#BEAUTY WITH GUEST AUTHOR TR FISCHER

Author TR Fischer and her husband live in the Denver area. They raise buffalo, cattle and take in the occasional stray cat. Each day is an adventure, on and off the page. Learn more about TR and her books at her website. 

Diaries of a Bridal Stylist

I don’t really keep a diary of my on-location hair-ventures. Where would I find the time? I’m a buffalo rancher, a novelist and an on-call stylist, for goodness sake!

It’s never dull doing hair at weddings. On top of whatever family fun (read: drama) unfolds, there is always at least one member of the bridal party or the bride’s family who needs my help after I’ve finished the pièce de résistance on my bride. They materialize out of the hairspray mist saying things like, “Can you help me? My curls won’t stay.”

Maybe they’re enthralled with the fabulous hairstyle I’ve just created, but I suppose it’s possible they killed too many brain cells the night before, if you get my meaning. As in too many toasts during the rehearsal dinner.

Suffice to say, I’m the first responder to all hair related wedding emergencies when I’m on location. And I love it. I did a wedding last August where I was just going to do the bride’s hair. One of her bridesmaids came up to see how things were going and she looked like her head had been dipped in shellac. I pulled the bride’s sister aside and asked if it would be okay for me to offer to help. I mean, that poor girl’s hair was going to be memorialized in photos for posterity. Long story short; I put on my cape and flew in to save the day. Well, the hairstyle, anyway. She was happy. The bride was happy. Ahhh. All’s well that ends well, right?

What about you? Are you engaged? Would you like a few tips from an old pro for your big day? If not, skip the rest of this blog. But if you do, read on sister:

1. Do a trial run, even if you have to pay for it. Everyone’s hair is different. Don’t leave your big moment to chance. It’s likely someone’s going to drop a wad of cash on the photos. Oh, and bring your veil and any additional bling you want to wear in your hair. Think of it as a dress rehearsal without the dress. My brides often take off their veil for the reception and want to add a pretty comb or a clip for the party. The stylist needs to take that into consideration when planning your ‘do.

2. Use photos rather than relying on a verbal description to let your stylist know what it is you’re after. That includes a photo of your dress, so he/she can get a feel for your style. Share a little about the venue, as that can also play into things.

3. Bear in mind that your hair may not be suited to a particular style. It may be much thicker or a different texture than that in the photo you like. If you can isolate what it is about the particular style you’re drawn to, a good stylist can find a way (barring the need for a bonafide miracle) to get a similar effect. For example, if you want an updo that voluminous, but your hair is thin, your stylist can use a hair donut to create a fuller look. We have all kinds of tricks up our sleeves.

4. Pad your time. I just did a wedding last month, and I had to drive through a snowstorm to get to the location. I planned in extra time to get there.

5. As things come down to the wire, set aside some personal time to decompress. Reading a good story can do that, so be sure to take a look at mine. Okay, that was just a shameless plug.

Whatever they may be, I hope your dreams come true. May your life be blessed with love, laughter and a double-shot of adventure.

Changing Sky

After walking away from her job as a teacher, Skylar Biondi drives a brown truck and delivers packages. It keeps her busy and out of the bars. Skylar closely guards the painful truth about why her romance with a Colorado Rockies pitcher ended suddenly. She relives the past in her dreams, only to wake to the brutal reality of being alone.

Former army medic, Enrique Avalos, keeps his distance from Skylar, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his ex-wife. When she sets up a contest to name the cat he rescued from a dumpster behind his motorcycle repair shop, new business begins to flow in, forcing Enrique to bolster his armor.

While on her route, Skylar comes across nine-year-old Mia and knows she’s in peril. When Enrique spots Skylar skulking around at night, he assumes she’s casing the neighborhood. Can Enrique and Skylar set their differences aside in time to help Mia?

In this warm, sometimes heartbreaking tale, an extraordinary confluence of events leads three people from different worlds to the doorstep of a journey none of them could have foreseen.

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BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--GUEST AUTHOR MADELLE MORGAN

Growing up, Madelle Morgan enjoyed nineteen summers at a cottage in the District of Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, where lake shorelines are dotted with palatial properties owned by wealthy families and celebrities. Being neither rich nor famous, she worked briefly as a chambermaid at a Muskoka resort. She began her engineering career in Canada’s subarctic, which inspired her debut romantic suspense, Diamond Hunter. Learn more about Madelle and her books at her website/blog where she tweets and posts about writing, Hollywood, filmmaking, and the settings for her stories.

Madelle is giving away a “What Happens in Muskoka Stays in Muskoka” tank top (UK, US, and Canadian readers only) and five ebooks. Subscribe to her blog before midnight December 11 to enter the drawing.

