A Family Affair

Just yesterday I went to my cousin, Merry’s wedding in Athens to long-time boyfriend Mike. They actually met at UGA and attended the Catholic Church on Lumpkin Street together where their love truly began to blossom.

The afternoon ceremony was fittingly at the Catholic Center where they were both not only members, but Confirmation teachers to younger kids. The reception was held at The Oconee River Room in the Classic Center downtown. Their choice to hold their wedding day in Athens was a tribute to the town that brought them together. This allowed out of town guests to not only celebrate with them, but actually see and experience the atmosphere that nourished their relationship while at UGA. They weren’t just locations; they were venues that were incredibly significant to both the bride and groom where they shared countless memories.

After the heart-felt and traditional Catholic ceremony, we ate, drank and danced with the new couple and caught up with family and friends at the Classic Center. I really liked Merry’s color scheme and pattern. Her invitations, ceremony programs and cake all used the same black and white winding pattern with a vivid magenta accent. Her floral arrangements complimented this color scheme with the same magenta, as well as orange and green. The bright flowers contrasted beautifully with the black and white pattern!

I also really liked the centerpieces on tables in the ballroom. Instead of using florals, the couple opted for a more simple and unique piece of a lantern with a single candle placed on a small squared mirror. Each table was also named after a city or place that the couple had visited together, along with a picture of them in that location. It was a really cute and personal touch to the reception!

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

BEST Wedding Entrance Ever!

The first time I saw this video I was laughing and crying at the same time. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re in for a treat! The couple’s love and enthusiasm are contagious, and all the guests and bridal party are SO excited to share in this memory with them. It’s perfect!

JK Wedding Entrance on YouTube

Emily

Bella Local Weddings dj, entrance, wedding, wedding songs

How to Add Spice to Your Engagement Photos

UGA alumni Kyle Thomson and Chris Stelling knew they wanted colorful, happy 
and creative pictures to celebrate their engagement.

Photo by Altmix Photography

They did exactly this by 
using a range of objects, colors, and textures to give their wedding photos an 
extra pop. With large, smooth, yellow balloons, a vintage love sofa with an 
interesting shape, a bright patterned quilt, and an over-sized picture frame, 
their pictures turned out to be quirky and fun, while also capturing their love for 
one another.

Photo by Altmix Photography

Photo by Altmix Photography

I loved the photographer’s varying angles, focuses, and framing 
techniques, as well as their mix of both candid and posed shots. Their backdrop 
of a rural and wildlife setting with a rustic barn in the background contrasted nicely with their polished, bright and simple attire.

Photo by Altmix Photography

Overall, engagement photos are just another aspect of your wedding that should 
truly reflect YOUR personality and YOUR relationship as a couple. Never be 
afraid to do something out of the ordinary, because like Kyle and Chris did, 
you’ll be left with unique photos that capture the budding excitement of your 
life as husband and wife.

Photo by Altmix Photography

Emily

Bella Local Weddings Altmix Photography, athens, Bella, Bride, Engagement Photos, Groom, UGA, Weddings

3 Great Summer Reads

Have you been in search of a great book this summer with no success? Well if you are then look no further, for I have three of my favorite novels for you to pick up. When class is in session, I found reading in my free time tedious on top of the dry books for class, so summer has always been the time I enjoy catching up. I wouldn’t say that any of them are necessarily light-hearted, superficial reads, but they are most definitely intriguing stories with quality writing that seem to transport you to another world or life.

2. The Glass Castle: It follows the painful, real-life childhood of author Jeanette Walls as she grew up with a highly unstable and volatile home life. It shows that no person can be characterized as black or white, good or bad, and we all have light and dark within us. The story was never dry or hard to follow, and the story was always entertaining.

3. The Poisonwood Bible: Written by Barbara Kingsolver, this novel uses different character’s narration in each chapter as a missionary family, the Prices, journey to Africa. It conversely shows the degradation of the family as a whole, and their prescribed beliefs, while the young children learn to think on their own and mature. The characters were well developed and easily relatable.

