BestieTalks

BestieTalks

Relationships Can be Beautiful or They Can be Messy but Either Way, You Learn From Them!

Wedding Planning Made Easy

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Wedding Planning Made Easy

Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting times in a person’s life. But, with the excitement, most always comes stress, which is why using an all-in-one wedding website can be a lifesaver! Using a wedding website will allow you to organize your addresses, invitations, RSVP’s, and even keep your guests up to date on all the latest details of your BIG day. A wedding website is resourceful on so many levels, but how do you know a good wedding website from a mediocre one? Take a look at their samples and see if their vibe matches yours. Do they have the specific qualities you are looking for in a wedding website? DO they offer products and services that will make your wedding planning easier?

Basic Invite

Basic Invite is an all-in-one wedding website that we highly recommend! They offer free wedding websites that are completely customizable and are mobile-friendly so you can plan on the go. Instantly upload all your wedding details, images and even a map with directions for your guest; it’s as simple as that! Simple, convenient and affordable wedding planning at your fingertips.

Basic Invite is one of the few wedding websites that offers customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. And you can change the color of each element on a card, with over 180 different color options. As a result, the card can be exactly how you want it, even down to the littlest detail. Your wedding should be exactly the way you want it, and Basic Invite can help make your dream day a reality!

Stationary Needs

Not only do they offer great wedding websites but they have you covered with all your announcements and initiations. They offer all of the wedding stationery you need, like save the dates, wedding invitations, enclosure cards, wedding menus, wedding programs, and even matching thank you cards! With over 900 invitation sets and 40 different envelope colors to choose from, you can customize every aspect of your wedding to be exactly what you want. From glamorous to informal wedding invitations, there is something for everyone!

Bonus Features

Basic Invite makes it simple to request your guests’ addresses in just three simple steps. Share a link via social media or email, collect addresses, and get free envelope printing. This feature is amazing because it removes the hassle of gathering addresses.

Basic Invite’s newest collection is Seal & Send wedding invitations. They are an all-in-one wedding invitation with a tear-off RSVP postcard included, and brides absolutely love them! Of course, these are customizable as well. What’s special about Seal & Sends is that guest’s addresses are printed on the front of each invitation so no envelope is necessary!

Wedding Planning Made With YOU in Mind

With all the help from Basic Invite, wedding planning doesn’t have to be so stressful. Everything will look uniformed, classy and be made of the highest quality. You are able to edit everything to your standard and it is always available at your fingertips. Whether you’re newly engaged or are in the middle of planning your big day, Basic Invite is the way to go!

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Gift Guide For The Person Who Has Everything

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Gift Season

Tis the season for giving! But what do you give the person who seems to have everything? This is where we would like to help you out with our gift giving guide. 

Let the Giving Begin!

  • Subscription- A subscription is the type of gift that keeps on giving. Every year, I subscribe to a children’s magazine and have it sent to my niece’s house. I used to love receiving magazines in the mail as a kid and I wanted to keep the tradition going. Now, my nieces absolutely love getting their Highlights, Zoobooks, or National Geographic magazines in the mailbox. There is beauty box subscriptions and even yoga subscriptions! There’s pretty much a subscription box out there for everyone! Allure, Sephora, Buddhibox , etc. I was gifted the Buddhibox for my birthday and it is an amazing subscription. It comes with crystals, candles and all kinds of fabulous goodies! The Allure box is only $15 a month as well! Very affordable!
  • Cheap Hotel Stay- Providing someone with a paid hotel stay gives them an excuse to get out of town and explore another city. One to two nights is plenty as a gift. Groupon and Expedia have great hotel deals and make it easy to give this as a gift without letting the receiver know how much you spent. 
  • Nail, Massage or Day Spa Gift Card– If you know someone who loves getting their nails done or loves a good spa day then this is a great gift option! We both get our nails done religiously and trust us- a nail gift card would make someone totally happy! This could go to a male or female and they would happily pamper themselves.
  • Cookbooks or Cookware– Just about every other person out there is trying some sort of new diet or exploring alternative food options. A new Paleo, Vegan or Keto cookbook could help inspire them! Amazon is great for items like this as well. Simple but useful!
  • Pet Lover Gifts– Do you know someone who is completely obsessed with their animal?! Get creative and have a handmade portrait of them and their pet made on Etsy! There are so many cute and affordable options out there. There are vendors on Etsy who make beautiful artwork that can bring a photograph to life and make it into a piece of artwork! Just snoop your friends social media ( because you know they have their animal on there somewhere ) and send that pic over to the person you pick on Etsy and they will make you a keepsake gift to give this holiday season!
    I had this made of Neecy Girl via Etsy!Happy Gift Giving!

