My Chore-Killing Playlist

Every now and again I'll get what they call a Wild Hair and decide to attack the house with yellow rubber gloves, a sponge and my insistent "dance" moves while I move from room to room spreading cleanliness and good cheer. This morning was one of those times and I created my fantastic Chore-Killing Playlist that lead me through kitchen, dining room and family room with up-beat, motivated jams. I am now happily reveling in my success and ready to share my "get it done" playlist for the determined wifey in need of energy and a tidy home! Your Husband might even be inspired to cook dinner tonight after coming home to your spick and span lovenest! Check it:

"Bleed it Out"--Linkin Park (gets your blood moving)

"4 Minutes"-- Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake (gets your body moving)

"If I Never See Your Face Again"--Maroon 5 ft. Rihanna (gets your mouth moving)

"Shake It"-- Metro Station (gets your booty moving)

"The Garden"-- Mirah (encourages focus and drive)

"In the Summertime"-- Mongo Jerry (lighten up, take a breather)

"Maneater"-- Nelly Furtado (show those dishes what you're made of!)

"Hey Ya"-- Outkast (oldie but goodie)

"Upgrade You"--Beyonce ft. JayZ (feeling empowered yet?)

"Can't Get Enough of Your Love"--Bad Company (your home is singing this to you now)

"Gimme More (REMIX)"--Britney Spears ft. T.I. (ready for your second wind?)

"Forever"-- Chris Brown (work in some athletics to this one!)

"Viva la Vida"-- Coldplay (inspires your pursuit of cleanliness)

"Mercy"-- Duffy (work through the pain!)

"Without Me"--Eminem (a guilty pleasure for all your hard work)

"Mary Jane Shoes"-- Fergie (ahhh another breather)

"Get Low"-- Flo Rida ft. T-Pain (appropriate for low down dirty jobs)

"Sexy Back"--Justin Timberlake (oh yes, you did)

"American Boy" -- Estelle ft Kanye West (think of that happy husband face!)

"All These Things That I've Done"-- The Killers (a grande finale, well deserved!)

Coming up Next: House Chore Duets Playlist (for the husband & wife team ready to kick some house chore ass!)

Chic: Outdoors!

Dreaming about a nice and relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon this fall? I received inspiration in my inbox this afternoon and decided to go on a little scavenger hunt to put together a chic-ly supreme time killer for a lazy fall afternoon.

The Plan

After you've slept in, enjoyed a big, hearty breakfast and greeted the day- it's time to pack up a few things and head for the outdoors! Gather your picnic-ing materials, treats of choice, entertainment of choice and husband dearest. Head to a favorite nature zone or check out a place you've yet to discover. Hang around the secret spot taking photographs, biking, hiking, reading, napping, playing cards or catching up on the week's events. When sunset falls, try to catch a good glimpse before heading home for the evening. Clean up, enjoy a romantic dinner and wind down into the sheets for a relaxing send off to your weekend!

The Good Stuff

The 2 bottle wine tote! Stylish and practical. Perfect for your adventure together- compromising averted- for a little while at least ;) Find it, along with other amazing products at BUILTNY.

This picnic basket from PicnicFun is full of personality, practicality and playful allure. See the storage for your glasses? Perfect...

I love this dress, it's beautiful and simple. Just like your adventure! And it can assume many dresscode responsibilities in the future! Best news? It's on sale at GAP right now!

Invest in one of these! We did, and couldn't be happier. Photography is a hobby husband and I can share together, and this black beauty really is easy to use and takes a great shot, everytime. Check out the Nikon D40 and its amazing features for your next camera purchase.

Bring along one of these Eco-friendly notebooks to record inspirations along the way. After your trip, add some of your photos, wine bottle labels or any other artifact that will serve as a physical memory to your peaceful experience.

New Homeowners: Save some money for...

...Home Maintenance Equipment. Rakes, weed eaters, shovels, power washers, hoses, sprinklers and most importantly- a decent grass mowing machine. Each of the above listed items have been brought up since we moved into our new home 6 months ago. During our first date I mentioned to my now husband that I don't do yard work. At the time he brushed it off as a typical "high heel wearing-eww that's dirty-oh it's too hot out here-I'll be inside making you lemonade in a bikini-young woman" comment. I am all for paying someone to maintain our property, after all, lawn maintenance companies need business too! Trust E. Steed (above mentioned Husband of mine) however, gets his weekly testosterone injection by sweating off 10 lbs, getting all grassy and dirty, while swiftly chopping away at every little blade of grass in our front and back yards. So every Sunday morning (weather permitting) instead of working on some other project together with the boys or otherwise indulging in sacred family time- we watch him from the windows, bring him water and give compliments to his hard work every 30 minutes or so.

