Lifestyle

• Are you willing to give up late-night clubbing?
• Can you cut down on your crazy work hours?
• Can you deal with not being able to travel on a whim?

Age

• Do you envision yourselves as young parents, or more settled and mature ones?
• Do you want lots of kids (better start soon!) or just one?

Support

• Do you have family who could help out with child care?
• If not, do you live in, or are you willing to move to, a neighborhood that's family-friendly?

Finances

• Can you afford to live on one salary or pay for day care?
• Do you feel secure in your job?
• Are you considering a career change?

The Royal Wedding Recap for Wedding enthusiasts...

After much speculation about who and what Kate Middleton would wear down the aisle we finally got to see The Dress!  Kate is known to be a fashion trend setter with her street clothing, so naturally everyone thought she would make a modern trendsetting bridal statement with her wedding gown.

What we saw was way more than a statement, she was letting us know she is ready to be in the Royal Family.  With the look of Grace Kelly and the style from the house of Alexander McQueen designed by Sarah Burton, she looked radiant! How brilliant was it to wear a traditional style with a modern twist and grace.  

Prince William and Princess Catherine both beamed with happiness as they walked down the aisle as husband and wife. Not only did they kiss on the balcony once but the crowd asked for more and they kissed again to the delight of the masses watching.

Let us not forget about Kate's sister Pippa, who looked radiant in her Alexander McQueen gown, and Prince Harry who looked handsome in his military uniform. They were the perfect compliment to The Royal Couple.

Gown Change: After the wedding and luncheon hosted by the Queen, Kate and Pippa changed into their party dresses. Kate looked stunning in her flowing strapless beaded waistline ball-gown and Pippa was gorgeous in her kelly green tank strap with a plunging neckline flowing chiffon gown.

After a early morning of much anticipated joy we have come to a conclusion that Royal Weddings are something to cherish and watch because events like these don't happen every day. Besides, how much fun was it sitting in your PJ's and fluffy robe, sipping your tea and watching the Royal Wedding! 

Exciting news for all of our Formals of Litchfield customers, we have one of our top Bridal Designers working on "look a like" gowns.  One is very similar to Kate's gown and another that is just like Pippa's gown!  Our central Illinois brides from all over, including; Springfield, Bloomington, Taylorville, Hillsboro, Staunton, Gillespie, Carlinville, and Jacksonville along with our brides from the Metro East area will adore these new styles arriving this fall.  Be sure to check back in with us here at Formals of Litchfield on the arrival date of these highly anticipated gowns.

 

1. Have her join you and Dad for your walk down the aisle.

2. Present her with a photo album of snapshots of the two of you - with a placeholder for a wedding day picture.

3. Have a piece of lace from her wedding dress sewn into your gown.

4. Hit her up for "something borrowed," like a piece of her jewelry.

5. Display her wedding portrait on the escort-card table. (Place it with photos of other family brides.)

6. Ask her to light a candle or to give a reading at the ceremony.

7. Have breakfast with her on the big day. You'll sneak in a few moments of calm before the craziness begins.

8. Treat her to a pre-wedding hair and makeup session with you and your girls.

9. Order her a monogrammed handkerchief especially for the wedding. (She's going to need it!)

10. Tuck her fave bloom into your bouquet; give it to her when you reach the altar.

11. Have your guy make a toast in her honor (...provided they're still speaking.)

12. Spend your wedding eve watching romantic comedies with her at her house.

13. Mail her a letter telling her how much you appreciate her; time it to arrive while you're on your honeymoon.

14. Having a destination bash? Surprise her with a massage at the spa, or with a hotel upgrade to a luxe suite.

15. Start a new tradition: the mother-daughter dance.

1. Multitasking is a foreign word to them.  If they just change the kitty litter, they need a beer, then a nap.
2. Their idea of cleaning the house involves wiping their feet on the doormat.
3. They don't get why you need to talk on the phone for so long with your mom/sister/best friend/all of the above. Especially since you did it last night, too.
4. They love gossip just as much as you do. Two words: Charlie Sheen.
5. Their hearing is perfectly fine. Their listening skills? Not so much.
6. They will never get excited about the new shower curtain. Unless you're behind it, naked.
7. When they take out the trash, they need to announce it. Every time.
8. They always go for the biggest slice of pizza in the box.
9. When they get sick, they're sure no one has ever been sicker.  Every cold is the flu, every headache a migraine, every pain a life-threatening condition. They need sleep, soup, love-and the remote, please.
10. Few realize that the toilet seat can actually be put in the down position.