I’ve always enjoyed reading, ironically, because the insight I’ve learned about myself from reading the creations and imaginations of another person. So if you’re in need of a good story, or simply want to pick up an interesting bookl, try these three for a sure delight!

Emily

Bella Local Weddings athens, Bella

THE Proposal

Let’s admit it, we’ve all done it. Maybe at different ages, or in different ways, but we’ve all imagined how one day we will be asked to marry someone. We’ve painted the setting, the words, and maybe even set the stage in life for that perfect moment of bliss. To me, the proposal is the most significant part about a couple’s story. The flurry of wedding planning is sure to become the main focus, but it’s important to remember how and why this process even came to be. 

My cousin Merry, is getting married next weekend in Athens. When I heard how her fiancé popped the question I was moved by his genuine sentiment and detailed planning for their big moment. 

November 24th 2008 was a fairly normal day at Oakwood Elementary School in Hall County, where Merry is a second grade teacher. Alone in her classroom working on a project for her students, Merry was suprised when her kids started filing in one by one from recess each holding a single rose and a poster with hand-written loving notes covering it. While walking in with the gifts, the compilation of famous love songs, “Elephant Love Medley” from Moulin Rouge also blared in the background. The children began by saying “We have a special surprise for you Mrs. Hill! We love you!” and other sweet things. Her then boyfriend, Mike, finally appeared in the doorway dressed in a tuxedo, holding the final sign that read “Will you marry me?” The beautiful act ended with both crying and embracing each other as their families entered the room to congratulate and celebrate the newly engaged couple. 

The proposal is the telling sign into that couple’s relationship and personalities, as well as setting the tone for the wedding and well, their life together. It might or might not end up exactly as we imagined as little girls, but this act gives the groom the opportunity to be creative and independent in showing his devotion to his bride to be. 

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

Courtney and Tim Jackson

On June 20th, I married my best friend! Our wedding ceremony was held at Bowdon Baptist Church in Bowdon, GA (my hometown). I really wanted something simple and elegant for the church so we chose one large floral arrangement that hung under the baptistry window, which was made of ivory and vendela roses, hydrangeas, and green hypericum berries, all of which were used in the bridesmaids’ bouquets and my bridal bouquet. I decided to wear my mother’s wedding gown and veil, so I didnt want anything to look too contemporary against its vintage charm. We also chose to line the baptistry windown with a variety of glass cylinders filled with water and floating candles, which also were used to decorate the tops of the organ and piano railings. 

When the ceremony concluded, we rode with the bridal party to the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center in Carrollton, GA. This venue is a local art gallery and performing arts center. I really thought the artsy atmosphere and scenery would be an interesting contrast to the traditional table settings and centerpieces. The majority of the tables were decorated with various sizes and heights of glass cylinders filled with water and floating candles. Others were topped with either large floral centerpieces that mimicked the bouquets or large manzanita trees with kissing balls and crystals hanging from the branches. As soon as we arrived, we ate dinner and cut the cake, a 5-tiered pound cake with a variety of fillings in each layer–two with strawberry, and the other three with either buttercream, almond, or mocha. We chose a smooth look for the icing and adorned three of the five layers with huge bows made with the same fabric used for the table toppers. We chose to include jeweled brooches on the center of the bows to replicate the back of the bridesmaids dresses. Tim LOVES ice cream, so instead of a traditional groom’s cake, we chose to do an ice cream buffet and small sugar cookies. For our favors, we also decided to go with sweets! We gathered family recipes from my and Tim’s grandmothers, aunts, siblings, and cousins and baked a variety of mini cakes that were boxed and tied with taupe ribbon for each individual guest. 

After dinner, I changed into a short ivory cocktail dress so that I could really dance with my friends and family! For the remainder of the night we listened and danced to a variety of songs ranging from the oldie, “Brown-Eyed-Girl” to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” all played by the Gary Land Band. At the end of the night, Tim and I left in a 1932 Touring Model A Ford. It was the perfect vintage car to incorporate with our traditional theme and was a perfect ending to the night. We honeymooned in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and currently reside in the Villa Rica, GA. 

