Create your own monograms and logos

Forget the trend reports that say monograms are out -- they're still in, particularly when the right site offers such gorgeous artistic renditions. And do I have a site for you! Visit PashWeddings.com monograms collection at http://www.blissweddingsmarket.com/store/000333.htm and choose from their classic, contemporary, casual, symbolic and other styles. I'm definitely bookmarking this page for upcoming use. And yes, that's a not so subtle sign that Joe and I will be making a big announcement soon. :) Bless this man for his amusement at my chomping at the bit, and his gentle holding back of my reins. I joke that the floodgates are open, and especially with the house purchase going on, stress is in no short supply. But it thrills me to think about the little things like the tulips I'd like for my bouquet, just as it's thrilling us to imagine where we're going to hang our artwork in our new house, or picking out a new living room couch. They say that looking forward to something produces happy hormones in the body, so my advice to all of you wedding planning couples is to not stress about the details but get cozy with them. They're the fun part, so don't freak out over invitation fonts or napkin colors. These little details are your mind's eye painting a picture that makes you happy and maybe balances out all those other stressful things in your life.

Stay tuned...we have some fun stuff coming soon....

And thank you to everyone who wrote with excitement and compliments about my segment on Good Morning America! That was a big thrill for me.

Our new house!

The ink isn't 100% dry yet, but I'm an optimist and I trust all will be well. :) Joe and I found THE most amazing house right here close to us, and after months of exploring crappy little huts with no room to stand on the top floor or kitchens that were 3 feet wide, it was like something out of a movie. We knew as we were driving through the neighborhood to see the house for the first time. You know when you're 'home.' We adore the prior owner and could feel how much that house was loved by her and her family. It all just came together perfectly...there's a bike trail right down the street, a nice big yard, big kitchen, and just the little painting jobs and minor remodels that we are so looking forward to doing. Of course, it has been strange to go from, "So what do you want to do tonight?" to "So what's in your savings account?" but the full disclosure is easy when you trust each other so much. Sure, it's a little scary, but I'm just thinking about how nice it's going to be to have Thanksgiving in our place, to have our office with the cherrywood floor and blue paint we picked out, to have no noisy neighbors upstairs...
If and when we do get buyer's remorse, as happens with everyone, we'll only have to look around and see where we are to feel a lot better about that.

Today was one of those challenging ones. I took my Mom to the hospital for a procedure, and it was really tough to be back in that hospital environment. But the post-traumatic stuff is fading, so that works for me. When I went into recovery, my Mom was sitting there in her little hospital gown and she had just done her makeup, sipped on her coffee, looking positively radiant to be on her way home. On MY way home, I counted blessings...we're all moving into a happy time, even if we have to walk through a scary cloud of what-if's to get to it.

Changing names on Good Morning America

It has long been a wish of mine to appear on Good Morning America, and now that wish has come true. In an evening flurry of phone calls and e-mails (which I would have MISSED if Joe's haircut appointment had not been re-scheduled to last night -- how wild is that?!), GMA sent a camera crew out here to my house to tape a segment on men who take their *brides'* last names. The segment aired this morning, and you can view it here:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2972558

And thank you, Joe, for checking on the link. I am floored every day by how lucky I am to have you.

Newsday's Book of the Week!

My book 'Renewing Your Wedding Vows' was just announced as Newsday's How-To Book of the Week! http://www.newsday.com/features/consumer/ny-lsread5136046mar19,0,7759831.story

That takes the sting out of not winning the HGTV Dream House. Joe and I had big plans for that one ;)

1000 Best Wedding Bargains

Well, this warms up my snowed-in day...

A review for my book 1000 BEST WEDDING BARGAINS:
"A must for brides on a budget...a veritable volume of super-chic for super-cheap."--Copley News Service

I am savoring this happy end to my hectic workweek....

It's all about the relationship

Don't forget....the wedding has come about because you're in a wonderful relationship! Take the time to nurture it, and make a vow to nurture it in the future. Prepare for the marriage ahead.

My good friend and colleague Tina Tessina, PhD has a terrific blog for you to check out (and make sure you pick up her amazing books!). She's been a phenomenal 'find' as a source for my wedding prep articles, quotes in my books, and she and her husband Richard are even featured in my book Renewing Your Wedding Vows.

