Getting the Word Out About Your Big Day!

Guest blogger and awesome event planner, Lynn Maxwell of XL Events, offers some great alternatives to traditional wedding invitations below.  Check them out!

You have already picked out this Spring and Summer’s most sought after wedding color combination and have found a great way to include your kids and your soon to be step-children in all of the wedding planning; what’s next?  Getting the word out about your big day.  Traditionally, couples will find awesomely fancy and expensive stationary to send out to their loved ones, but what if you have “been there done that” and do not want to go back?  What if you just want something simple, something easy, and something that is not going to take away from your wedding budget?  I have the answer.  With the Internet being the “it” way of communications nowadays, it is extremely simple to construct a fancy little email about the day of your nuptials; think about it you already have most of your contacts in your in your address book and most webhosting sites like Yahoo, AOL, Gmail, and MSN (or Hotmail) already have their own stationery built right into the email settings. Take a browse through what they have and you may find something suitable for your email invite or if you cannot find what you are looking for, you can always peruse “free email stationery” on Google.

Another fun little way to get the word out about your day is to grab one of those social networking websites like Facebook or Twitter and begin taking your friends, family and loved ones through your planning phase; they will be sure to appreciate the final results of your hard work once they arrive on your set date.

Lastly, and my personal favorite, you can set up a website to document everything if you don’t have the time to Facebook or Tweet everything you are doing?  OMG….a website?  No worries, it is not as hard to set one up than you think.  Many wedding sites like, The Knot, will help you set one up.  Want something original?  That is easy as well; sign up on places like webs.com, for free and they will walk you through the entire process of setting up your site.  After you are done, you will be able to load pictures, add content and even be able to have the visitors of your site RSVP to your invitation.  This will not only save money on stamps, time at the post office and time making sure the printer gets every single detail right on your invites, but you will also be going green.  You like the last idea, but you really do not have the time, creativity, or patience to do something of that caliber, no fear, XL Events, LLC can help.

Final Thoughts:  Keep everything as simple as you possibly can.  If you would like to incorporate more than one of the above ideas, then go for it. Your guests will be waiting as anxiously as you are for your magical day to roll around.

Happy Planning!

Lynn Maxwell

XL Events, LLC

xleventsllc@yahoo.com

Take a Mental Vacation to Avoid Stress

Last week I had the best vacation in Italy! I visited the cafes and museums, had a fabulous time at a few fashion shows and enjoyed the company of an old friend that I had not seen since high school. We decided to reconnect in Italy because we both have always wanted to go there. On our first night there we dined at Centrale, a beautiful, hip, chic restaurant/lounge in Venice. The food was amazing! I had a succulent parmesean farfalle pasta with chicken and mushrooms that was to die for…yummy! My friend had the spaghetti carbonara and a glass of white wine.  Afterward, we decided to return to our hotel in order to rest up for the festivities on the following day. Okay, people, I didn’t literally go to Italy last week, but I did take a mental vacation there, and it was almost as nice as the real thing.

Mental vacations are like retreating to that quiet, relaxing place that your yoga instructor tells you to go to when you are doing the final relaxation pose at the end of every class.  They are fun, free and can take you anywhere your imagination allows you to go. Mental vacations are a nice way for moms/stepmoms, working women and just about anyone to escape from the norm. I usually take my mental vacations during my “me” time in a relaxing bath with soft music playing. For those 3o minutes I am not mom, wife, business woman or counselor, and I don’t worry about the challenges of stepmamahood or motherhood. I allow myself to mentally escape to a place where I get to choose who goes along for the ride.

Next week, I think my business partner and very dear friend, Diane and I, will take a relaxing trip with our husbands to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We could all use a couples only vacation right about now. If anyone else wants to join us, please let me know. The plane tickets, hotels, food, and activities are all FREE!

What about you, readers? Describe your ultimate mental vacation in the comments section below and win a brand new Sirius Sportster 5 XM Satellite Radio!