Courtney

All photos taken by Allison Smith

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

Ode to Last Resort

After a typical night out in Athens last Friday night, my three girlfriends and I woke up relatively early famished. We scouted for an open parking spot downtown and quickly agreed on Last Resort for a tasty meal. Located on West Clayton Street, not only is the food wonderful, but the lunch is such a deal, as we all spent under $12. They have a wide selection too; our choices were ravioli, crab cakes, vegetable grill pasta, and black bean soup. We chowed down and chatted, then wandered around downtown getting ice cream and shopping. The perfect day in Athens.

Since it’s opening in 1966 this downtown dining spot has been known for it’s fresh food, evolving recipes, and overall warm and pleasant atmosphere. When thinking of where to set that perfect evening, Last Resort is a familiar, yet unique, choice. It’s become as much a part of this community as the Arches or Georgia Theatre; timeless and beloved landmarks that have given the town a true sense of identity.

For many, Last Resort has become much more than a restaurant to us. It has been the backdrop for significant memories of our lives: first dates, birthday celebrations, family gatherings, meetings. It was the place my family ventured to two years ago in celebration of my recent acceptance to UGA. Last weekend, it was a place for the four of us to recount stories from the night before, catch up on our lives as two of the girls have been traveling, and enjoy the familiar feeling of being back to our home, Athens.

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

Our 5 Favorite Summer Gown-Trends

1. One Shoulder Cut’s. This look gives a fresh twist on a classic dress. The assymetrical cut can offset a side bun, and a detailed strap can be the focal point of the dress.

2. Bow-Mania. Okay, I’m not talking about the obnoxious bow’s we all used to wear as little girls, but an oversized chic, crisp bow can be the perfect accent to a gown. It really adds a touch of class and femininity to a sleek dress.

3. All About the Headbands. This modern accent has come to replace the tiara, or other 80’s headdresses of the past. Choose one with intricate details with flowers or pearls rather than rhinestones for a more polished look.

4. Colored Waistbands. This fresh take on wedding gowns adds a hint of color and personality to your dress. Coordinate the ribbon or lace waistband with your floral arrangements and bridesmaide dresses for an extra pop of color.

5. Ruffles, Ruffles, Ruffles. This trend was particularly hot in 2009 for it’s dramatic effect. The key to making this look work for you is balance. Depending on where the ruffles are on your dress, downplay your jewelry, hair, make-up and veil as to not look over the top. When done correctly and tastefully, ruffles add a touch of femininity and high-fashion to your wedding day.

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

Top 10 Tips for Studying Abroad

There are certain things most students hope to experience in their four short years of college. For me, it was join a sorority, get into UGA’s Journalism school, intern at a cool workplace, and of course study abroad. This summer, I opted for the internship over traveling. I have to admit it was painful at times to look at my three best friends’ escapades in Europe through pictures on Facebook. Their photos captured six weeks of memories, rare experiences, lessons, and new friendships that would last far longer than the short six weeks spent abroad.

Anna, Rachel, and Jacqui abroad.

 My trio of friends arrived home just last week from studying in Verona, Italy through a UGA study abroad program. Jacqui and Anna, two of the girls, shared these valuable tips with me, as I hope to travel next summer.

 1. Plan ahead your weekend excursions by making a schedule, for you’ll want to exactly know what to do, see, and experience while in that particular city.

2. It’s tempting to want to stay in your routine from Athens of sleeping in, especially after traveling so much; but wake up early and stay up late. There’s far too much to do and see and you don’t want to miss out.

3. Take advantage of the countless hours you spend traveling to various destinations; especially time on the train. This is the perfect opportunity to study for those classes, so don’t waste it.

