HOW TO BROIL GRAPEFRUIT

I have been on a huge grapefruit kick lately. An in-season, bright and tangy treat. I shared on Instagram how I sometimes broil my grapefruit, and got a few questions asking for more details. Sharing them here in case in helps somebody else wanting to try this method.

It's simple: 

1. Slice your grapefruit in half and sprinkle with desired amount of sugar.

2. Place on a foil-lined baking tray.

3. Broil in the oven on high for a few minutes. Watch it, when it starts to caramelize and burn slightly, then you know it's done.

4. Remove and enjoy!

If you grab your grapefruit straight from the fridge, it becomes both hot on the outside while still cold on the inside, as well as both sweet and sour, and the combination of all the tastes is amazing. A winter favorite for me.

HOW TO PLAN A WEDDING IN 3 MONTHS

One of my best friends is engaged (my maid of honor in our wedding) and is in the process of planning her wedding. I love wedding planning, and am over the top excited about this one. I planned my wedding in 3 months, not on purpose, but it just worked out that way for us; a date happened to be available and all our vendors fell into place. I realize this is both rare and hard to do in the age of pinteresty-perfect weddings, and I wanted to offer my best tips for planning a wedding on a short time frame (and on a budget). 

1. Know your vision

For me, this was easy. I had a clear idea of what I wanted the day to look like, from the venue to the flowers even before I started the planning process. I always dreamed of an outdoor wedding at my grandparents' lake house, and our date happened to be available. We booked it immediately, and I could check off the ceremony site, reception site, and wedding date all in one phone call.

2. Get organized

From there, I made lists on lists on lists. The checklist suggested by the knot proved to be too in-depth for me and overwhelming, so I created my own thanks to searches on Pinterest and wedding planning books. I had spreadsheets and highlighters, and I was as organized as I possibly could have been to stay on top of all the details. 

3. Make a decision, and move on

If you are the kind of person to second guess your decisions, now is the time to not do that. With only three months to plan, for each detail, you weigh a few options, make a decision, and move on. Becoming decisive will be your best asset in efficient wedding planning. 

4. Delegate

For tasks that can be completed by other people, ASK THEM. Your bridesmaids are great resources for running errands or helping make DIY projects. Your fiancé will likely feel useless unless you give him specific tasks to complete, even if that just means grocery shopping or doing other errands you don't have time for. Utilize all the help you can get. 

5. Hire a day-of coordinator

When we asked people about their wedding planning experience and their best piece of advice, we'd hear over and over again about those magical day-of coordinators, and the rumors are true. We got married outside and had a completely DIY ceremony and reception, so I knew this was key player for us. We got married in a tiny town in Northern California (population 2,000) and I hired Jodi Drysdale of CES Weddings and Events in the nearest bigger city, and she was the best investment I made for the wedding day. More than just a day-of coordinator, Jodi was an amazing resource that helped me find multiple vendors, went through all the details to make sure I had thought of absolutely everything, and helped our ceremony and reception run smoothy. A good day-of coordinator is my number one recommendation for brides on their wedding day. 

6. Pick a color scheme/theme

Determining your style will give you a framework for planning, everything from your attire to your bridal party, to the food and decor. Our wedding has a rustic/preppy/lakeside feel to it, some of those details played out in navy lace bridesmaid dresses, simple and neutral flowers for the bridesmaids, a giant, loose, mostly neutral bouquet for me, grey suit bottoms for the guys with navy checkered shirts and no jackets, my hair was down, we ate tacos, and danced outside under strands and strands of lights. I loved seeing the vision come to life, and it was so very fitting for us as a couple. I love that there are a thousand ways to have a wedding, and your day gets to be however it works best for you.

7. Have fun

As stressful as it was to pull off really quickly, it was mostly a fun stress. I really enjoy the process of planning for all kinds of parties, so it felt natural to me. If wedding planning just isn't your thing, hire on someone or enlist the help of a friend who loves to do it. The day is really all about your marriage, not the color scheme or the striped straws, and if you can remember that one piece, it will make the whole day much better. See more on how to handle any wedding catastrophe graciously (hello, pouring rain) in this post here. 

HOW I GREW MY INSTAGRAM FROM 200 FOLLOWERS TO 3.4K IN 10 MONTHS

Instagram has been huge for my business this year. I use it to market and promote my business, as well as document my personal life. In March, I had about 200 followers. Currently (January 2015) I have 3,400 followers and am continuing to grow daily. I get asked frequently how I grew my following in such a short amount of time, and I thought it would be useful to share here. These are a few things I've learned this year.

1. Take better photos.

Stop using the built-in Instagram filters and start editing with VSCO. This is a free editing app that will allow your photos to look much more visually appealing. Read books/blogs/articles, whatever you can get your hands on to become the best iPhone photographer you can be. This is the first step in growing and developing your Instagram presence.

2. Develop a style/theme/brand.

This sometimes happens naturally, and you can look back to what you're already posting to give you some clues as to what you like and the types of photos you're interested in. Post what you want to post, not what you think you should be posting or what someone else is posting.

You don't necessarily have to edit every single photo in the same way, or only post photos within a certain color scheme, but it's nice if you give your followers some sort of consistency, so they know what to expect from your feed. Lately I've been drawn to more de-saturated photos, neutral colors, the top-down angle, and lots of marble backgrounds. Experiment and see what works for you and your style. 

3. Interact with other Instagrammers.

Follow other people and like and comment on their things. Think of Instagram as a tool for connection. Search hashtags you're interested in, chances are you'll have something in common with whoever else is posting about that too, and you'll naturally like other photos on their feed.

4. Learn the art of the hashtag.

4a. Use them strategically. Hashtags are a way to link up your photos to other people's photos. Research and see which tags fit with your brand. Think creatively about how you can add multiple tags that relate to the photo you're posting.

4b. Develop hashtag series. I'm a big fan of the hashtag series. I use them for everything from documenting seasons/holidays (#seidelsgettinfiggywithit) to remembering outfits I put together (#alliewearsthat) to grouping my favorite products and things (#allieshomefaves). I like the organization they provide and the encouragement to take photos that fit within a theme. Plus, followers have an easy way to scroll through like-photos. The one that I am most excited about adding to for next year is #seidelsonthedancefloor ;) 

5. Have fun with it. I use Instagram both for business/brand promotion and as a creative outlet. If you prefer words over pictures, Twitter may be more your style than Instagram. There is no "one size fits all" for business promotion, creativity, or online presence. Develop your own style and see what works best for you.

If you'd like to follow along, you can find me on Instagram @allieseidel