Spring Into Your Wedding Colors for the Summer

So he’s popped the question and now the race is on to get everything done before that magical day of marital bliss; but wait where do you start?  There so much to do?  The first thing my girlfriends and I use to think of is, “What would be your colors?”  Do you choose his favorite color and your favorite color to collaborate?  What if his favorite color is orange and yours is magenta?  Well worry no more; I have some of the most popular color combinations for Spring / Summer 2010:

• Teal and Coral
• Vintage Purple and Sky Blue
• Emerald Green and Cream
• Mauve and Wine
• Lilac and Sky Blue
• Win and Blush Pink
• Sky Blue and Light Yellow
• Mocha and Blush Pink
• Warm Gray and any Pink, Coral, Blue or Purple
• Olive and Mauve
• Mint and Vintage Purple

Although these are some of the most popular colors for the early part of our new decade, it is important to incorporate a personal style that is shared with both of your new families so why not get the children involved. Consider the fact that this is likely a difficult time for the children and whenever possible, get them involved in the wedding plans to make them feel part of the celebration. My suggestion, make a game of it.  When everyone is together, grab the top three color combination from the list above (please feel free to add or take away from the list), make sure the colors are separate from each other -making it six colors–, put the different options in a hat or basket and have the children draw until empty, and stand next to each other with their different colors.  Mix and match the children and the colors until a combination is decided.  It’s fun for the children, makes them feel like their opinion matters and makes them feel as if they won’t be left out because mom or dad is getting married.

Additionally, it’s important to realize that there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to planning a second chance wedding. If you and your fiancé have daughters that are relatively the same age and you’re having a difficult time deciding who will be the flower girl, just have two flower girls. The same holds true for the ring bearer. Allow one son to carry one ring and the other son to carry the other. Create your own rituals so that everyone feels part of the wedding celebration and start your life out with an effort to be a cohesive unit. Finally, keep in mind the final decision is yours, but the kids will enjoy and appreciate that you have thought enough of them to include them in on this important decision.

Happy Planning!

Lynn Maxwell

XL Events, LLC

Lynn Maxwell, a single mother of one, is the Event Director of XL Events, LLC; an event planning company located in the Indianapolis area. She has expertise in planning spectacular events, including wedding receptions, concerts, poetry events and more. She XL’s in making your events happen! For more information, please send an email to xleventsllc@yahoo.com.

Make The Decision To Be Happy

What makes you happy?  For me, I could come up with a hundred different reasons with some being emotional, physical and of course some just being pure natural reasons.  However, one that stands out above the rest is my love of cooking.  Nothing brings me more joy than to throw a big dutch oven on the stove top, throw together ingredients that I have been thinking would match together well and seeing what I can come up with to please my husband, three boys and grandson.  And, once in a while, I like to surprise a girlfriend unexpectedly and  bring a great dish over for her and her family to enjoy as well.  Cooking makes my heart smile.

Now, I am sure you expected me to say my husband, my children, my job, etc. etc.  Of course, my family plays  one of the most important roles in my happiness, but I have learned a great lesson over the years and that is by making room for my pleasurable feelings, hobbies and passions, I allow very valuable experiences in my life.   I came across my love for cooking through a tragic time in my life when I had suddenly and unexpectedly became widowed.  My husband used to do all of the cooking for my boys and I.  I couldn’t boil water properly and almost burnt the apartment down a few times.  During those times of despair I found that cooking was therapeutic for me and lo and behold, after watching several cooking shows and reading lots of cookbooks, I found one of my true passions.  Cooking gave me that release, a reason to think about something other than that pain I was experiencing and it was soothing.  That same year, 9 months after starting, I hosted my first Thanksgiving Dinner and I cooked every single item on the menu.  It was a huge hit.  Some folks love to shop, watch old movies or spend time with a good book.  It makes me happy to cook.  Now, as I stated above, this isn’t the only thing that makes me personally happy.  But as individuals, we have to take time to find little things, just for ourselves, that make us happy and that give us time to focus on being happy.  I cannot stress it enough.  These experiences will carry us through our lives and it teaches our children to do the same.

Being happy is a decision…just that simple.   Making the decision to be happy is all it takes.  Celebrity life coach, and one of my favorite people to listen to for inspiration, Anthony Robbins, says it best..“if you don’t have a plan for pleasure, you will have pain.” In other words, if you do not incorporate the things that make you happy into your life, you will have an end result of pain.   What makes you happy and your inner peace is one big spinning circle.  Finding that inner-peace whether that is through spending time alone with yourself, shopping for a great new pair of shoes, cooking, reading or just watching a movie is a true part of making the decision to be happy.  As Mr. Robbins so eloquently states, “Life was never meant to be a struggle.”  So, if we choose to be happy, we have unlocked the mystery to finding inner-peace.