4. Eat the weird foods. Seriously. When will you ever eat cow brains again? At least be able to say you’ve tried it.

5. Do at least one wine tasting. Duh!

6. When choosing what to do for dinner, opt for the authentic, little restaurants. They really are the best, without the sky-high price.

7. Plan far ahead for finances. There are ways to cut corners, but ultimately it’s a large financial commitment.

8. Pack LIGHT. There’s nothing more annoying than carrying multiple suitcases everywhere. And include clothes you can afford to ruin.

9. Buy a “Rick Steves” book. They never led us astray!

10. Last but not least, be aware that you stand out as Americans and are an easy target for thieves. We had multiple instances where we were taken advantage of or manipulated, so be smart.

Bottom line? Studying abroad can enhance your perception of the world, give you an appreciation for differing cultures, and provide you with a rich appreciation of art, wine, music and history. More so, it connects you with fellow students from not only UGA but other schools in the country, and teaches you about yourself and where you fit in the world. Talk with someone who has been on the exact program you’re looking for their inside advice and opinions.

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

Ivey and Jordan

I was sitting on the floor of her Presidential suite at Alpha Chi Omega, at about two in the morning during the last few days of sorority recruitment last year when I heard the story of how Ivey George met her then boyfriend, Jordan. Delirious from lack of sleep thanks to rush, about five of us were sitting there chatting away when Morgan, one of Ivey’s bridesmaids this weekend, told us their story. I remember thinking how adorable their story was, and how it shows that the smallest decisions in life, can lead you to the right person. Ivey and Jordan are to be married on July 11, 2009 in McDonough, GA.

            Here’s their story from Jordan’s perspective: It all started Valentine’s Day 2007 at the UGA basketball game. Soon after we arrived the beginning ceremony began, and for the first time I heard the most wonderful name in the world: “Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Ivey George as we sing our national anthem.” For the next few minutes my ears and eyes were fixed upon the most beautiful woman in the world.

            Campus Outreach scheduled a ski trip to North Carolina. Both Ivey and I did not plan on going, but by God’s sovereign grace, our schedules were opened to allow us to go. I saw Ivey standing across the room, and instantly God stirred in my heart the desire to tell her how well she did the Wednesday before. Never before in my life had I ever approached any woman like this, so needless to say my nerves were on edge. I walked up to her and with a smooth and calm voice told her exactly how I felt. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was staring right into the eyes of my future wife.

            Neither of us will forget that following day and all of the talking that came with it. She had asked me if I wanted to ski with her and her friends considering it was my first time so that she could show me the ropes. For the next ten hours we skied, challenged each other, fell a little, and talked a lot. God’s grace covered us that day, a day that we will tell our children about I’m sure.

            For the next six weeks I pretended like I didn’t like her, yet slowly I was falling for her. By God’s grace a formal date had fallen through for Ivey, and there I was ready to dance and act a fool. She asked, I said yes, and for the next four weeks we walked on North Campus, ate at restaurants around Athens, and talked all the while. We got all dressed up, took some goofy pictures, ate some good food, and then danced the night away. Towards the end of the night, we were hanging out at a friend’s house when we held hands for the first time. To me that was a big deal, so on Sunday I had the relationship talk with her, and we were an official couple. During the next year and four months, we were lavished by God’s grace through our ups and downs, our joy and our struggles, and our distance and intimacy. His grace healed our wounds that were caused by our sins against each other, but through them we gained some of the most valuable experience in our lives. 

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

Bachelorette Party Ideas That Might Make Your Mother Blush

However, the modern bride-to-be isn’t just sitting at home watching chick flicks with friends for their last night as single women. There are several new trends with Bachelorette parties that are giving the infamous Bachelor parties a run for their money. There are countless new ideas for this party like taking a beach or city weekend getaway, taking a class with pals on anything from cooking to dancing, or adding a personal touch to a lingerie party. From hosting quirky “Passion Parties” at your home with gifts for the wedding night, to getting a male exotic dancer for a fun and hilarious spin on the night, to creating an unusually fun check list for her to complete, women are coming up with more upbeat, unique, and exciting things to close their single days with a bang.