When our moving caravan arrived at our new home, we were welcomed with a few surprises from his parents. One being a great garage sale steal- a push mower! (We were moving from an apartment, we had nothing along the lines of yard/outdoor maintenance to our names.) Each week that followed Trust E. and his aura of "outside" would come barrelling into the house saying "I need_____ (weed eater, a rake, longer hose, etc. etc. etc.) can I go get it?" And off he would go to drain our savings account further with the purchase of another shiny (yet necessary, I'll admit) object to home itself in our garage.

As one may imagine, a young family purchasing their first home doesn't have much in savings to begin with, and the "outside" quickly took more than its share of the funds. With our fully loaded arsenal of machinery and weapons against un-maintained lawns, we felt on top of the world! One lovely Sunday I decide to grab a quick shower while Trust E. was out being manly in the front yard. About 2 minutes into the shampoo cycle, I am startled half to death by my husband's furious request for "a new mower and which credit card can I use to get it?!" Fantastic. Our super garage sale steal had just chowed down on its last blade of grass and the back yard is in jeopardy of attracting people looking for a safari into the jungle.

A few hundred dollars (plus interest yet to come!) and a shiny red new toy later, Trust E. is happily enjoying his manly excursion once again and I am growling at the hunk of junk still taking up space in my garage for beefing up my credit card statement.

As a first time home buyer you will certainly cross many expensive intersections such as these. In an effort to fend off the enemy of debt, put some of the wedding gift cash flow into a high interest CD for a few months at least. When you finally move into your new home, you'll then have some reserves lined up for feeding a testosterone addicted husband, and hopefully some left over to dress the lemonade making-bikini wearing-good lord it's hot out here!-supporter you have within you!

Your Average

A few weeks ago I came upon a life theory while listening to an audio recording, which I was hoping would benefit my business. It inspired me instantaneously and I've been perceiving its value ever since. Consider this:

"You are the average of the 5 people you're around the most."

Take a moment to stop and think about the people you are around the most often. 5 doesn't necessarily need to be the magic number. These are the people influencing your lives the most, even if it is so subtle you don't realize it just yet. Of course everyone is an individual and we've all seen the commercials swearing off "peer pressure" so don't read this the wrong way. It's not saying you do what others do necessarily. (Although must women have a girlfriend who makes her husband shudder when he hears they're going shopping together- he knows to expect damage on the finances when she's around, that's just the way it is!) P.S.- This isn't always a bad thing!

I convey this theory to real life in the following (true life!) story.

As a high school senior, I found myself making decisions about my life path on a consistent basis, as most do. However while other girls were deciding on outfits and dates and college courses to take, I was deciding on living in misery with my mother or fight the world on my own at the tender age of 17. Before I graduated, I packed my belongings and moved out with a few friends. Being around my mother, her boyfriend and younger brother was bringing me down to a point that my life was not pushing forward. Had I stayed, I would have risked falling into a pattern of arguing, severe unhappiness and what I feared most- the lack of will to succeed. So I stepped out. The situation I stepped into however, presented challenges of its own. As you can imagine, 3 girls just weeks away from high school graduation can build a pretty unstable and irresponsible place to thrive. After a couple months, I had another decision to make. Was consistent intoxication and partying like rockstars getting me where I wanted to be? Nope. I stepped out again. A couple years after that, I was once again at a crossroad, and as one naturally wants to progress their life, to always be achieving greatness, I had to make the decision yet again. This time, I left behind a relationship that was crippling me to seek a greater love and passion for myself, my future and my life. I had stepped out yet again and will still back my decision 100%.

Now that I am married with children, I can look back and see how each step brought me closer to life happiness and success. By re-evaluating my "top 5" in each scenario, I was able to reach the heights of the life I wanted. I have a better understanding of what influences my moods, my priorities, my relationships- and I know that constantly being around people who share the same supreme happiness in Life and Love gives my own quest credibility and stamina, a will to succeed. Just like being around people enjoying the same things can bring comfort and greatness to your life, being around those who don't care to be in your happy place can bring on irritation, resentment and self doubt.

Being newlyweds, you two have now become one. Perhaps before, you were each other's number 1 person. Together, you are now a team and your "top 5" is joined together. Throughout your marriage, goals and ideas, desires and needs will change and evolve. Being mindful of your "average" and knowing if and when to substitute is key to a successful, supremely happy existence. Here are some examples of premium substitutions that may lift you out of slumps and dig you out of ruts!

• Two-faced/backstabbing, gossiping co-workers for the quiet new girl eating lunch alone
• Jack and Jill who battle one another relentlessly in your presence for Jim and Sally who enjoy being on each other's side, most of the time anyways!
• Your husband/wife bashing friend always encouraging you to join the "fun" for another who is most interested in chatting you up about the latest sports and entertainment equip.

