October 2010 Archive

LT Travel Connection wanted to speak to the adventurous with today’s Honeymoon Friday post, and they hit the nail on the head. How does staying in a hotel made entirely of ice and snow sound? One where it’s helpful to have another, albeit more traditional, hotel suite for your luggage and showers?

That’s exactly the experience you get with Québec’s Hôtel de Glace. The hotel is redesigned every year and debuts in the winter. It’s open from the first week of January until the last week of March (for 2011: January 7-March 27) every year.

And here’s a great deal: for $599/person, you get several perks: a themed suite at the Hôtel de Glace, a suite with a fireplace at the nearby Four Points by Sheraton Québec for luggage storage and showers, complimentary welcome drinks, a romantic dinner, after dinner chocolates, Nordic area under-the-stars hot tubs and saunas, breakfast, a welcome gift, personal valet service, and all gratuities. I’m almost out of breath just typing it all. And now, of course, on to the photos!

Photos by Xavier Dachez via the LA Time’s Offbeat Traveler.

This is the super cool Ice Bar at the hotel. The drinks are served in glasses made out of – what else? – ice.

One of the themed bedrooms. The beds have ice bases but are then covered with a mattress, box springs, sheets, and an Arctic-proof sleeping bag.

Okay, I’m sold! Take a tour of the hotel and get a chance to slide down the ice slide!

I couldn’t resist showing you a couple of wedding portraits (via the Femtalks blog) from the hotel. How cool would a destination wedding be at this place? They even have an ice chapel (no kidding)!

I’m in total love with her hand muffs!

See the hotel’s FAQ for lots of helpful info, and thanks to LT Travel Connection for thinking outside of the box on today’s adventurous location!

In the wake of Maura Kelly’s “fat people rant” on Marie Claire’s blog and since the beginning of Say Yes to the Dress: Big Bliss, I have been slapped-in-the-face aware of how little plus size clothing I share in the Daily Dress feature. This really bothered me, because as a plus size woman myself, I understand how frustrating it can be to find clothes that fit and flatter at the same time. Stores geared toward plus size girls don’t really seem to get it, either. They throw on extra ruffles, embellishments, and patterns to disguise bad cuts and unflattering shapes.

If I have such a hard time finding cute clothes for just work and play, I can’t imagine the added pressure that a lot of plus size brides might feel when shopping for a wedding dress. So I went searching for the perfect plus size dress, and let’s just say this: there’s not much out there. But don’t let that get you down! I did come away with beautiful options for girls like me: we may have a little extra weight on us, but we still want to look chic, elegant, and sophisticated on our wedding day.

Alfred Angelo has a nice selection of bridal gowns that are available in plus sizes. I really love the asymmetrical lace and beading which creates nice waist and carries the eye down the body.

I had such a hard time picking my favorite photo of this week, especially when I spotted this engagement session by Jamie Howell Photography. Lauren + Drew’s shoot took place at Berry College in Rome, Georgia, which is absolutely stunning in the fall. I love this shot of the two of them standing underneath this gorgeous tunnel of trees.

I love this chiffon dress with a beaded twist neckline by JS Boutique. The embellished straps create a keyhole opening and a hint of shimmer for a nighttime event.