Jenny Tuzikow

Amy Wasterlain

Debbie Blumberg

Sienna Wedderburn

Erica Mullen

by Caitlin

We love our hometown location. Brooklyn is the newest ‘it place’ in New York City, particularly DUMBO. Yes of course we are biased, but we find that some of the most unique, creative, and down to earth people come from Brooklyn and that some of the most beautiful buildings are located right down the cobblestone street from our boutique.

Thankfully, we have found a healthy way to channel our Brooklyn enthusiasm through the creation of a “Brooklyn Pinboard”- here are some of our favorite pics from the board. Make sure you check the rest out HERE, and more importantly make sure you take some time and come visit DUMBO’s eclectic neighborhood! (don’t forget to stop in and say hello)

Ladies let’s face it. Men may think they’re the grill master but when it comes to creating healthy barbecue, you can easily become the expert.

If you’re anything like me your calendar is full of backyard BBQ’s in the upcoming weeks.  Fear not! Just because your social schedule is bulging doesn’t mean your pants have to. When you’re invited to a party it’s always best to bring a dish or two.  First of all, the host will adore you but it also gives you control over what you can eat. How many times have you gotten to an event and felt like everything offered is just plain bad for you? Below I’ve listed 3 healthy DIY BBQ options:

Beef burger vs Turkey burger

Surprisingly, turkey burgers aren’t always the leaner choice. Some turkey burgers can contain up to 16 grams of fat. When compared to a lean beef patty with 6 grams, it’s a no-brainer! Or skip meat all together and opt for a black bean burger instead for about 200 calories per patty. Did you know they have more antioxidants than blueberries and research links black bean eaters to smaller waistlines?

To prepare:

Chop 1 green pepper and ½  of a white onion. Set aside. In a food processor, blend one can of black beans (drained and rinsed), 3 cloves minced garlic and 1 egg white. Add the peppers and onion. Season with a dash of hot sauce and 1 teaspoon each of curry powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Toss in a ½ cup of panko breadcrumbs as a binding agent. Form 4 patties, place on foil and grill for 8 minutes on each side. A few slices of avocado make an excellent garnish! Serve on a high-fiber whole wheat muffin for a kick of fiber.

Shrimp kabobs

Swap out traditional steak or chicken kabobs for shrimp instead.  Dieters tend to avoid this scrumptious sea creature due to its high cholesterol content. (about 200 mg per 3.5 ounces).  Research has indicated time and again that foods high in cholesterol do not necessarily lead to high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It’s the saturated fat content that does. The good news? Shrimp is unusually low in fat. 6 jumbo shrimp have less than 3 grams of total fat, yet over 30 grams of protein to keep you fuller, longer.

To prepare:

Take skewers and alternate between raw shrimp, diced zucchini, squash, and raw red onion. Each kebab should have 3 pieces of shrimp each. Fill the extra space with veggies! Pop them in a Ziploc bag filled with as 3/4 cup low sodium soy sauce, 4 cloves mashed garlic, a 2 inch piece of ginger, a 1/2 cup fresh lime juice, and fresh ground pepper. (Ideally the ingredients for the marinade should be blended together ahead of time). Let the skewers marinate anywhere from 30 minutes up to 24 hours. Fire up the grill and you’re ready to go! Once cooked, squeeze a little fresh lime juice on for added flavor.  2 kebabs create a meal that’s packed with protein and fiber yet low in fat.

Margaritas

Store-bought margarita mixes can force you back into a one-piece faster than you can say “tequila”.  A 12 ounce margarita can pack in over 500 calories, which is about a third of your recommended daily caloric intake.  Instead, opt for making your own cocktails to save on calories and boost flavor.

To prepare:

In a cocktail shaker, muddle 2 fresh strawberries with a squeeze of lime juice. Fill with ice and pour in 1.5 ounces of your favorite tequila. Add in 6 ounces of Honest Ade Limeade and shake thoroughly. Garnish with a sliced strawberry and lime wedge. The result? A refreshing, tasty margarita under 150 calories!

When it comes to eating well, navigating social situations can be tricky. If you can’t manage to maneuver any of the above options keep in mind that an organic hot dog (I love AppleGate farm) on a whole wheat bun, will only cost you 200 cals. Or opt for a piece of dry-rubbed chicken with a dollop of BBQ sauce and a plate of grilled veggies for a meal sure to satisfy.

Nutritionist

Courtney DeSimone is the founder of her own Manhattan-based private practice called Beyond the Pyramid. She holds a Master’s Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from New York University and is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  Her days are spent counseling clients in all aspects of nutrition from weight loss to food preparation. When she’s not in her office or writing, you can find her reading the latest in health literature, rushing to a Flywheel spinning class or walking her miniature daschund.   Her passion for nutrition and food is derived from a personal place and she’s a firm believer that what you put into your body directly affects how you live your life.  You can often hear her saying “Nutrition is like your life, learn as you go!” For questions or to set up a consultation feel free to e-mail her at: cad360@nyu.edu

Congratulations to our bride Rachel and thank you for sharing your beautiful Chicago wedding with us!

Wishing you the best!

The White Gown.

