Thankful

thank·ful

\ˈthaŋk-fəl\
Function:
adjective

1 : conscious of benefit received

2 : expressive of thanks

3 : well pleased : glad

definition from Merriam-Webster

Keeping off weight during the holidays

The holiday season is here again. Do you want to hear the good news or the bad news? Here is the good news. It is a great time to celebrate with family and friends! The bad news is experts say most people gain at least a pound and as much as ten unwanted pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years. Most people don't get rid of the weight, even though they make a New Years resolution to do so.
So where does this leave an engaged woman who wants to celebrate the holiday season with her fiancé, family, and soon-to-be in-laws? Although I am not a doctor, here is my advice so that you can keep of the holiday weight and still fit into your gorgeous wedding gown.

1. Eat a balanced breakfast. Getting your body off to a good start will help prevent you from making unhealthy food choices because of hunger.


2. Stay active. If you have an exercise routine, keep it. If you don't have a regular exercise routine, going for a walk will help burn calories. Remember to stretch first.


3. Don't have that second slice of cake or pie. No matter how delicious it is, resist the temptation!

Happy holidays!

Sweet tooth

Earlier this week I attended an Association of Bridal Consultants meeting at Chocolate Pink. I have a bit of a sweet tooth so I could hardly wait to get to this trendy pastry cafe. Let's just say that I was not disappointed.






First, we had fun taking silly pictures in a photo booth that was brought in just for us to enjoy. Then we were treated to fantastic chair massages from a local massage therapist . I have not had a massage in awhile, so I really needed one.

The food by their exclusive caterer Taste was delicious. I enjoyed a Chocolate Pink martini and of course I made several trips to the pastry table.

When you enter on the street level, you may not even notice that they have a great event room upstairs. This cozy spot is perfect for intimate bridal showers, birthday parties, or corporate meetings. The downtown Atlanta skyline can be enjoyed through their floor to ceiling windows.

Cleaning your wedding gown

Your wedding day was perfect! Now that it is over, what do you do with your wedding gown? Many brides simply hang them in a plastic bag in their closet and forget about them. I wanted to give you some advice today about why this may not be the best thing to do.
Did you know that your gown may look clean to you, but some stains dry clear? Then over time they oxidize, turn brown, and become difficult to clean. In addition to that, some plastic bags give off plastic fumes that can turn your gown yellow.
So my tip is to clean your gown even if you don’t think it is dirty. But please read the care label on the inside of your gown first. The label may say hand wash only, dry clean only or dry clean only with petroleum-based solvent. You also need to find out what material the fabric is.
If your gown has sequins or beads on it, examine it to see if they are glued on or sewn on. Some dry cleaning solvent may be harmful because they can melt the glue that holds the sequins or beading on or melt the actual sequins or beading.
Be prepared to ask your dry cleaner questions before you turn over your precious gown to them. Ask them about the number of years of experience they have cleaning wedding gowns. Do they do the work on premises or send it off to someone else? Ask them do they use the wet cleaning or dry cleaning method. Ask them if they use virgin or recycled solvent. Virgin solvent has not been used before so it is fresher.
If you know what a stain is on your gown, please tell your dry cleaner. This information along with the fabric type could help determine what method of cleaning they use. Once you get your gown back from the dry cleaners, take it out of the plastic bag. It is now time to preserve your gown.

Stay tuned for gown preservation tips!

Post Election Day Tag

I've been tagged by Stacey Strickler of Affairs To Remember. She is a fellow wedding coordinator from Philadelphia. So here I go!

Here are the instructions: answer the questions below and tag at least 3 other people and indicate them in your tag. Let's keep it going.

1.Did you vote?

2. In which state are you registered?

3. What time did you go to the polls?

4. How long was your wait?

5. Did you incur any problems?

6. What was your reaction when you heard the news that Barack Obama won?

7. Who was the first person you shared your reaction with?

8. Who will you tag ?

My answers:

1. I sure did!

2. Georgia (The Peach State)

3. I voted about 4:00PM on election day.

4. We were in and out in 10 minutes.

5. No problems. I secretly wanted to stand in a long line so that my 18 year old could have a true voting experience her first time out. Oh well! I am proud that she had the desire to register to vote at 18 on her own.

6. I was happy and very proud of Obama.
7. My husband and I were watching the results together all night.
8. I am going to tag:

Lisa Michelle @ MemoirsofaWeddingPlanner
Catherine @ ForYourEventPlanning

Kelly @ WeddingsbySocialites

Zodiac Sign Compatibility

Many people start out their day checking their horoscope in the local newspaper. On any given day, you can flip through your favorite magazine or turn on your radio and hear an astrologer predicting what will happen in a person's love life or career based on their birthday and the position of the sun and moon.

I am not the type of person who checks my daily horoscope, but I do believe that everyone has a zodiac sign. In the 1970's "What's your sign?" was a common pickup line. I wonder how many relationships got started from that simple icebreaker.

I have known what my zodiac sign was since I was a little girl. When I was a teenager and a boy liked me, the first thing I would find out is what his sign was. If I found out that his sign was one that I wasn't very compatible with, I admit I didn't even give him a chance. Sound silly to you? Well maybe it was, but then again, I may have saved myself some heartache.

Today I chose to write about zodiac sign compatibility. First off, the fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Fire signs are enthusiastic, and outgoing. Then, we have Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn who are earth signs. This group are solid and dependable people. Next, are the air signs of Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. These signs are characterized as being talkative and always thinking. Finally, there are the water signs of cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Water signs are nurturing and compassionate people.

Earth and water signs are very compatible with each other and fire and air signs work well together. So is it true that opposites attract? What do you think?

Fall cupcake wrapper

Have you been to a wedding yet where the bride and groom are serving cupcakes instead to the traditional cake for dessert? Cupcake have become an exciting alternative to cake. Now you can even dress them up with these great wrappers that come in all different shapes and colors to fit the theme of your wedding or event.

Take a look at these great leaf themed wrapper. What a great treat for your fall wedding or Thanksgiving celebration. So let them eat......cupcakes!

Photo by: weddingfavorsjust4u.com

The Daughter-in-Law Rules

I found an adorable book that I wanted to tell everyone about. The book is called The Daughter-in-Law Rules. Sally Shields gives her readers 101 tips to manage or even make friends with their mother-in-law. Let's face it ladies, some of us can use all the help we can get in this department.

Sally reminds us in a humorous way that mother-in-laws are women with feelings and want the same thing that most women want. So what do we want? I think, all of us want to be loved, appreciated, respected, and needed.

The rules vary from common sense tips that I admit I should do more of, to advice I really need to sit down and decide if I am woman enough to take on! LOL.

Let's be realistic. As much as we may think we are marrying the man and not his entire family, unless you plan to move to Mars with him, you have just gained a new Mom. How you choose to deal with it is totally up to you.

Visit thedilrules