Take for instance, Britney Parrish. Britney just graduated from UGA in the spring, and will say her “I-Do’s” next month. Her closest girlfriends swept her away to a weekend in Atlanta to celebrate her rapidly approaching wedding day, and last few days of being single. For a night out on the town, they embarked in a private pole-dancing class together, and ventured to an Atlanta bar, Leopard Lounge. Decked out in hilarious wedding night memorabilia, a hot pink boa, and princess tiara, Britney had the perfect night out.

Overall, this night should be something that the bride-to-be is comfortable with, but also something she wouldn’t do on an ordinary night out. Bachelorette parties are a great opportunity to have fun with your best girlfriends, while also being there to celebrate this new, exciting chapter in her life.

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

The Fourth in Athens

Greenway Tikes, Trikes, and Strollers Independence Day Parade

July 3, 2009

Parade for the kiddies starting at 10AM at Greenway.

Watkinsville Oconee’s Wonder 4th

July 3, 2009 to July 4, 2009

Free event with an art tour on Friday and an old historic celebration on Saturday. (Downtown Watkinsville)

Red, White & Brewgrass Festival

July 4, 2009

Hosted by Packway Handle Band & The Melting Point, this event will feature the region’s best bluegrass and Americana bands. (Foundry Park Inn and Spa)

Star Spangled Classic 2009

July 4, 2009

Spectacular Firework show at Bishop Park.

4th of July with Terrapin Brewery

July 4, 2009

Celebrate the 4th with a pre-fireworks tour and a new cask release. 5:30-7:30 p.m.

 Classic City Band Concert

July 5, 2009

Great music, free parking, and seating inside our air-conditioned Conservatory, this is the concert you will want to attend this weekend. (State Botanical Garden of Georgia)

Photo by Blane Marable

Athens surely has many activities to offer this holiday weekend, so be sure to make the best of it by partaking in one of these celebrations with family and friends. Happy 4th of July!

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

AthFest 2009

June 30, 2009

Photo by Blane Marable

The thick scent of sweat, beer and cigarettes filled the air this past weekend as thousands crowded the streets of downtown Athens to celebrate the musical festival known as AthFest. This annual non-profit celebration showcases the up and coming artists, as well as favorites, of the Classic City.

 

Photo by Blane Marable

AthFest is among the most celebrated and anticipated weekends each year for the unique crowd it draws, and vibrant energy it brings to the streets of downtown. The weekend consisted of free outdoor stage performances with the main stages located on Washington Street. Purchasing a $20 wristband however, allowed unlimited access to the numerous bars and other venues downtown to watch the performances.  With 173 bands participating in the festival, downtown was jam-packed with both locals and visitors eager for a taste of what the thriving Athens music scene had to offer.  Some of the favorites of the weekend were Dead Confederate, Nappy Roots, The Black Lips, and The Young Sinclairs.

With it’s eclectic and unique sounds, Athens has been praised as the birthplace of such mega-artists as R.E.M and the B-52’s. It has long been considered a music Mecca of the South and continues this legacy by hosting AthFest each summer.

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

Nicole Miller Bridal Sale This

Weekend!

Nicole Miller Atlanta
3393 Peachtree Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30326
404.261.0202 Phone

Happy Shopping!

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

Wedding Florals 101

From working at Carl House this summer, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with some of the wedding industry’s top entrepreneurs. I have learned so much working with Carl House’s Senior Wedding Coordinator, Denise Myers, who has helped brides plan their big days for the past fifteen years. Denise was recently inspired by her love for planning weddings to open her own floral company, TruSo Flowers.

It’s just picking a few flowers, telling a florist, and them putting together a pretty bouquet, right? How time-consuming could choosing your wedding flowers be? Denise sat me down and gave me the highlights.

According to Denise, choosing your color pallet for the day should definitely be your first step. She recommends choosing two main colors and an accent color. Don’t just pick your favorite colors in the world, but what colors reflect the mood you’re trying to create? What colors go with the season your wedding is in? What colors flow with the venue? The flowers truly are the backdrop to the feel of the entire day, so making sure that the colors mirror your mood is crucial.