After spending this past beautiful weekend at the Jersey Shore with my parents and having them ask me a million and one questions about my life, I received an email late last night from my Dad. It didn’t surprise me that the email was about the newest “craze” in wedding concepts- my father has a way to always seem interested in his kids lives because I would bet a million dollars on the fact that he wasn’t searching wedding articles in his spare time for his own enjoyment. The article that he sent me was from The Boston Globe online website and, surprisingly enough to me, this article turned out to be something that I couldn’t wait to share with our brides and readers!!

The main idea….”Technology — for better or worse — has become a presence at a growing number of weddings. Couples are live-streaming their nuptials so far-flung friends and relatives can watch the proceedings in real time. They’re bringing in big screens so that distant friends can be present (in a 2-D way) by means of prerecorded video or Skyped best wishes.”

The concept seems practical; we all LOVE our iPhones and Blackberrys. I mean honestly, as generation Y grows older the attachment to technology grows stronger. Anja Winikka, editor of TheKnot.com noted today it would seem strange to have a wedding without some kind of technological presence. “The bride getting married today is 28 or 29,” Winikka said, “and she’s been totally connected her whole life.”

So what we are seeing now, with this growing OBSESSION with technology, is the consideration for guests who have to attend via the web. Sounds simple right? Well, not as easy as you might believe. Author Beth Teitell writes, “They’re agonizing over budget decisions unheard of just a few years ago: passed hors d’oeuvres or Wi-Fi? They’re factoring foreign time zones into their planning; an evening wedding on the East Coast gets mighty late for European relatives watching on Skype. And, in perhaps the ultimate sign that technology has arrived, it’s become a source of friction”.

The article then gives both positive and negative experiences with using technology at your wedding. One story is about how a bride is able to use skype at her wedding so that her hospitalized sister can view the ceremony. Another story talks about how a young bride is able to have her 82 year old grandmother in India watch her walk down the aisle.

There are definitely pros and cons to using advanced technology at your wedding; there are many things to keep in mind such as cost, how effective the technology will be utilized, and the overall idea of having a camera in your face during your entire ceremony. To read more about this topic, click here to link to the article. Trust me it is SUPER interesting!

Thanks Dad!!!

Photos:  Scholar Ballroom, Dark Shades of Brown, 5 Star Wedding Directory

by Caitlin

Located directly next to our shop- (69 Jay Street) there is a small, personable company tucked behind the cobblestone street that focuses on taking some AMAZING pictures for weddings and other events. InSync Photography focuses on making sure life’s perfect moments can be saved for an eternity.

When you first arrive at their website’s homepage appears the quote, “Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.” Perfectly spoken by Tennessee Williams, the quote embodies how the employees at InSync look at their job as taking photographs for a living.

A few weeks ago we teamed up with James at InSync and put together a Great Gatsby inspired photo shoot. With our style expertise and his ability to turn a vision into reality, we created some beautiful pictures. Below are some of the pictures from the photo shoot. Make sure you contact InSync for your next big event!!

Izzy Kammeyer

Ellen Tan

Hannah Shapiro

Andrea Somberg

Lindsay Wilhelm

by Caitlin

Whether this is your first time getting married and you are ready to start a brand new family or this is your third time and you already have amazing children from a previous marriage, your wedding is a symbolic ceremony where two different families from very different backgrounds of a bride and groom combine into one. Being mentally prepared for this unification, or maybe even being excited and sentimental about it, is important for creating an eclectic, vibrant family and life.

So how do you prepare for this? How do you prepare your family for this “unification”? Well, there are several ways that, although may be non-traditional, guide to making sure your families have the chance to bond at your wedding. Call it forceful or call it awkward- we like to call it pleasant circumstances! Instead of placing the brides family on one side of the church and the groom’s on the other, ensure that a little bit of mixing takes place. After the ceremony is over and your families head to the reception area, switch your table seating from traditional to…interesting.

“You may choose to put the groom’s family together and the bride’s family together or mix them up by age and interest such as cousins, teenagers, aunts and uncles and grandparents”, says Designer Wedding Planning Blog. Traditional etiquette, in this case, can be thrown out the window.

Take the time to create a seating chart that places similar personalities together- hopefully creating lost-lasting friendships or, at the very least a new drinking friend!

I found a real wedding article on TheKnot that took family unification to an amazingly touching level:

“Beth Spellman and Jeff Bardash’s wedding was more than simply their own union, it was the creation of a new family. The couple involved their kids in every aspect — from the invitations to the sand ceremony — of their intimate Ohio wedding”. To read more: Beth & Jeff: Two Families Become One In OhioTheKnot.com – http://wedding.theknot.com/real-weddings/real-winter-weddings/articles/beth-jeff-two-families-become-one-in-ohio.aspx#ixzz1yLWeoc86

Photos: Live Laugh Decorate, Rustic Wedding Chic, Hatch Creative Studios,

by Caitlin

This past weekend our manager Erica traveled all the way cross-country to Sedona, Arizona for a friend’s wedding. Her weekend was hot and sunny and the wedding was rustic and romantic. Erica made sure to take some scenic pictures with her iPhone from the beautiful red desert. Whether it is the solid blue sky or the deep red clay mountains, we want these pictures to inspire you to create a peaceful and calm wedding!