Utterly Engaged } The 1st Online Wedding & Bridal Magazine. Inspiring Brides with Style.

2:46 PM  Japan Time
March 11, 2011.
In loving memory for those who can no longer speak, for those still in pain,
and in remembrance for the lives lost and for the lives saved.

xoxo,
Lucia & Henny

This Sunday marks one year since the tragic earthquake and tsunamis hit Japan on 3.11.11. The feeling of horror and devastation is still fresh in our hearts and our minds, seeing the images and footage reappearing all over the ‘net today as we approach the one year anniversary of that tragedy.

We want to take this time to honor the lives lost and lives saved in Japan and remember the incredible response to For Japan With Love, a grassroots movement that started from an idea and blossomed into a movement of hope and love, from our family and friends in the wedding and blogging community all over the world. Thanks to you, we raised $66,733 from 1,407 individuals in two weeks and had over 1200 bloggers involved with Blogger Day of Silence, still something we can hardly fathom. The grand total from For Japan With Love is still growing, with the San Francisco Charity Benefit, Fizz & Frills, and our Leap Year Remix Party, the updated total is approximately over $73,000.That’s approximately over 730 people that you’ve helped! To read a personal thank you letter from Emily Sperling, the President of ShelterBox USA, click here.

This Saturday night/Sunday, Lydia of Ever Ours, Lucia and I invite you to join us in remembrance and post the banner below either on facebook, twitter, or on your blog this weekend.

It’s easy to forget when you’re not there to see what’s going on, but if you can just take one minute, one moment to remember, that would mean the world to the families touched by this event. Thank you again for your overwhelming support and encouragement with For Japan With Love. We are eternally grateful.

xoxo, Lucia and Henny

We’re still feeling warm and fuzzy from last night’s launch of Issue No. 19: Love is and we’re in love with today’s engagement session for Jacob & Amanda. They’re so full of life and laughter and their love for each other is just bursting out of these images. Love the carnival idea!

Photos by Ameris Photography via Two Bright Lights

They say the way to a man’s heart is through the stomach. And boy is that true. This year I’ve made the resolution to be a domestic diva! Lol! I’m tired of making the same old ramen (although I do spice it up with my own stuff, not the packet), fried rice, polska kielbasa (the mr’s favorite!), and boring chicken. I was ready to spice things up and get my super adorable apron on (still looking for one) and get bakin’ and cookin’! My hubby knew that so he got me all kinds of baking apparatus, including a whoopie pie pan, cake decorating kit, mini donut maker (yes, one of those), and electric mixer. So since January 1, 2012, I’ve been making sweet treats almost every other day, and it’s been quite a successful month so far. And the Mr. couldn’t be happier to get his hands on those treats (and the baker, oh behave!).

For this month, I can’t wait to try one of these sweet Valentine ideas! Someone’s getting lucky tonight!

I actually made the regular shaped version of this for Chinese New Year, but I love this V’day twist!

Red Velvet Whoopie Pie via Annie’s Eats

When I saw this, I had to laugh. It’s genius! And what guy doesn’t like bacon and pancake?

Cupid Arrow Bacon & Pancake via On Being Blythe

Who doesn’t like getting things in the mail! Especially these adorable s’more hearts!

You’ve Got S’more Mail via Miriam Corona Events

If you don’t want to invest in heart-shaped pans, you can always try this trick of putting a marble or 1/2 inch aluminum foil in your cupcake pan. Voila! Heart cupcakes!

Cupcakes for Cupid via Family Fun

So what will you be baking this Valentine’s Day?

xoxo, Henny V.

Neon is hot right now and we see more of it incorporated in weddings, like this invitation by Bella Figura and this wedding shoot by Vané Broussard of Brooklyn Bride. But what about incorporating neon in your floral? Is that even possible? The answer is YES! London author, interior stylist and designer, Sania Pell showed us how! You can use this for a multiple of things! Picture it as part of a cool escort card for your guests, or  a hot boutonniere! Sexy!