Eat This, Not That: Sticking to Your Bridal Diet During the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl may be about two teams playing for the bragging rights of #1 team in football but it also means delicious snacks and hours of sitting in front of the tv. While it sounds like fun, it can also be a snag in a bride’s diet and fitness routine--the average person consumes over 1,200 calories while watching the Super Bowl! Here, we give you some tips for sticking to your routine while still cheering for your favorite team.

Eat This, Not That

Avoid foods with saturated fats such as chips and creamy dips. The oils in these foods are not only bad for your waistline but also for your skin. Instead, reach for the vegetable platter and healthier dips such as hummus or guacamole (the avocado in guacamole is delicious and has Vitamins A, D and E which makes the skin look vibrant).

Instead of snacking on those adorable mini burger sliders go for the chicken wings. The buns on those burgers contain gluten which can make your sugar spike causing you to get hungry quicker (and reach for the chips faster). The wings on the other hand are packed with protein which is essential for a healthy diet. Just be cautious of the sauces you put on them, stick to lighter varieties or eat them bare.

Easy Swaps That Will Make Your Favs Healthy

-Purchase pretzels that are fat-free or have reduced salt (salt causing bloating)

-Use Greek yogurt in dips as a healthier substitute for sour cream

-Bake, don’t fry any chicken you cook

-Drink water or low-calorie beer to avoid drinking empty calories

Get Moving

Aside from jumping up and down when a touchdown is scored you should get moving during commercial breaks and halftime. Stand on your feet if you want to stick around to watch the famous commercials but don’t sit so you get your blood flowing and limbs stretching!

--Stacy Shiffner

Finding The Right Gown

By Patricia Canole

Now that you’re engaged you may be wondering how to select a dress that lives up to your dreams. To help, we’ve taken the mystery out of finding the perfect gown for three common body types—and left in all the magic!

PETITE

Angel Sanchez

• The A-line silhouette is a tried and true favorite for the diminutive figure because it lengthens thee whole body.

• Avoid column dresses and sheaths. You might think those cuts would make a slight figure look statuesque and sophisticated, but in reality they seem to shorten a small body even more. Also steer clear of dresses with layers of frothy tulle or very full skirt, because they can make a slight woman look almost child-like. For the petite figure, it’s crucial to keep the dress in proportion to the body.

• Longing to go strapless? That can be a tricky look for a petite woman. Be sure the dress doesn’t sit too far down on your torso. A better option for you may be sheer cap sleeves—which can give a feeling of a strapless dress. They also serve a practical purpose: A petite woman often has to reach up to dance with her husband and you don’t want any wardrobe malfunctions!

FULL-FIGURED

Junko Yoshioka

• Don’t be afraid to show skin—or even go strapless. Say yes to décolletage and no to high necklines. If you’d rather not go strapless, consider other skin-baring styles that flatter curvy figures, such as deep V-necks or scoop necks. In contrast, high necklines can make your bust look too heavy. Other necklines to avoid: off-the-shoulder and boatneck, both of which can make your shoulders look wider and your frame larger than it is.

• A princess-cut or A-line dress is guaranteed to look good on a larger woman. These gowns feature vertically seamed panels that begin at the shoulder or below the bust and widen toward the hem. This shapes creates an elongated look and doesn’t have any specific definition in the waistline.

                                                           

       BOTTOM-HEAVY

James Clifford

• For women who are several sizes larger on the bottom than on top, the rule for finding a flattering wedding gown couldn’t be simpler. Focus on the upper body: the objective is to direct attention to the slimmer top half.

• Don’t be shy about baring your delicate arms, shoulders, back and décolletage. To create the effect, look for a gown with interesting details on the bodice; they will draw attention upward, away from your hips.

• Try to avoid skirts that have pleats or bunches of fabric gathered at the waist. That kind of detail will only add volume at the hips, just the area you want to downplay.

Invitations: Pick the Perfect One

By Patricia Canole

The good news: There’s a wealth of invitation options out there. The bad news: There’s a wealth of invitation options out there! With all of this variety, finding your perfect invite can be overwhelming. To help, I’ve narrowed down the style types to three basic categories—ready-made, DIY and custom/couture. Here’s the scoop to decide what’s best for you.

WHAT’S YOUR STYLE?

Ceci New York

Ready-made: Because ready-made invitations take the legwork out of trying to come up with a design from scratch, they’re great for busy brides who don’t have time to DIY and don’t have room in their budget to order couture customized invites.

DIY:  Do-it-yourself invitations are for the bride who has a specific invitation theme in mind and wants to create them herself. Most likely, she’ll use an online service to help in designing and printing.

Custom/Couture: Truly customized invitations are for the style-minded bride who is seeking fine craftsmanship and design, flawless execution and one-of-a-kind creativity—the bride who doesn’t want what anyone else has.

PROS & CONS

Paperless Post

Ready-made: A ready-made invitation means less work for a bride—all she has to do is simply apply her wording to an already created design. These invitations can also benefit budget-conscious couples. The disadvantage is that most designs are copyrighted by the manufacturer, so the customer usually can’t tweak the design or change its color.

DIY: The advantage of ordering DIY invitations is that you get exactly what you’re looking for without having to pay for the pieces you don’t need. Using an online service also saves you from having to print them yourself: this may increase the cost but is a big time saver.

Custom/Couture: The advantage is that couples don’t have to spend time deciding. Instead, they turn the process over to a designer who’s equipped to create a work of art that completely suits them. On the downside, couture invitations take longer than the other types and will cost more.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Ready-made: These invites are created with sample text on a preset design with preset colors and embellishments. A bride can borrow each collection and personalize her chosen invitation with wording in the ink colors of her choice.

Lilah Paper

DIY: The couple uses a website to choose all of the elements they want to include. The next step is picking the paper color, imprint color, wording, font, printing process and design. The company will print the invites and deliver them to the bride to address and send out on her own.

Custom/Couture: The process usually starts with a creative consultation where the bride defines her style, desires and needs. A designer will know exactly what makes his or her clients excited and present possibilities that make them say “yes.”