Tina writes with true authority on the most important issues facing engaged couples who DON'T want to drag old baggage into their relationships. Her books are Must-Reads! You can find her blog at http://drromance.typepad.com/dr_romance_blog/ Redbook.com says: "Blog of the month: DR. Romance: 'If anyone can call herself "DR. Romance," it's REDBOOK Love Expert Tina Tessina. With a Ph.D., eight books and 30 years counseling experiencing under her belt, Tina has a lot to say about the everydays of life and love. Get to know the Doc. "

Eco-friendly weddings

Many thanks to my publicist Julie Berry for bringing this great magazine to my attention~

If you'd like to plan an environmentally-friendly wedding, and check into eco-tourism for your honeymoon, visit www.portovert.com (pronounced porto-vair). I'm thrilled to know this new resource is out there, providing realistic ways to choose products, foods, services and gifts that are kind to the environment...without everything being made out of hemp and wood pulp! You'll get a great education here, and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you 'gave a little back.'

In other news, I taped the next two installments of my Wedding Podcast Network show 'Here Come the Moms' (www.weddingpodcastnetwork.com), so check the site to see when our segments on 1.) Working as a Team and 2.) Mom wedding fashion are launched!

And when I find a great wedding registry, I love to share it with my readers. When I can also support a relative's entrepreneurial vision, I'm there! So check out my cousin Renee's bridal registry program with Pampered Chef at www.pamperedchef.biz/reneesgroi.

That's it for today...it's time for a walk by the lake and then finalizing my wardrobe for the taping of 'Naomi's New Morning' for the Hallmark Channel on Thursday. I'm bringing along the VERY FIRST handbag from my new bridal line with www.zbeckybrown.com, and I'll be wearing the gorgeous eternity earrings and necklace from celebrity designer Kristy Nuttall at www.mylittlepretty.com.

"Renewing Your Wedding Vows" in USA Weekend!

Thank you, Linda, for sending me the link! Here's my mention in Judy Mandell's latest for USA Weekend:

http://www.usaweekend.com/07_issues/070311/070311family.html

What a perfect night... a cozy night in with Joe and our favorite Chinese take-out food, good news in college basketball, a blueberry for Tigger, and now getting to see the USA Weekend piece early! I thought I'd have to go to 7-11 early in the morning to get my copy ;)

Thank you, Linda and Judy, for this thrilling news tonight....

Our anniversary

Joe and I celebrated our anniversary at Shanghai Jazz (www.shanghaijazz.com, named one of the top jazz clubs in the world), with crispy crab dumplings, General Tsao's chicken, and a tilapia dish called 'prosperity fish.' Prosperity is definitely the right word when it comes to our relationship, and I don't mean the financial aspect of the word. The true definition of prosperity is having a deep sense of comfort and contentment with what you have. Those who have money and no peace don't have prosperity. They have money and no peace. They're unable to enjoy all they have. So prosperity is one of the perfect words for the great gift I enjoy every day, of being joined with this wonderful man. Shanghai Jazz was where we had our first date, actually. So how fun to return to the scene, see those two bar stools where we sat and talked, and remember how very impressive it was that Joe -- on our first date -- took a moment to watch the musical performer before looking around for me. I still get butterflies thinking back to that...

Right now, I'm editing 'What's Your Bridal Style,' which I wrote with Casey Cooper of Botanicals in Chicago (www.botanicalschicago.com) and it's always a kick to revisit material from so many months ago. We have to cut a lot, since we're almost at 2x the word count allowed, so it's a painful thing to see my birthmonth flower chart go, and whittle down some really great work. I'm chunking out some sections as articles we'll use to promote the book, so at least they'll have a second life! It's windy outside and chilly in here (old Victorian house), so I'm off for a Dunkin Donuts hazelnut decaf and a cozy corner in the library where my frozen little fingers can defrost and work some magic on the edit.

Where to get Wedding Vow Renewal invitations

For the absolute BEST line of wedding vow renewal invitations -- at the best prices and the best customer service I've ever experienced (Linda, you're incredible!), PLUS the option to have a % of your order donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, shop at http://www.invitations4sale.cceasy.com/order/CasPage1.cfm?prev=1&TempPrev=0&blnPreviewRequestSubmitted=0&recordsperpage=12&CompletedOrder=0&sBasketID=0&alogo=1&menu=none&morethanonepage=YES&HostDomain=0&FirstTimeThrough=1&option=CasPage1.cfm&format=AAGCasEnsDT26&CFID=18366714&CFTOKEN=70920376

I've featured Linda's company in several of my books, and I can't emphasize enough how terrific this woman is! I consider her a dear friend and a sister in the fight against blood cancers, so I've chosen her line as my officially-endorsed Wedding Vow Renewal invitation source.

Enjoy!