This was the view out the back of Formals Tuesday, April 19, 2011 around 6PM.  Lisa, Alli, Renee, and Katy were the only ones left at Formals when we saw the clouds coming.  We turned the power off, shut the curtains and hid in the bathroom.  At the time we did not realize that houses, barns, power lines and siloh's were getting destroyed by a tornado.  

After the rain, hail and destructive wind was gone we came out to see dark green clouds and flooded ditches.  Thankfully we were ok and nothing at Formals was damaged.  There are other people that were not as fortunate.  

Here are some pictures of what the tornado did as it passed through.  Please keep everyone that was affected in your prayers for a quick clean up and fast recovery. Things are replaceable but people are not and we are happy that no one was seriously injured.

This is a Machine shed that was blown away.

A house that was flattened.

This is a picture Kasey Johnson took of her parents house. They had a garage that was attached to the house. It was torn apart.

This is their barn that was destroyed.

The debris is everywhere.  Lots of people were out helping pick everything up.  The power lines are down and are not expected to be up and running for a few more days.  

If anyone has been through similar situations and would like to post helpful tips or comments that would be appreciated!

 

Bride's Magazine asked real brides to share their best budget-trimming tricks.  Here's what they said!

 

WE DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN THE BAR DURING THE DINNER HOUR.

People don't generally get up to order drinks during the meal anyway, and we had the waiters serve wine at the tables.

This meant we could keep the open bar going for an extra hour later on, so everyone could enjoy it while they were on the dance floor!

~Tamra

 

INSTEAD OF BUYING FLOWER PETALS OR BUBBLES OR EVEN "BIRD-SAFE" RICE FOR OUR CEREMONY TOSS,

WE GAVE OUR GUESTS PAPER CONES FILLED WITH RICE KRISPIES.

~SARAH

We called a local ART COLLEGE and asked the staff to recommend a PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENT for our WEDDING.  

The guy we chose had won awards, was eager to please, and charged thousands less than many of the professionals we considered.

~Kiri

I knew that the HYDRANGEAS in my HOMETOWN would be in FULL BLOOM for my JUNE WEDDING.  

So we asked our neighbors with hydrangea bushes if we could have some cuttings the morning of the wedding.

The response was overwhelming! We ended up with more than 350 blooms to decorate with.

Even with my vases (all of which I bought at thrift stores), our 33 centerpieces cost only about $100.

~Laura

WE WENT THE EASY ROUTE--WE CUT THE GUEST LIST.

It came down to having a fab wedding for 90 or serving saltines to 300--the choice was easy!

~Meghan

 

What did you do to save money on your wedding day?

Share your best money saving secrets with other real brides and you could be in our next blog post!

 

Let’s face it—planning for prom can cause some serious stress and drama.

In order to step back, take a deep breath, and relax when you’re totally caught up in the excitement and commotion of preparing for prom, try these six tips for eliminating all your pre-prom stress.

1. Make a list. Do you feel like your prom to-dos are piling up, and you’re close to getting buried beneath them? Stop trying to reconfirm everything in your head and use the list we’ve prepared for you. Having everything on paper makes it much more manageable and you’ll enjoy checking off each task as you complete it. Now, scheduling your salon appointment, picking up the boutonniere and putting together the finishing touches for your prom look will fall right into place and you won’t forget anything.

2. Drink lots of water. When you’re feeling swamped (whether it’s a big test coming up or planning all of the details of prom), it’s easy to want to grab a soda or energy drink.

But soda and energy drinks have the tendency to totally dehydrate you, leaving you feeling even more worn out when the sugar and caffeine buzz wear off. By drinking lots of water, you’ll feel less fatigued and achy and you’ll discover the secret to great, vibrant skin.

3. Spend time outdoors in the fresh air. Take a brisk walk or jog outside -- maybe some music, no cell phone, just you. Getting away from everything for a few minutes and exercising can be very rejuvenating and refreshing, plus a little exercise never hurt anyone (and it can help you get a little more toned, in shape, and give you the stamina and energy for a fun evening of dancing and having fun)!