Caught on Camera Blog Tour Wrap-up

Today I wrap up an exciting my first ever blog tour, two-weeks celebrating the launch of Caught on Camera, Hollywood in Muskoka, Book 1. The book, a New Adult, coming-of-age romantic comedy, is my second published novel.

Who hasn’t dreamed of a career in Hollywood? Chambermaid Rachel, a tall, skinny, twenty-two-year-old brunette with ugly glasses, has her heart set on becoming a camera operator and filming the Hollywood stars she idolizes.

Then she’s asked by the bride-to-be of a millionaire superhero actor to stand in for a missing bridesmaid because she fits the dress. A make-up artist transforms Rachel from plain to pretty. Suddenly Mickey, one of the groomsmen and a talent agent, is very interested.

Rachel discovers at a disastrous wedding photo shoot that being in front of a camera is not at all glamorous, and being behind the camera shooting celebrities is not what she expected. Mickey helps Rachel realize that she has a special talent for a different career in Hollywood, and that she belongs in his arms instead of behind a camera.

Caught on Camera also features Mopette, an adorable Maltese scamp crucial to the plot; a multitude of movie references for anyone who loves all things Hollywood; and a playlist features popular Canadian artists.

The other books in the series will describe how the groom’s Hollywood friends and siblings find true love while vacationing in Muskoka. Each book will explore a career such as screenwriter, producer, director, and stunt professional. Research into the professions that create movie magic is a pleasure because I absolutely love everything about filmmaking!

Caught on Camera

To achieve her dream of working on Hollywood film sets, star struck chambermaid Rachel Lehmann needs $35,000 for film school tuition by the end of the summer. When she’s asked to fill in for a missing bridesmaid at a movie star’s wedding and pretend to be the bride's cousin, it’s her big chance to secretly take photos of celebrities and sell them to the entertainment media! Then Mickey, one of the groomsmen, sweeps her off her feet.

Mickey McNichol, talent agent to the stars, believes everyone in show business is out for what they can get. When he falls hard for the bride’s "cousin", he thinks he’s finally met a beautiful woman he can trust. But if Rachel betrays the wedding party, Mickey will ensure she never works in Hollywood.

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#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--GUEST AUTHOR BARBARA PHINNEY

Today’s craft blog is a bit of a stretch, but it’s a fun post and author Barbara Phinney did find her inspiration while attending a craft fair, so we’re going with it. Learn more about Barbara and her books at her website. 

Years ago, I ran into a friend of mine at a craft fair. Like me, she was serving in the military, but she belonged to a Society of Creative Anachronism. At their display, she wore a beautiful green velvet dress in a 16th century style, complete with stunning jewels. She'd saved her money to sew her gown and buy those wonderful pieces of bling she wore. She was also an attractive Native Canadian woman and when she knelt to speak to my toddler daughter, with her black hair flowing down her shoulders, my daughter thought she was a magical princess.

I knew then I had to write a story filled with fabulous gowns and medieval societies. Later that summer, our family visited my husband’s family. So, the story forming in my mind suddenly became a comedy of wacky family frolics. With those beautiful gowns of course.

 So All For A Good Cause was born.

It came together as beautifully as the gowns my friend had created. There would even be a fairy tale wedding featured, for what is a romance about lovely clothing without a stunning wedding?

Fast forward twenty years to my daughter’s lovely summer nuptials. And her dress resembled the one my heroine wore in my story! I loved it the second we laid eyes on it. And perhaps by unconscious design, the fun we had before the wedding reflected All For A Good Cause.

Thankfully, my daughter didn’t faint. Oops! I’m telling you too much about All For A Good Cause! No more, except that it’s a fun romp through medieval societies, fabulous gowns and meddling families.

I hope you’ll check it out.

All for a Good Cause

With the 'fun' back in fundraiser and relatives firmly entrenched where they think they should be (in her personal life), Janet Jemseg struggles to stay sane at a local charity function run by her old Society for Creative Anachronism.

She's been roped in to help, by blackmail and everything that family think they can get away with.

Enter hunky philanthropist, Devin Kidder, uncle to the disabled child for whom they're raising money, and Janet is ready to jump ship. She's had her fill of charming men.

Suddenly, he's suggesting the unthinkable -- a 'wedding' to stir up interest. A wedding to him.

Her quiet summer just went south. But it's all for a good cause, they say.

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MONEY MATTERS WITH SHEILA--GUEST JOSEPH RODRIGUEZ

photo by Tracy Hunter

Joseph Rodriguez  writes about everything related to his thoughts on personal finance and money matters. His recent work is about the Top Online Masters in Accounting Degree Programs in the US. Today he joins us to offer some suggestions on saving money when planning the floral centerpieces for a wedding.