    Happy Gift Giving !

We hope that this quick gift guide gave you some inspiration for that person in your life who is tricky to shop for! Gifts are not about the cost but the meaning and thought behind them. These gifts are something that if given to the right person- they will be so thankful! Happy Holidays!!

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5 Ways to Minimize Holiday Stress

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The Most Wonderful or Stressful Time of Year?

December is a month that either you love, hate or tolerate. For some, Christmas is a very stressful time of year. Between all the decorations, food, parties, gifts to buy, traveling and entertaining family and friends and money, it is easy to let stress get the best of you.  We get so caught up in all the things that we feel we “have to do” for Christmas that we forget the meaning of Christmas. What about making it a priority to just enjoy the month of December? Choosing to be happy instead of stressed? We have 5 ways to help you make this Christmas one to remember- not one you want to forget.

5 Ways To Minimize Holiday Stress

  1. Avoid the mall: The mall this time of year is a fucking zoo! People everywhere and parking is a pain in the ass. You’re stressed before you even get into the mall! How about avoiding it altogether? Last year was my first year doing all of my shopping outside of the mall and it was a success! It’s easier than ever to get everything you need online. Amazon, Target, Walmart (free 2-day shipping w/out a membership) are all the obvious choices to find just about anything and everything on your gift list. FashionNova.com is another personal favorite if you are shopping for someone who loves clothes and they ALWAYS have discount codes you can easily find online. H&M, Victoria’s Secret, Wayfair, and Barnes & Noble are all great online shopping options as well! 
  2. Make Time for Yourself: Ok, so you just wrapped 73 gifts and decorated the entire house to look like the North Pole. That deserves a break and some relaxation. Watch your favorite Christmas movie and just CHILL. Make yourself some tea or your favorite cocktail and cuddle up on the couch. Read a book that you have been wanting to finish or take a bubble bath. You don’t need to give every minute of your day to others. You matter too and pampering yourself can be a gift to yourself! Self-care is important! Just remember to slow down and smile 🙂 
  3. Combat Stress With a Workout: Yes, exercise is pretty much our answer to all of our problems. It just makes you happy! Endorphins pumping lead to smiling and reducing stress. It’s a fact. Keep up with your workout routine during the holidays or start a new one if you already don’t have one. Hit up a yoga studio, the gym, go for a run or walk, jump-rope at home etc. Just do something to work your body and release that stress! If you don’t want to pay for a membership you can always do workouts at home following a YouTube channel!
  4. Be okay with Saying “No”: Lots of people want your time during the holiday season and that can be overwhelming. Saying no to some things is completely fine and can help you feel less stress. Spreading yourself too thin is a major cause of stress so try to stay away from doing that. Instead, communicate with people and they should respect your decision. It is a busy time of year so, using your time wisely will help you decrease stress. Weekends can be filled with parties, get-togethers and other events but don’t think you have to be apart of every single one. 
  5. Enjoy this time of year: The Holiday season can be stressful enough. Spending time with family can also be stressful for some people too. Do what makes you happy! That is what it is all about. Start a new tradition, do something with only your immediate family or a small group of friends. Things don’t always have to be so big and bold during the holiday season. If simplicity makes you happy, stick with that. Just enjoy this time of year because it will be over before you know it. 

Have a Merry Christmas

We hope that you found these tips useful and hopefully they inspired you to look at December in a different way. This really is a wonderful time of year and if you take the time to appreciate it you will have more happy memories and less stressful days. Cheers to a stress-free Christmas!

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Interracial Friendships

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Ebony and Ivory 

Recently we were contacted by a writer, Charmin Michelle, for XoNecole.com.  She found us on IG using #ebonyandivory and reached out to see if we were interested in being interviewed about our interracial friendship.  Umm.. OF COURSE WE WERE INTERESTED!

Necole Bitchie = XO Necole

For those that might not be familiar with XoNecole, it used to be called Necole Bitchie and we used to read it TOUGH back in the day. It used to be more of a gossip website and it was an extremely well-composed blog.  We were super bummed when Necole stepped back from blogging and shut down her site. It was one of those sites that you peeped daily. But, now she is back with a new vibe and new grown woman site (that we absolutely love). Getting asked to be featured on XoNecole after all of the years of being a loyal reader of Necole Bitchie, made this an extra special opportunity that we couldn’t pass up.

Click here for quick access to the article!

The Interview

The interview consisted of questions surrounding our interracial friendship, how it has evolved and what we have learned from one another. An all-around glimpse into friendships of black and white women in today’s society. We would love for you to check out what was said on this topic! This article will have a ‘part 2’ that will feature the black friend’s responses to the same questions. We are equally excited about that perspective and will share it when it is released. Please head over to XoNecole by clicking here to check out our feature!