Here are a few tips to help you along in your journey:

• Just as you allow yourself to feel sad and depressed, you can allow yourself to be joyful, grateful and happy.
• Take control of your emotions and guide them in the direction toward happiness.
• Choose happiness.  Don’t give your choice away to others or frivolous situations.  Do not OWN other people’s issues.
• Love yourself first.
• Smile.  Smiling is contagious and there is always a reason to do so.  Do it everyday.
• Indulge yourself in what you enjoy.
• Listen to music that you love.
• Dance like no one is watching!
• Take time for yourself.  Pay attention to your breathing, your posture, etc.  It makes a huge difference in how you feel.
• LAUGH A LOT, LAUGH LOUDLY AND LAUGH OFTEN.  Laughter is good for the soul.

Right now, a beautiful song comes to mind…..”Don’t Worry..BE HAPPY!”

Peace & Blessings,
Di

Thai Chicken Spring Rolls

I was in love with Chinese Lettuce Wraps…until I had the pleasure of trying a Thai Spring Roll.  Albeit some what similar, Thai food is one of my favorites.  With that, I wanted to share with our readers a great recipe I found on my right-hand website for quick meals www.allrecipes.com for making Thai Chicken Spring Rolls.  Every time I make them, they come out fabulous.

Thai Chicken Spring Rolls

Ingredients:

1 cup peanut sauce
1 (1 1/2 inch) piece fresh ginger root, minced
2 teaspoons soy sauce; divided
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch pieces
1 teaspoon peanut oil
6 ounces fresh snow pea pods
12 ounces bean sprouts
4 green onions, chopped
1 pound watercress, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 large carrots, peeled
12 spring roll wrappers
1/2 cup peanut sauce

Directions:

1.  Combine 1 cup peanut sauce, ginger, garlic and 1 teaspoon of soy sauce in a bowl.  Add the chicken and mix until the chicken is coated.  Place in the refrigerator to marinate for 30 minutes.

2.  Heat 1 teaspoon peanut oil in a wok or skillet over medium heat.  Cook the snow peas, bean sprouts and green onion in the oil until heated but still crisp, 3 to 4 minutes.  Transfer to a large bowl.  Mix in the watercress and cilantro.  Use a vegetable peeler to have long slices of carrot into the watercress mixture.  Drizzle remaining 1 teaspoon soy sauce into the watercress mixture; toss to coat.

3.  Heat 1 teaspoon of oil to the wok or skillet.  Cook the marinated chicken until no longer pink inside, about 10 minutes.

4.  Fill a large bowl with hot water.  Dip wrappers one at a time into the water for about 2 seconds each.  As wrappers are removed from water, fill each with 2 large spoonfuls of the chicken and a small handful of the watercress mixture.  Fold in two opposite ends of the wrapper to meet the filling.  Then, fold the bottom of the wrapper over the top of the filling and roll.  Serve with 1/2 cup peanut sauce for dipping.

Enjoy!
Di

Finding Your Passion: Life is Not a Dress Rehearsal!

Have you ever thought about what would happen if you could end up living your dreams and fulfilling your true passion in life?  Finding your individual purpose in life is really about searching for what gives you meaning.  Sure, our children, family and spouses give us an exemplified meaning, but often times, as individuals, we find ourselves not being in tune with our true beings, with who we really are.  We feel like a part of our very existence hasn’t come to fruition or full-circle.  With that being said, I ask you readers…”What are you waiting for?”

One of the biggest reasons people do not step out and explore their passion in life is out of fear of failure of the unknown.   My answer to that is this:  “Expect nothing and look forward to everything!” Allowing fear to shut you down will force you to leave behind your true passions.  Step out on faith!  Do not allow yourself to continue to make excuses for not following your dream in life.  There will never be enough time or you will never have enough money if you wait on these things to arrive on your doorstep.

