Since so many engaged couples already have everything they need to set up a home together, there’s a growing trend in the wedding industry that has them registering for something other than flatware.

REI wedding registries are gaining popularity with engaged couples who register for everything from camping gear to skis and sports equipment. We’ve also seen honeymoon donation registries, home buying registries and even people who registered for DVDs and video games.

Do you think this is a creative way for couples to get the things they need to have fun together, or do you feel like it’s an abuse of traditional wedding registries? Where would you draw the line? Do alternative registries make you want to rant or rave?

I have a shopping problem.  I fully admit it, don’t try to hide it, and actually relish in it.  Strangely, I’ve completely abandoned brick-and-mortar stores in favor of online shopping.  The convenience is hard to beat, as are the prices.  I remember registering for my wedding and feeling panicked and overwhelmed by the vast number of items in each store I visited.  I also remember wishing I could find things that were more unique–whether it be silverware from an artist I found online or bedding from a small boutique-style website.

Brides, I have the answer!  Enter Wishpot, an online shopping wish list and wedding registry all in one.  The idea is simple–you download a button for your browser’s toolbar.  Each time you see something you want to add to your wish list or registry, simply click the button and voila–item saved!  The same goes for the Wedding Registry, which lets you add items from any store on the web to one central spot for your guests to shop from, all without stepping foot in a mall.

The best part?  Wishpot will let you comparison shop to find the best price on your selected item.  In addition, they’ll alert you any time that item goes on sale, and will even assist in finding coupons for all of your favorite stores.

I may already be married, but that won’t stop me from using Wishpot.  It’s the perfect storm for my shopping addiction!

As the weather warms up, my exuberant plans to furnish the house I am nowhere near owning moves to the outdoors.  Through hours of browsing site after site of home furnishings, I can’t help but be drawn to the furniture made specifically to improve your outdoor living space.  A living room is no longer the inner portion of your house where the TV is stationed; rather,it is an outdoor sanctuary, complete with soft, pillow-y, modern sofas and sectionals paired with lounge chairs, fire pits, and so much more.

To help you in your quest to make your outdoor space a part of your living space, I’ve gathered some of my favorite pieces together.  A girl can dream!

From Top to Bottom, Left to Right:  Open-Frame Daybed Mattress from West Elm; Capri Round Lounger from Pottery Barn; Tillary Outdoor Modular Seating from West Elm; Resort Outdoor Sectional from CB2; Palmetto All-Weather Wicker Round Coffee Table from Pottery Barn; Square Metal Lounger from West Elm.