Knowing yourself and how each person in your life affects you will make upkeep on your top 5 a successful piece of your foundation, both as a person and as a partner!

The Post-Wedding Party

When you've got loads of relatives and friends coming from far distances to witness your wedding vows and make bets on who smashes cake in the other's face first- why not take a little extra time during your wedding weekend to enjoy their company? Chances are about 85% that you won't see but a few seconds of them during your entire Wedding Day, not to mention getting the opportunity to chat up how the nieces and uncles and in-laws are all doing anyways.

So how to make the most of this time with them? Consider hosting a Post-Wedding Party, a Pre-Honeymoon send off even. This of course works best if you are not leaving on a jet plane first thing the next morning- but your families could always do the hosting while you two are high in the sky. You may remember seeing the weekend shindig the Clearys put on after their daughter's nuptials in the movie Wedding Crashers-- but don't worry, you don't have to go to that extreme to really wow and entertain your nearest and dearest.

Here are a few tips and ideas for planning the perfect get together!

• Consider your audience and your location. Are all of your uncles and cousins visiting for your coastal wedding? Have your Dads organize a fishing trip the next day for all the men. This is a great way to relax, have fun and make the most of their traveling hours before a long trip home. In the meantime, the Moms can have the women over for a pool party, beachside volleyball or even a park picnic.


• Consider their interests. If you have lots of (not quite) Tiger Woods doubles around and happen to be near a golf course, host a Tournament for your family and friends- like a recent couple here in Central Florida. Each guest paid in a certain amount to play, teams were formed and the monies went to prizes for accomplishments like best score, best drive etc.


• Consider their needs. Like eating! Everyone loves a good meal before hitting the road. Have your local family prepare a potluck feast of their signature dishes to share with your out of towners. Southern Hospitality is always in style! If you're lacking in the foodie department, meet at a local favorite restaurant that will send them off with full bellies and a taste of your hometown!

If the stars aren't aligning for such an event to take place right after (or before!) your Wedding, consider hosting a separate celebration to spend more time with them in the coming months using the same ideas. You may consider using your anniversary as an excuse to host a fantastic event. My husband and I tied the knot on May 5th (Cinco de Mayo) for multiple reasons, one being the fact that our anniversary forever falls on a (Mexican) holiday and presents the perfect opportunity for a party each and every year. And that's exactly what we do! We invite nearly everyone we know to re-celebrate with us to the tune of Salsa dancing, delicious Mexican foods, margaritas (in multiple flavors of course) and even karaoke!

If you're feeling like this may be way too much to take on, remember- this is yet another task a fantastic wedding coordinator can organize for you, and you'll certainly be happy with even more memories to share with everyone for years to come!

About this dress...

So you're married! Congrats and welcome to the world of Newlyweds. We're happy to have you- now get started on those post-wedding chores, happily ever after doesn't just create itself you know! It's true, there are plenty of mundane tasks to accomplish upon your return to reality. For instance, that whole name changing process, the DMV, the insurance policies, don't forget to order new checks, thank you notes... the list is actually quite long and will likely take you most of your first year to complete fully. Or longer if you're a procrastinator. Today, let's focus on something less real world like and more sentimental. Your Wedding Gown.

What can I do?

Cleaning and Preserving the Gown-- It is recommended this be done within 30 days from the wedding. I've seen and heard wonderful testimonials however, that do not follow this rule, so look for the best if you're intent on keeping this dress in tip top condition for years to come. The first place I recommend researching on this journey- is the salon you purchased the dress from. Some have their own process, or can advise you of a great professional in the area. My own dress was simply stuffed back into the bag I picked it up in. And it still hangs in there-- every dirty trace exists on it still, and for the most part I remember how each of them came to be! Sometimes peeking at this most definetly used and abused hanging satin fabric brings me right back to the aisle I walked down and the floor I danced the night away on. Do I honestly think my daughter is going to wear it on her wedding day? Absolutely not. In fact, I don't have a daughter anyways, I have boys. I am even more certain their one day fiances will be even LESS interested. If I do manage to get around to that whole cleaning thing, it will simply be so one day I can play dress up while no one is home and pray that I don't bust a zipper trying to squeeze into the darn thing!