Next, Denise says it’s always helpful to come to your florist with any sort of ideas you have clearly laid out. Walk around outside, in your favorite garden, in your favorite outside location, your local flower market: know what visually appeals to you. Bringing pictures to your first meeting with the florist ensures that they will know your ideas perfectly, too. Even if you only have one flower that you know you want in your bouquet, bring it and they should be able to create off this bare minimum. Denise says that many times brides will bring vague ideas to her and then rely on her expertise and design to bring it all together.

Once you have the basic idea of the flowers and color with your florist, it’s time to design the centerpieces and bridal party flowers. Denise recommends height variation in the centerpieces to help eyes flow across the reception room. You should also consider your venue when you think about how your florals will look in this site. The venue style should most definitely compliment the flowers. For example, does your evnue have high ceilings? Then you might consider tall arrangements, so that they are proportionate. However, you don’t want to choose flowers that will block converstion so make them higher or lower than eye-level.

The bridesmaide’s bouquets should all coordinte with the brides’ but they should not mirror it exactly. You’ll probably want your bouquet to be more embellished maybe by a small decoration, color variation or using an orchid or another eye-catching flower.

Who knew wedding flowers took so much thought? Contact Denise Myers at TruSo Flowers to help with your wedding’s floral arrangements. (770) 639-4739

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

Discovering Small Treasures of Athens

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

The 411 on Being a Bridesmaid

My older sister, Katie walked in the house this past Sunday morning with yet another brightly colored bridesmaid dress draped over her arm, hair still slightly curled, traces of her professionally done make-up. All signs of yet another wedding she’s been in.  She’s had her share of bridesmaid duty, as she has stood next to no less than seven friends as they’ve said their “I-Do’s” at the altar. That’s seven different dresses, seven different locations, seven different themes; the whole nine yards.

After seeing pictures from the latest wedding, I told her how I couldn’t wait for my friends to start getting engaged so that I too could be a part of the wedding party excitement with the pictures, the gifts, and of course the dresses. Katie told me how much she genuinely enjoyed being there to support her friends through one of the most important occasions of their lives, but also explained that there’s much more to it than just the glitz and glamour of being a part of the wedding party.

Photo by: Blane Marable

First there’s the outfit for the wedding. She’s personally paid for all seven of the cocktail and floor-length dresses she’s worn, usually costing about $150-$250 a piece. It’s completely understandable they pay for their own wear considering the large amount the couple already has to cover, I just had no idea this was part of their duty. She also has paid for the shoes, jewelry, and on some occasion’s professional make-up and hair-styling services. All the dresses hang in her closet at home, too formal or obviously bridesmaide-ish to wear outside of the wedding. Ultimately, the bride had the final decision when it came to her appearance too. One friend even had each member of the bridal party sign a contract they wouldn’t drastically change their appearance before the wedding day. I was shocked!

Then, there are the events leading up to the big day. There are the countless showers, engagement parties, and meetings to help the bride prepare. She saw it all: fittings, tastings, photo shoots, rehearsals, and any other times that the bride might need an extra opinion or deciding factor when it came to planning the wedding.

It truly is an honor for a friend to ask you to be in their bridal party, but clearly it’s a rather large duty as well. It shows that they value the friendship enough to personally request your presence and support through this exciting, yet tedious process. As my sister explained to me, the joy of seeing two loved ones make this monumental commitment to each other, far outweighs the small duties requested of you in the time leading up to the actual wedding. 

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

Decorating Your First Home

June 11th, 2009

Since moving out of my last Athens residence in May, I have been on an endless search for the perfect decorations, bedding, and furniture for my first true home.  I’ve looked high and low in stores, online, from people selling their furniture who are leaving Athens, everywhere. But then I have to stop myself and ask, is this really worth it when it might only last for a year?

