Mrs. Lovebug, Tucson
Age and Occupation in 06: 31, Writer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Professional Game Show Contestant
Engagement Date: February 18, 2007
Wedding Date: April 19, 2008
Venue: Historic Inn
About Me: Likes: blogging, wikis, semi-colons, cuddling, fragrant flowers, syntax, and spooning. Dislikes: typos, dangling modifiers, flypaper, citronella candles, and run-ons. If I had my druthers, I'd exchange simple vows in a candlelit library. But I lost my druthers long ago...anyone seen them?
At Your (Public) Service
April 4th, 2008 @ 1:32 pm by Mrs. Lovebug
The readers have spoken. They have said, “Yo, ’Bug. Show us the bling.” Specifically, the lariat I wore to my first fitting. Alors, voila!
And here it is, closer:
I purchased it at an accessories trunk show at Destiny’s Bride in Scottsdale last year. I’m afraid I only remember the designer’s first name - Renee. But I’m sure they know how to find her. Oddly, they’ve let their website expire, but the phone number is 480.368.8868. It was around $100, if I remember correctly.
Renee had a lot of really, really beautiful pieces like this. Pearls, crystals, lariats, chains, combs, hair pins - you name it. If this is the style you’re looking for, she’s your woman. Sorry I don’t have a direct link. 
And just for fun, here’s an older necklace I briefly considered wearing:
It’s a Trina Tarantino (from Zoe on 4th, for local girls) that I loooooove intensely. It’s just so rockstar. But I chickened out of it for the wedding. It’s maybe a touch too rockstar for my dress…? But look how gorgeous the star is up close:
Anyhow, that’s the DL on my neckwear.
But real quick, upon seeing these disturbing, close-up photos of my skin, I’m going to bust out into a PSA…
For years, I tanned like a maniac, both in the sun and in the salon. And yeah, my skin looked pretty spectacular:
BUT JUST SCROLL UP AND TAKE A GANDER AT MY DERMIS NOW, PEEPS. Mottled and damaged.
Never, ever, ever, ever tan. If you do now, STOP. It’s. Not. Worth. It.
That is all. 
21 Responses to “At Your (Public) Service”
Super cute necklace.
Not that I don’t agree with the PSA, tanning is bad and it is silly that something that terrible for you is considered attractive and not one’s natural skin color but anyway your skin now doesn’t look “mottled and damaged”. Don’t be too hard on yourself, good for you for stopping now, it is never too late to save your skin!!!
I thought that was a picture from a J Crew catalog at first. I want your body (boobs and all). REAL jealous. I love being tan, but I freckle easily so I am trying to be better about that.
I also enjoy the necklace. Very pretty!
I now have huge scars on my back and arms from tanning and sun damage — I was first diagnosed with skin cancer at the age of 18 and in the past eight years, the dermatologist has continously been hacking away at my “suspect” areas. I agree with you, LB. It’s not worth it!
Lovebug~ love the bling! And I can’t stop looking at your picture! You will hear the sound of breaking hearts from guys and gals all around the world in two weeks.
Kara~ I’m so sorry to hear that happened to you.
You’ve all pretty much answered my question of whether I should tan the days before the wedding while I’m in Cancun…
Thank you for that PSA. So many brides go crazy with the tanning in preparation for the wedding, and maybe you will remind some of them that it’s not worth it! There are plenty of ways to be vain that won’t cause so much damage in the future!
P.S. LOVE that star necklace! But I agree that it is a tad too rockstar for your dress — the one you will be wearing is beautiful!
I would just like to thank you for writing “voila” instead of “wahlah”. Seriously, thank you a million times.
P.S. Love the rockstar necklace!
Thanks, Miss Lovebird - I’m a destination bride too (Grand Cayman!), and I’ve thought about spray tan, or even self-tanner…It’s going to suck being the pastiest person in our wedding party, but I’m hoping it will look more like “bridal glow” than pure paste.
Wow! You’re hot! I’m completely not into unnatural tanning, it’s time consuming, costly, dangerous, and usually looks pretty silly anyway.
I found similar necklaces at wishgiving.com; I think they are a bit more pricey, though.
Lovin’ me the lariat! Anything that droops down in the back… ahhhhhhh!
Your skin does NOT LOOK THAT BAD! I’m so proud that you stopped though! My mom had melanoma, and she’s like Kara- the dermo will hack away anything that looks suspect. It’s just not worth it!
Adore the teeny weeny yellow-polka-dot bikini! Too cute!
Another person on on board with your anti-tanning message! My dad has quite severe sun cancers and it’s no fun at all. It’s not worth looking cuter now if you’ll be in that much pain later.
Fake tanning gets better ever year, make the most of it!
love the necklace.
Love the photo (and yes, I thought it was a jcrew ad too)
Haha! When I look at my neck now, I severely regret all those summers in the sun.
lovebug is hot!
Damn girl… You are a hottie. If i’m not mistaken though, I think you mean tarina tarantino as the designer of the star necklace… I’m a long time fan of hers. You should link her!
Damn girl… You are a hottie. If i’m not mistaken though, I think you mean tarina tarantino as the designer of the star necklace… I’m a long time fan of hers. You should link her!
We all knew you were a hottie before the half-nekkid swimsuit sideboob picture. 
FWIW, I like freckles.
i don’t think you should wear a necklace or any jewelry for that matter because your dress is gorgeous! do you mind sharing with us on where you purchased it?
People change shoes, remove headpieces, change hairstyles, add cardigans, all sorts of stuff during the course of the evening. No reason you can’t bust out the rock star bling for a couple of hours. Might be fun to see who notices.
[…] She makes jewelry, and had the idea of adding a blue Swarovski heart-shaped crystal to the back of my necklace. Check out her […]
