure to four areas: your bust, your waist, your hips and your inseam. Your inseam (the distance between your thigh and ankle) will be less important during this time, unless you shrunk or grew taller during pregnancy! However, your bust waist and hips are likely to be different compared to your pre-baby body.

To measure yourself for new clothing, take a tape measure to your bust (the fullest part, usually from nipple to nipple), your waist (the smallest part above your belly and below your rib cage) and your hips (the fullest part, including your buttocks). You may wish to do this every few months as you navigate the post-partum phase, as your measurements are likely to change.

You can now use these measurements to shop for clothes online. It’s also handy to take a copy of these measurements out with you in case you get stuck breastfeeding in a changing room and are unable to try anything on!

Opt for Specialty Clothing

Now you’ve taken the time to measure yourself, you may also want to see if you’d be better suited to specialty clothing. Are you below 5”4, for example? If so, you may be better off shopping in a petite clothing store, even if you have a fuller figure. Specially designed petite clothing has shorter hemlines and narrower shoulders than regular sizes, so it may help to flatter your frame.

Similarly, if you’re over 5”8, you might find that a clothing store dedicated to tall women might be able to offer you more selection than your usual high-street haunts. You’d be surprised how much more confident properly fitted clothing can make you feel. 

Find Some Comfortable Flats

Now you’re a mother, you’ll probably have banished your heels to the back of your wardrobe, reserved for date nights and drinks with friends. You don’t have to opt for unflattering footwear in their place, however, despite that comfort should be your number one priority. You can find fashionable shoes that are still comfortable, but you may need to invest in a long-lasting pair that will stand the test of time (and lots of trips out with the stroller).

Now that you’re a mother, you’re going to be spending a lot of time on your feet, so it’s important to find shoes that fit properly and offer optimum comfort. Again, if your feet are particularly small or wide, you can find specialty shoe stores that will cater to your needs. Pretty Small Shoes is perfect for petite women who don’t want to compromise on elegance when it comes to their footwear.

Opt for Oversized Shirts

Oversized shirts are great for the post-partum period for a number of reasons. Not only do they hide “the other belly” (the stomach pouch you’re left with after your baby has been born and your bump is no more), they’re also easy to unbutton when you’re breastfeeding. Luckily, oversized flannel and pinstriped shirts are in fashion at the moment, so you can stay on trend during your maternity leave.

Know Your New Size

Many women feel self-conscious about being weighed after having a baby, so don’t feel pressured to hop on the scales. However, you may be surprised at how many pounds you’ve lost in water weight, and knowing the number on the scale will help you find clothing to fit and flatter your new shape. It doesn’t matter how much weight you gained during pregnancy or how long it takes you to drop the extra pounds. What matters most is that you and your baby are happy and healthy, so learn to love your new figure and embrace those womanly curves as part of the package.

Repurpose Your Maternity Gear

Wearing your maternity clothes after giving birth can make you feel slightly strange, but you don’t want those super-stretchy garments to waste. Any new mother will tell you that it takes a while for the pregnancy bump to return to normal once the gestation period is over, so you will want to avoid tight-fitting underwear, pants and shirts for the first few weeks or months following your new arrival.

The best tip here is to buy yourself stylish maternity clothing from the off that you just can’t bear to part with, but not all of us feel inspired by the garments we’ve been wearing non-stop for the past nine months. Repurpose your maternity clothes where possible, and don’t be afraid to rock your old sweatpants for those first few weeks.

Caring for a newborn is hard, and some mornings it will be a miracle if you managed to get dressed at all. Set your expectations low, and wear clothing that makes you feel fresh and comfortable. Ideally, put on something you won’t mind unexpected guests catching you in!

Planning A Spring or Summer 2018 Wedding? Here Are Four of The Hottest Colors To Include In Your Color Scheme

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One of the biggest choices to make when it comes to the look of your wedding is the color scheme. While there are lots of things you can draw inspiration from, you can’t go far wrong by looking at the color recommendations for the season when your wedding will be from the Pantone Color Institute.

Every year, Pantone, as the authorities on color for everything from fashion and interior design to business branding and website design, put forward one ‘Color of the Year’ (apart from in 2016, when they decided to have two), and they also release two palettes that work with this color for the spring/summer and autumn/winter seasons for that year.

If you are at a loss for where to begin in picking out theme colors and accents for your wedding, the Pantone palette of 12 colors for spring and summer of 2018 is well worth a visit. If you already have a vague idea of a color (for instance, you know you want pink), these palettes can also help you define a shade that is on-trend and beautiful.