4. Take a long, hot bath. A good soak will relax your muscles and your mind. For optimal stress-quenching results, add a bath salt that’ll moisturize your skin and help you loosen

up with a soothing scent. You’ll step out of the tub with a new, relaxed, and most importantly stress-free perspective.

5. Eat right. It is amazing how a wholesome snack can boost your energy and the levels of serotonin in your brain (a brain chemical that gives you a sense of well- being). Choose healthy foods for a well-rounded diet that will give your body all the nutrients it needs.

6. Get away with a bunch of your friends a few weeks prior to prom and have a fun dance party or movie marathon where you can unwind and let go. There’s nothing like being out with friends to help you unwind and there’s nothing like a good movie to transport you from reality to fantasy. If you go dancing, teach each other some new dance moves and learn dances that you can all do together. Request a song that you love, then grab your friends and hit the floor. Having more confidence in your moves will inspire your date and you’ll all have fun together. If you’re going to plan a movie marathon, pick some fun, hilarious films that will get you laughing and forget about the stresses you’ve been experiencing at school and all the preparations you’ve been making for prom.

Be sure to find out from your date the time that he plans to pick you up and plan to be ready with plenty of time to spare.

 

Breathe deeply and relax, the night you’ve been waiting for is almost here and it’s going to be...perfect.

Everything you need to do to get ready for your big night.

1. Hunt for a pair of shoes, handbag and jewelry to go with your amazing dress.

We have Johnathan Kayne shoes in stock! Gold, Silver, Red, Black and Taupe.

Come in to Formals and try on the most comfortable high heel you will ever wear.

2. Finalize your prom day and evening plans. Make sure your reservations for dinner are set.

If you are going out for dinner, call ahead to check if reservations are needed.

Visit your local restaurants for a great dinning experience.

 

3. Schedule appointments for your haircut (guys) and any other primping (manicure, pedicure, etc.) you want.

Girls don't forget to bring a picture of the hair style you want for prom to your hairstylist.  

Guys make sure your hair cut scheduled for 2 weeks before prom

 

The cast has been announced!

Stop the endless trawling of Twitter and the eternal ferreting in Facebook! We can stop speculating about who's in it and speculate about who is going to win!

So, here is the cast of Dancing with the Stars season 12:

Romeo (formerly known as Lil, Romeo) is a rapper and actor.

He was previously scheduled to appear in season 2 but he was injured and his father, Master P, stood in for him.

Sugar Ray Leonard is one of the best boxers of all time.

He won world titles in five weight divisions and defeated future fellow International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees Wilfred Benítez, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Durán and Marvin Hagler.

Ralph Macchio is an actor best known as being The Karate Kid. He also appeared in My Cousin Vinny.

Chris Jericho is a retired WWE wrestler, actor, musician and game show host.

Hines Ward is a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Hines was voted MVP of Superbowl XL and is widely recognized as a future Hall of Famer. He is also the longest serving player on the Steelers.

Mike Catherwood is a radio personality best known for hosting Loveline with Dr Drew Pinsky.

Chelsea Kane is an actress that appears regularly on the Disney channel. (She is also known as Chelsea Staub).

She is best known for her role as Stella Malone in the Disney Channel sitcom Jonas L.A.. She also appeared in the TV movies, Minutemen and Starstruck.

She also co-stars in the Disney Channel animated series, Fish Hooks (voice only of course).

Kendra Wilkinson is best known for her role on the E! reality television series The Girls Next Door.

Although not a Playboy Playmate, she has appeared in three nude pictorials with her Girls Next Door costars and fellow Hefner girlfriends Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt.

Her own reality series, Kendra, debuted in June 2009.

Petra Nemcova is a very beautiful model.

Petra is (unfortunately) best known for being injured in the tsunami in 2004 in Thailand.

Wendy Williams is a talk-show host. She has been a DJ, a gossip columnist and is a fervent Buddhist.

Kirstie Alley has had a varied career in movies and TV.

From Star trek to Cheers to Look Who's Talking to dieting on TV Kirstie has always been fun.