Donating the Gown-- Brides Against Breast Cancer is one of my favorite foundations. They are responsible for bringing so much peace and happiness to patients losing their fight with breast cancer through wish granting. Here's how it works in a nutshell-- You donate your dress. A new soon to be Mrs. then purchases it at a gown sale, monies made help make wishes and dreams come true for breat cancer patients nationwide. More good news for you-- the donation is tax deductible. http://bridesagainstbreastcancer.org/

Resale-- this trend has become very apparent on online auctions like Ebay. Some of my budget Brides have found some really amazing bridal products here and dresses are among the loot they're showing interest in! If you find yourself in need of cash post-wedding, resale may be of interest to you. Just be sure to do your research beforehand to avoid any disappointments or missing payments! Your safest bet is likely to ask around-- everyone knows someone getting married and these days, that someone is usually looking for any steals she can get!

Trashing It-- This is something I found while visiting a local videographer's website. They offer a video session for recently married Brides to just kill the darn dress on camera and make an interesting statement and keepsake memento. If this has "you" written all over it, talk to your videographer (or a good friend for that matter) about how to make it happen.

How does one dress for a successful marriage?

After all the dressing and primping and posing for photos winds down and it's time to send my Bride down the aisle to meet her Groom, we arrive at my favorite perk of working in the Wedding business. Vows. There are a few reasons I adore this part of the day above every other moment of every other day throughout the planning process and even the liveliness and action of a reception. A) I get to sit down (usually) for a decent block of time, relax and focus in a peaceful and serene environment. B) Being in the presence of two people commiting their lives to one another and become a single entity is intoxicating to me. There's no other happening that can create this kind of magic- it just engulfs the room, you can't escape it, and it's so wonderful being part of the sacred beginning to a couple's own eternity.

Today I'd like to share some pieces of a passage from last night's ceremony that I love. I can tell it's a crowd pleaser when I see the married couples in attendance glancing at one another so endearingly- like they are taking the vows themselves right then and there. Watching them all throughout the evening full of dancing and celebrating, you can see they are entranced in the presence of such love and I only hope they wake up with a little left over sparkle the next morning! I've chosen this as one of my favorites because of how universally appealing and honest it is, and how renewing it can be for the overworked souls of marriage everywhere. When your marital bliss is feeling a little stretched and thin, may these words have the power to help you overcome obstacles and prevail victorious.

The Apostle Paul, in this letter to the Colossians, has some suggestions about what kind of clothes you should have hanging in your marriage closet.
As God's chosen ones, Paul says to first, put on compassion. This is something you wear inside. It's a little bit like underwear... suitable for everyday... absolutely essential for weak moments. Compassion is the inner attitude of tenderly caring for each other's needs. It has to do with having a heart for the other... and then each of you having the other at heart.
Now you will need some comfortable shirts and blouses. Let's call them kindness. Kindness is a soft, gentle garment, that complements whoever wears it. Sometimes kindness can be in short supply in a marriage, especially when we get to know each other's weaknesses and soft spots. To wear the garment of kindness is to be the healer in your marriage.
Now, you need a few scratchy, itchy sweaters. Let's call them the garments of humility. Like I said, they can be a little scratchy and uncomfortable at times and we really don't like to put them on very often, but they will protect you against arrogance and self-centeredness. Humility isn't about total submission or giving in to the other's whims and wants. But rather, it is about respecting each other's uniqueness and equality in your marriage.
Patience is another article of clothing you can't do without. Definetely socks! Many pairs of good socks... ones that will wear a long time. Patience is a long-wearing garment that helps you wait out the storms that will come in your marriage. But like socks, patience can wear a little thin sometimes. We are not perfect people and there is no such thing as a perfect marriage. Marriage takes patience. It requires a sense of humor and a spirit of live and let live.
So we have undergarments, shirts, a few scratchy sweaters, socks. You'll need some nice pants now... some nice slacks... with deep pockets. I liken these with gentleness or meekness. Every marriage wardrobe needs gentleness or meekness, to soften angry outbursts and to prevent judgemental reactions. And the reason they need deep pockets is so you can have a place to store up trust in each other.
Now shoes! Shoes of forgiveness. Marriage can often be a test of endurance, marriage is forever. And something that lasts forever takes hard work and the willingness to say you are sorry when things don't go well. As marriage begins, these shoes are still new and will feel a little stiff and uncomfortable. But the more you are able to forgive each other; the more you are able to say " I am sorry" when you make mistakes, the more comfortable your shoes become. Now you have everything you need. Except a good coat.
Love is the last garment Paul talks about. Love is like the overcoat, it goes on over everything. It is what will keep your marriage warm. The coat Paul is talking about is made of two things... both of which are essential for your marriage to survive. Commitment and Caring. When you marry, you commit yourself to the other. You bind yourselves together with your promise to care for one another, no matter what comes. That is a very special kind of love. This love Paul is talking about is bringing all that we have, all that we are, all that we are going to be... and we give it freely and sacrificially to each other.

-- Excerpt from the Wedding Vows spoken for Mike and Shayna by Pastor Stan at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Winter Park, Florida August 8th, 2008