One inspirational story that always reacquaints me with my own personal passion is that of Food Network star Paula Deen.  Paula is one of my silent heroes.  After being newly divorced after a 20 something year marriage, she started her own small business at the age of 40.  She had no money in the bank, $200 her ex-husband handed her and at that point she decided to put her talents to work.  She enlisted her resources (her sons and their girlfriends and her love of cooking) and the rest is history.  She became a full-blown success.  Oh, and did I mention that she also had full-blown agoraphobia to overcome as well during all of this?  What an example of following life’s passion and making it a dream come true despite your fears!

The most important part of finding your passion and living life to the fullest is the path and journey the search takes you on.  As my good friend, author and life coach, Doreen Rainey, often says…”Life is not a dress rehearsal.”  Find good people who support you.  No one person wants to live their passion alone.  Sharing your passion and the journey will take you toward endless possibilities.  What about the unknown you ask?  Let’s face it, every person lives with a little fear in life.  It’s perfectly normal.  The answer is how we move past those fears, accept them for what they are and decide  not to spend excess time stagnating the process by allowing those fears to paralyze us. It is then that we can successfully achieve our life’s passion.

If you knew your life could be transformed would you go for it?  When you find your life passion, what some would think of as work, to you, is the best investment you will ever make.  Your staying up late, working through your lunch hours, getting up extra early in the morning to work on things and devoting numerous leisure hours to your dream and realizing your achievement is no longer a possibility but a probability, is when you will find a unique fulfillment like no other.  Your dress rehearsal has become, “Lights, Camera and ACTION.”

Remember, if you never put in the effort to find your true passion and you allow fear to disseminate your imagination, you will not only stagnate your dreams, but also your life.   Curtain closed.

Peace & Blessings,
Di

Creating the Illusion of an Hourglass Shape by Karen Boggs

Creating the illusion of an hourglass shape is the biggest step you can take in obtaining your most attractive look. This is achieved by keeping your top and bottom in proportion and having clothes cinched in, at least slightly, at the waist. Rather than wearing loose, shapeless clothes, look for tops and blouses with seams, darts or pin tucks that will provide you with some shape. Do not assume these styles will be uncomfortable. As long as they are not too tight, they should work well even for the most active woman.  An easy suggestion - hold your top or blouse up on the hanger - if it is perfectly square, it is not going to provide your most flattering look. However, a top with some shape built in, will be a great choice!  A small amount of lycra or spandex in the material provides structure, which can be a plus. Avoid thin material, as it tends to be clingy and can emphasize those places you don’t want noticed.

If you want to appear thinner, consider wearing clothes which will elongate the neckline.  These include tops and dresses that show some skin at the neck; for instance, V-necks, scooped out necklines and blouses with several of the top buttons left open. Avoid turtlenecks and tops that come up close to the neckline -these tend to cut the neck in half and can make you appear heavier than you are. Also, to elongate the neckline, avoid short and choker style necklaces -opt for ones with a little more length.

When putting together an outfit, concentrate on creating ONE focal point. Whatever the eye is drawn to will be a focal point - such as shiny material, bright colors, large print and even bold pieces of jewelry.  You do not want to put one of these focal points on your least favorite feature, for obvious reasons. Since a color change anywhere on your body will draw attention, do not have these changes meet at your largest area. A different colored top and bottom should meet either slightly above or below that point.

Too many focal points create a distraction and end up competing against one another. Keep this in mind when it comes to your accessories as well. If you are wearing a striking piece of jewelry, it is best to downplay the other pieces you are wearing.  Be sure and keep your accessories like belts, purses and jewelry in proportion with your size. A larger woman can carry off larger bags and bolder jewelry, whereas, a small framed, petite woman may look overwhelmed with accessories that are too large for her.

Remember, the lines, colors, textures and patterns of all your clothes create an illusion.  Strive to use these illusions to your best interest…sending out the impressions YOU choose to send!

About Karen Boggs

Helping women determine the best styles for their shape and size is the goal of style consultant, Karen Boggs.  Founder of Renew You, LLC, Boggs works with clients through one-on-one shopping sessions and closet consultations. Along with corporate training on professional dress in  the workplace, she enjoys speaking to various women’s groups. Boggs has contributed to a variety of publications including Indianapolis Woman and Enjoy! For more information please visit www.renewyoustyle.com.