Let me explain. Freshman year my dorm room looked like something had exploded in it. As my first mark of true freedom, I decorated using the most bright, obnoxious colors of orange and green. By the end of the school year, I literally had to throw it all way in sickness from at looking at it. Moving onto my second year in Athens, my FIVE other roommates and I thought we would choose the ultimate girl colors appropriate for living in a sorority house: pink and black. We wasted so much money on junk with our letters on it and buying anything and everything with even the slightest hint of pink, black, or white on it. I mean everything. Mirrors, rugs, candles, vases, picture frames. You name it; we had bought it for our room. Yet another move-out came when we couldn’t stand to look at our decorations, much less even think of using them again in our next abode.

These past two years I’ve wasted too much money buying those room items I just had to have that didn’t really evolve with my maturing tastes. So my advice when decorating your new room or home in Athens? Buy things that you’re likely to use over and over again.  When getting the big pieces like your furniture and tables, buy the neutral and simple pieces that can go with almost anything. Then add the small, trendy, new looking accents that can add spice to the house. It’s not easy, I have to resist the urge when walking into Ikea to buy that cool looking bed-frame, tree-like light fixture, or bright blue arm chair, but then I think, ‘Am I going to use this after leaving Athens? After this year even?’

Another tip is to look around your parents’ home before hitting up Ikea and Anthropologie. My roommate Kate decided instead of buying a new bed frame, she would re-paint and refurbish an antique-looking door not being used at her home. She’s much more creative than I am, but my point is that we all have things from home that can be used in our apartments to look and function much differently than they did in our parents’ homes. My new roommates and I also just bought our living room furniture from older girls who were selling their stuff when moving to Atlanta. Our buy was much less expensive than if purchased in stores, and it will give us a more eclectic look when bringing items together for the living room.

Decorating our first homes should be really fun and exciting, but it also shouldn’t be something we have to spend $600 on every year. If we look for more neutral pieces, and look for ways to update items used in the past, we can keep our quest for the perfect decorations cost-effective without sacrificing the appearance. 

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

The ‘New’ Summer of Women in Athens

June 9th, 2009

Gone are the days of lounging by the pool for endless hours. Long gone are the countless vacations, nightly outings with friends, and spontaneous road trips. No, those carefree summer days of yesteryear are now being replaced with high-powered summer internships. Seems unlikely for a college student to give these commodities up? Think again. With today’s troubled economy, young university women are more eager than ever to use their summer breaks to get ahead in their career even before graduation.

Take for instance, Megan Troutt.  She has utilized her summers away from class to intern in Atlanta at such places as Skirt! Magazine and United Renewable Energy. Although she admits she can’t do as much with friends at night, or take off weeks for summer fun, she knows her choice will pay off when getting a job after the good ol’ days at UGA. “I knew my summers were the only time I had to work this much. I want people to know when hiring me that I put in the work, got some experience I needed, and gained credibility in the work place.”

These Georgia women aren’t just staying within the perimeter either. They’re expanding their borders like Ashley Teale. Ashley is a senior at UGA but for the summer she is a resident of the Big Apple. As an intern for Kate Edmonds Events, a typical day for this busy girl consists of running errands for her boss, answering phone calls with a chipper tone and managing the many e-mails that filled the office. She explains, “I wanted this internship because I felt like it would be a great way to dive head first into a career that I’m extremely interested in. What better way to figure out if this is what I want to do than moving to New York and working in the industry?” For many like Ashley, the summertime has proved to be a working opportunity without the confines of a class schedule, rather than relaxing time away from class.

                                                                    Ashley and friends out in NYC.

Overall, a new era of motivated, career-driven women is emerging from the University of Georgia, all of whom are willing to sacrifice a few days by the pool to jump-start their professional lives. 

Emily

Bella Local Weddings

Hello!

June 4th, 2009

Bella Local Weddings Alpha Chi Omega, athens, Bella Weddings Guide, engagements, ga, Kristi Caudell Smith, local wedding, sorority, UGA