Here are four of Pantone’s picks for this season which lend themselves very well to weddings:

Ultra Violet

Ultra Violet tops the list as it was designated as the 2018 color of the year. As you might expect from the name, it is a purple, and can probably be best described as a jewel or tropical flower shade – bold and rich, with a lot of depth. This shade has a hint of exotic twilight skies and looks absolutely stunning in fabrics with a slight sheen – for instance for the ties and handkerchiefs for the men’s suits for the bridal party. If you have young boys in your bridal party too, check out Boys Suits to find outfits for them to coordinate with the groomsmen!

The Pantone palettes are designed to work well together, as well as being fashionable colors to use as accents with neutrals like white. By using Ultra Violet as your main theme color and then accenting with another color from the palette, you can create very different feels. Pairing it with Arcadia, a turquoise-green, for instance, will create a tropical look full of vibrancy, whereas using Pink lavender will give a soft, romantic look.

Chili Oil

If you like the idea of a tasteful burgundy in your color scheme but aren’t sure if that will work for summer, then take a look at Chili Oil. A rich brown-based red, it is sophisticated and attractive without being too dark or earthy to match the season. This is another color that looks wonderful with a sheen, and so is ideal for wedding accents in the bridal party’s outfits, and also for things like napkins for your place settings.

Little Boy Blue

If you love blue and want to capture the feel of clear, summer skies for your wedding celebration, Little Boy Blue is a great choice. Fresh, expansive and vivid, this is a color that is designed to evoke a feeling of happiness and delight, and while it is quite a bold choice, it can be softened by pairing it with one of the softer colors from the palette if you so wish, such as Blooming Dahlia or Pink Lavender. If you are more a ‘brighter the better’ person, an interesting and cheerful choice could be to use Little Boy Blue with accents of the optimistic yellow from the palette, which is called Meadowlark.

Spring Crocus

This exotic fuchsia shade with slight blue tones is a wonderful choice if you want something that is very easy to incorporate into your flowers and yet isn’t too ‘girly’. While it has ‘spring’ in the name, this color is just as perfect for the summer season – reminiscent of tropical flowers, and with a real sense of luxury. Spring Crocus can be a good partner for Ultra Violet if you want to use a brighter accent shade without deviating from a purple color scheme. If you prefer contrast, it can look striking with the very brightest color in Pantone’s palette – Lime Punch – too, or look almost royally opulent next to Arcadia.

Of course, there is no reason to stick rigidly to these fashion palettes. However, they may well help you come up with some combinations or ideas that you may not have thought of, and which could make your wedding look incredible!

25th Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas for Your Parents

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A wedding anniversary is a milestone in the life of a couple that revives the love and commitment shared between them. And if it is your loving parents 25th wedding anniversary, then it is your responsibility to make this occasion memorable for them. Besides giving them a day to cherish the beautiful moments of their togetherness, an exclusive anniversary gift would brighten up their day.

So here we will discuss the 25th anniversary gift ideas that could help you in buying the best 25th wedding anniversary gifts for parents.

Silver Photo Frame

A photo frame is the best way to capture beautiful moments of life. A silver photo frame will be a symbolic gift for 25th anniversary celebration that you can give to your parents. You can put a picture from your parent’s wedding day and a picture of them taken on their 25th wedding anniversary in that frame. Your parents will be highly delighted on receiving such a thoughtful gift.

Couple’s Watch

A watch is an accessory that is worn by both men and women on a daily basis and special occasions. You can give a couple watch as the 25th wedding anniversary present to your parents. Whenever they wear these watches, it will remind them of your love and the beautiful moments that you all spent together. You can buy this silver jubilee gift from an online gift shop.

Vacation Tickets

We all know how hard our parents work throughout their lives to fulfil all our desires and wishes. You can convey your gratitude to them with an exciting gift on their silver wedding anniversary. Give your parents vacation tickets to an exotic location so that they could take some off from their routine and have fun together. It will be like a second honeymoon for them where they will make some more precious memories for the lifetime. If a vacation for two people is out of your price range, a getaway gift for your mom that will also be appreciated by your dad is a spa day or city break.

25th Anniversary Figurine

The precious couple figurine with the 25th anniversary tag is an excellent wedding gift for couples. Send it along with the gorgeous flower bouquet as 25th wedding anniversary gifts for your parents. They will cherish this token of love from your end, which can also be used for the home décor purpose.

Say It with a Custom Trophy

Marriage is a work in progress, and for your parents, that’s 25 years of commitment and dedication to each other and to the family. Never miss honoring and showing your appreciation for your parents with a customized trophy. From the style to the engraving, which can be a special message or the names of the children and grandchildren, the choice is yours. Throw a little ceremony for the award at the 25th-anniversary dinner or party.

The 25th wedding anniversary is a great occasion that calls for a grand celebration. You can choose from the gift ideas mentioned above to select a fantastic and memorable gift for your parent’s 25th marriage anniversary. You can also arrange a surprise party for them and invite all their near and dear ones to share the best day of their life. This is the most beautiful gift that you could give to your parents on the happiest day of their life.

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