Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

My little family and I will be staying home today, and I’m cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the very first time! Thank goodness it’s only for the three of us — no pressure. Whew!

We’re having turkey, mushroom-and-hazelnut dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, baked yams, salad, bread, and pecan pie. And I’m proud (and a bit nervous) to say that with the exception of the bread, every last bit of it will be from scratch! (I love baking bread, but I’m only one woman. I had to draw the line somewhere.)

Of course my family and I are thankful for one another and for the prosperity that allows us to enjoy such a (hopefully) sumptuous meal later on today, but we’re also thankful for all of you. Mr. Husband is always asking about my brides and grooms and he gets to know you almost as well as I do, and of course many of you have met Little D at some point in your planning process. Whether you know it or not, you’re kinda part of the family. And of course, I’m thankful for all of you readers, too.

Today and every day, we wish you all much love and happiness.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Okay, so maybe it’s shallow, but among the many other more worthy things for which I give thanks (family, friends, food, shelter… the big things), I also give thanks for sales. And I give thanks for (and to!) those who clue me in to the really good sales. It’s no secret that the total bill for a bride’s gorgeous attire can add up pretty quickly, so in my book, a bridal salon event is really, really good.

In the spirit of giving, I’ve spent the morning hunting down sales happening between now and the end of the year at DC-area bridal salons. Some of them are even starting the day after Thanksgiving. And it’s not just about the bride: There are some good sales happening on bridesmaids’ and flower girls’ dresses as well. What better way to spend the day after Turkey Day than to hit the bridal salons? Leave the boys at home with their football games and take your bridesmaids out for a day of shopping.

Read, clap with glee, then get on the phone and start making appointments as necessary. You can thank me later.  :)

Blueberries Bridal, Kensington, Maryland
Now through November 30th, 2008
10% + $10.00 off Suri bridesmaid dresses

Now through December 1st, 2008
10% off little girl dresses

Dharma & Leopold’s, Warrenton, Virginia
(super-cute clothes for your flower girl and ring bearer)
Valid through December 24, 2008
Coupon worth 15% off any one item

Distinctive Designs Bridal, Rockville, Maryland
Now through December 31st, 2008
Sample Sale (up to 75% off!)

Formalities Bridal, Winchester, Virginia
Now through December 23rd, 2008
Bring in a toy to donate to Toys for Tots and get 10% off any dress purchased that day

Hannelore’s, Alexandria, Virginia
Going on now!
Sample Sale (up to 50% off!)

TLC Bridal Boutique, Frederick, Maryland
Going on now!
Sample Sale (many gowns priced at $99.00!)

David’s Bridal, locations throughout the DC area
November 26th - December 1st, 2008
Sample Sale (50% off select styles)

The Barn, Bunker Hill, West Virginia
November 28th, 2008
50% off all out-of-stock wedding gowns

Promise, Bethesda, Maryland
November 29th - December 31st, 2008
Winter Sample Sale

Carine’s Bridal Atelier, Washington, DC
December 7th, 2008
Sample Sale (up to 75% off!) at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner

Last week I had the pleasure of lunching at the Carlyle Club with Arlene Hewitt, who generously invited me for a visit.

The Carlyle Club is a relatively new venue; however, you’d never know it.  It’s a painstaking recreation of a 1930s supper club that immediately transports you back to the swing era. No art deco detail has been spared, and Arlene explained that many of the decorative items — including the carpets! — were imported from Europe. The supper club atmosphere doesn’t stop at the decor: Our lunch was served at a table with white linens and lovely china by a tuxedoed waiter who unobtrusively attended to our every need. It was nice to enjoy the kind of service that, for better or worse, is becoming something of a throwback in our rapid-paced society.

My spinach salad with chicken was delicious, and Arlene’s plate of squash ravioli looked pretty yummy too. The special events menus feature a wide range of possibilities, and I’m sure they’re all equally tasty.

After lunch and a great conversation all about being businesswomen in Alexandria, Arlene took me on a brief tour of the club.  In addition to the main dining room, there’s a private VIP room, a beautiful bar, and a luxurious bathroom that would be a nice getting-ready area for a bride and her maids.

I tried to take some photos to share, but most of them turned out pretty awful (I’m still learning my way around our new DSLR).  Here’s a picture of the bar:

There are many other great pictures on the Gallery page on the Club’s website.

The Carlyle Club can accommodate up to 250 people, although a smaller group would probably allow for better use of the dance floor. The Club features a large raised bandstand and a beautiful parquet dance floor your guests will love. Their A/V capabilities include an excellent sound system, some special lighting, and even video! Parking for your guests is available in a nearby garage, and the Club can arrange valet parking service for a very reasonable rate.

Like any good supper club, the Carlyle Club is open for lunch and dinner almost every day, and frequently hosts local and national dance bands. Check them out for your next date night, and if you’d like a bit of a vintage, classy atmosphere for your wedding and reception, then be sure to add the Club to your list of venue possibilities.