 Can you Relate?!

We would LOVE your feedback on this topic! Drop us a note and tell us about your interracial friendship stories!  

A picture from our first year of friendship 15+ years ago!
A photo of us from our first year of friendship 15+ years ago!
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A Friendship With Addiction – A Poem –

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You were so young that maybe you didn’t realize the new friendship that you made.

It made you feel good and helped you escape the troubles that clouded your mind and judgment.

It made you feel like you were dancing in a field of flowers but you couldn’t see that you were holding hands with the devil.

You slowly started to change and it was as if you convinced yourself that no one would ever notice.

But I noticed.

Your friendship consumed you and I tried to convince you to walk away. I tried to explain how this friendship would slowly destroy you.

But you didn’t listen.

All you cared about was hanging around people with similar friendships. In your eyes, they were the only ones who understood you.

I tried to understand but you wouldn’t let me.

Your friendship tricked you into thinking that you were okay, that you could stop at any time.

But you couldn’t stop.

The high points made you feel invincible but the sobering morning sun would remind you of your weakness.

That weakness made you run right back to your friend for another hit of mind numbing infectious poison.

That poison contaminated your entire body and spilled out into your life.

It even splattered onto those that you love.

Your friendship contaminated more than just you, but you were too high on that friendship to see it.

Your dysfunctional friendship destroyed your self-worth and I could no longer see happiness in your eyes.

Your friendship with addiction has led you down an isolate road that only you have the directions to.

I tried to find you and bring you back, but only you can find your way home.

I’ll be here waiting for you when you are ready for a new friendship.

A friendship that makes you feel happy and inspires you to be the person that I used to know.

She is still inside you. You just have to find the strength to bring her back out.

Your friendship with addiction is a friendship that never should have been.

When you finally cut ties you will be able to see that through clear eyes.

Clarity to see that a friendship shouldn’t slowly drown you.

The clarity to see that a friendship with addiction is not a friendship at all.

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Call Me Maybe

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Change The Way You Keep in Touch

Communication has drastically changed over the years. As with all the things, there are positives and negatives. Being able to contact anyone in seconds is fucking amazing, but have we lost touch with the emotional part of the contact? It’s so easy to just send a text and not actually call someone, but should you be making more of an effort to actually talk (not text) with certain people in your life? Does commenting on someone’s picture on social media really keep you in touch with that person? There is a lot that goes on in someones daily life that isn’t shown online.

A call to see how someone’s doing instead of asking them through text, can strengthen your friendships and relationships. Hearing someone’s voice makes all the difference. The next time you genuinely want to reach out to someone, switch up how you would normally contact them. Is there someone you care about but haven’t talked to in a while? Someone that lives far away that you haven’t seen recently? Someone you have been thinking about calling but never seen to get around to do it? Or maybe even someone you just want to say “thank you” to?

It’s time to change the way you keep in touch!


Our Favorite Ways of Keeping in Touch

  • Call Em‘: Nowadays we are so quick to send a text or Snapchat when we want to get a hold of someone. Try giving that person a call instead. This way they can hear the excitement in your voice when they answer and a simple, “hi” might grow into a much-needed conversation. A simple phone call is a great way to brighten anyone’s day. 
  • Leave a Voicemail: So you called and they didn’t answer. Leave a sweet voicemail saying why you called and let them know that they don’t have to call back or that you’re looking forward to hearing from them. Either way, it lets the person know that they mean enough for you to leave a happy voicemail they can always refer to.  
  • FaceTime: We love getting FaceTimes from each other! We’re not the type that needs to be “FaceTime-ready” and always get super excited when we hear that special FaceTime ring. We can be chilling on the couch, out at a bar or FaceTiming each other so they can say hi to the people we are with. It can just be so nice to see someone’s face sometimes.
  • Old Fashion Snail Mail:  We still love getting a personal letter in the mail without knowing that it’s coming. There is nothing like someone taking their personal time to put pen to pad just to send you a note. And this can be as simple as a single fold card that says “thinking about you”. Getting a letter in the mail can spark joy in someone’s heart! 

Ready..Set…Dial!

Both of us are making a conscious effort to change the way we are staying in touch with the people in our lives. We personally have had 15 years of perfecting the art of staying in touch. Living in different states, but communicating constantly, is what makes us the Besties we are today. So yeah, we guess you can consider us experts in this area! We all live busy lives, but if you care about someone enough then try making the extra effort to actually keep up with them on a more personal level. We encourage you to give this a shot with us and see how many peoples day you can make, just by changing up the way you keep in touch!   

Can you relate to this topic? Is there someone that came to mind that you should reach out to? Tell us your thoughts and your favorite way of keeping in touch!

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