Before You Say I Do - Take Two

You are on cloud 9 because the man that you’ve been dating for quite some time now has just popped the question, and you said yes! Being that this may be the second time around for either you or your partner or both, deciding on a date, location, the perfect dress and the guest list are only a few of your first steps. Below are some tips on what you should do right after you say yes to the man of your dreams.

Schedule an appointment with a stepfamily counselor

Falling in love is the easy part. What you and your fiance need to learn is how to stay that way. No matter how much in love you are, if you don’t adequately prepare for the second time around, your marriage and family will likely fail. A stepfamily counselor will help you work on things like co-parenting plans, communication, couple strength and more. And trust me, you’ll need some guidance as a stepfamily marriage comes equipped with different challenges than a first marriage. Discuss these things AHEAD of time and give your marriage a better chance at survival.

Discuss your parenting styles

Because one or both of you are entering into the marriage with kids, it is crucial that you talk about parenting styles, including discipline. For example, one of you might be completely opposed to the kids eating in their rooms, but the other might not have a problem with it. How will you resolve such issues before being confronted with them? It is much easier to discuss these things before they happen as opposed to doing so in the heat of the moment.

Talk about finances

Every couple should discuss finances before saying I do, but it is especially important for the remarried coupled with children. Why? Because outside obligations will undoubtedly affect your household. Will you keep your finances separate or join forces? How will you handle it when an ex-spouse requests something extra outside of child support?

Tell the kids

Sit down with the kids and explain to them what’s going on. Express how much you want them to be part of the wedding festivities and the newly formed family. Explain ahead of time that there will be some changes. For example, stepmom or stepdad will be moving in with us after the wedding. You’ll also want to sit down with your respective children individually to explain what the marriage will mean for them.

Hire a wedding planner!!!

Clearly you already have so much to do and think about before you even get to the wedding planning stage. As such, I cannot stress enough how much hiring a wedding planner will help. Trust me, while you’re worrying about the complicated guest list, how your kids and/or his kids will behave, whether or not you should invite the ex…your wedding planner will be concentrating on the intimate details of YOUR day! She will minimize the stress so you are actually able to enjoy your timeless affair.

Overall, you are entering into what can be a very exciting and rewarding time in your lives if handled properly. Remember a remarriage is not like a first marriage and discussing the unique challenges that remarried couples face, ahead of time, will give your marriage the best chance at succeeding.

A Superbowl Taco Bake

We are big on championship games in our house.  With the upcoming Superbowl just around the corner, I thought I would give you a recipe that is sure to please those hungry football fans attending your home party or even one that you can take tailgating!  It’s super simple and super delicious.  I originally tried this recipe from my super handy Taste of Home magazine.

Beef Taco Bake

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup
1 cup Pace Chunky Salsa or Pace Picante Sauce
1/2 cup of milk
6 flour tortillas (8-inch) or 8 corn tortillas (6 inch), cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 oz. bag)

Directions:

Cook ground beef in skillet until no longer pink , stirring often.  Pour of any fat.  Stir in soup, salsa, milk, tortillas and half the cheese in the skillet.  Spoon the beef mixture into a 2-quart shallow baking dish and cover.  Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until the beef mixture is hot and bubbling.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese.  Yield: 4 servings.

You can also successfully double this recipe if you like.  I always have to.

Enjoy!
Di

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

This recipe is so comforting and yummy!  I tried it out on my son, Lamont, because he is my resident foodie and will try anything I make.  I originally found this recipe in one of my favorite magazines, Simple and Delicious.  I hope you enjoy this as much as we have!

Ingredients:
1 package (12 oz) of fettuccine
8 bacon strips, cut into 1-in pieces
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
2 cups sliced mushrooms (optional - I don’t use them)
6 green onions, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1-1/2 cup half and half cream
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon paprika
½ tsp. coarsely ground pepper

Cook fettuccine according to package directions.  In a large skillet, cook bacon until crisp.  Drain on paper towels reserving ½ Tbsp. drippings.  Sauté chicken in drippings until it’s no longer pink.  Add the mushrooms, green onions and garlic; sauté until all are tender.  Stir in cream, cheese, paprika and pepper.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes.  Stir in the reserved bacon.  Drain fettuccine; place in a serving bowl.  Add chicken mixture; toss to coat.  Garnish with additional cheese if preferred.

Peace & Blessings,
Di

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