How To Save Money On Floral Arrangements for a Wedding

Floral arrangements are very important for any wedding. They're often the focal point to many beautiful backdrops for the special day, centerpieces during the reception, and an important accessory for the bride herself. So for the sake of saving a little bit of money on what's likely going to be a very costly day to begin with, there are easy some steps that you can take to keep your investment at bay.

Plan Out What You Need

First think about what arrangements you're going to want, and then start thinking about the place for all of these arrangements in the wedding. The ideal time to do this would be well before the wedding itself. While you want something that is fresh and delivered the day of, or the night before, you're going to have to inform the florist of the precise order well before you actually need the arrangements, to give them time to prepare.

Pick a Florist

You should do a little bit of research into your local area to see who's able to provide the quality of arrangements you're hoping for. There are likely several shops in the vicinity competing with one another, and you might be able to use this aspect to your advantage to get a better deal (this'll be worth it - flowers are costly). Make sure that you're spreading the word around that you have a big order for an upcoming wedding, and that you're looking for the means to save the most money while simultaneously getting the best arrangements.

Be Flexible

As a bride, groom, or other member of the court, you've got to give a little on what your ideal vision is. Furthermore, you might not have a particular arrangement in mind, and simply know what color scheme you're attempting to provide the ceremony. Give what information that you have to local florists and see what kind of arrangements they can make to best match what you would like to see. Give them a few days, especially if your arrangement requires flowers that aren't as easy to come by. Be open to suggestions, and never be afraid to ask for another idea - as long as you're doing so well in advance.

Give a Bit

If you're not willing to give in when it comes to your vision, at least be willing to give a bit when it comes to your time. Consider a trade off in order to save some money - is there room in your contract to thank your florist by name? Are you willing to spread the word to all your guests about where your beautiful flowers came from? Consider mentioning one of these possibilities in your next negotiation.

These tips should aid you in saving money a bit of money. Remember that timing is of the essence, and that providing an ideal amount of it can benefit your budget greatly. Just formulate a good idea of what you want, and see which of the flower shops in your vicinity can give you what you want for a price that you can both appreciate.

MONEY MATTERS WITH SHEILA--WEDDING RECEPTION DISASTERS

Here at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers we’re all about DIY and saving money. However, sometimes it’s best to hire experts. Such is the case with wedding receptions. Today we welcome back guest blogger Zain with tips to help avoid wedding reception disasters. Zain writes for Feast Your Eyes! Inc. They provide services such as catering weddings in Toronto as well as event design.

Catering Secrets: Avoiding A Wedding Reception Disaster

Weddings can be wonderful yet expensive occasions. They are most wonderful if planned and done effectively, including the reception and catering. Couples often easily use a good quarter of their wedding budget on food and alcohol for the reception. Since the average wedding budget is around $20,000, that amounts to at least $5,000. If you want to have a successful catered event for your wedding, making all the time and money put into it worthwhile, there are some common mistakes and mishaps you want to AVOID making that can cause a wedding reception disaster.

Mistake one, the DIY disaster. Unless you're a professional in such services and just have to be hands-on, it's best you avoid taking the catering into your own hands. There are many levels in the planning and execution of a wedding reception and its catering. Beyond the food itself, you have the decorations, storage, the serving, and the actual timing of it all, including the food preparation. So it's best to leave it to professionals and not let your inexperience lead to a major headache.

Another no-no for wedding catering is the overly elaborate menu. Some actually believe that having a big menu will make the event grander, but having an extensive menu can lead to a waste of food. So it's best to keep it simple. A little variety is good but not too much.

Nothing can leave a bad taste in the mouths of guests like less than tasty food. Be sure to have a taste testing and know what's in store from your caterer. The last thing you need is food that is way too dull in taste or way too salty. Guests may not remember the color of the decorations and clothing from the ceremony, but food is likely to stick with them, being either really good or bad. Also, be sure to give clear instructions to the caterers and lay down the terms of the service so all parties have a sure knowledge of what to expect. This can spare you from poor service and disputes.

Another possible disaster that can be catastrophic in terms of implications (including crowd control) is not having enough food. This is why careful planning is critical and you must work with experienced chefs that can calculate and accommodate needs based on the number of guests. You may want to have a backup plan just in case expected numbers happen to be exceeded.

For a successfully catered event, make sure you do your homework. Look closely at catering companies and cross examine them, knowing what to expect and knowing what you want. Keep communications clear and remember to have a taste test if possible, not doing so could be a disastrous mistake. Your wedding is probably one of, if not the biggest, day of your life, and it's something you may have dreamed of for years. If you want it to go smoothly and happily, be sure to avoid the mistakes we went over and do all necessary research.