Are You "Engaged and Underaged?"

MTV'S ENGAGED AND UNDERAGE - NOW CASTING!!!

INVITE MTV TO HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT ON YOUR SPECIAL DAY!!!

MTV News & Docs is casting for the third season of its popular documentary series “Engaged and Underage.” Let MTV tell your love story – the excitement of the engagement, the ups and downs of the planning, the fun along the way, and, of course, THE BIG DAY!!! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…

You and your future spouse should both appear to be between the ages of 18 and 22. Best case scenario: you're getting married in November/December 2008 or January 2009.

TO APPLY FOR THE SHOW, DOWNLOAD A CASTING QUESTIONNAIRE AT: http://www.mtv.com/content/casting_call/engaged/casting_questionnaire.doc

OR EMAIL US TO OBTAIN ONE AT: engagedandunderage@mtvstaff.com. (Tell us when and where you are getting married and why this is important to you. Include your name, phone number, email address and a digital photo of you and your future spouse, if possible.

Catch me on MSNBC!

Check out my featured advice on MSNBC's cover of a Bride's magazine article on Giving a Great Wedding Toast, also seen at my website.

The PERFECT NJ Rehearsal Dinner site!

Did you know that one of the best Jazz Clubs in the world is right here in New Jersey? If you live nearby, you have to stop in at Shanghai Jazz in Madison for a drink, hear some live jazz, enjoy some sushi and Prosperity Fish, and scout out the place as the perfect location for your rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, even a reception site.

Joe and I had our 6-month wedding anniversary dinner here -- which was perfect, since this was also the site of our very first date! How amazing to be here again, married, looking at that spot where I first saw Joe walk in the door, and at the barstools where we sat and had our first in-person conversation. I still get butterflies thinking about it. But now, here we are with a wedding behind us, our first home, and lots of anniversaries to look forward to! All at Shanghai Jazz. Here's more information on this great place, my top pick for wedding celebration sites in the Garden State:



Welcome to Shanghai Jazz®
Named One of the "Top 100 Great Jazz Clubs in the World!"
LIVE JAZZ SIX NIGHTS A WEEK
No Cover Except Special Events
It’s 1928. The Jazz Age is beginning. Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Josephine Baker in Paris. Louis Armstrong, his Hot Fives and Hot Sevens Revolutionizing Jazz.
Now Imagine Shanghai. The Most Cosmopolitan City in the Orient. Filled with Glamour. Mystery. Intrigue. And the “Sound of the Century” is Jazz. At Shanghai Jazz, we invite you into our world.
We pride ourselves on offering Gourmet Asian-Inspired Cuisine in an elegant setting, a unique atmosphere for business dinners, corporate events and special occasions. We have received Rave Reviews for our Food and Service and Ambience in the New York Times, the Star Ledger, NJ Monthly and ZagatSurvey®. We have been named “NJ’s Top Jazz Club” and One of the “TOP 100 JAZZ CLUBS IN THE WORLD” by Downbeat Magazine.
We offer Tasting Menus, Private Party Rooms and a Long Oak Bar, perfect for enjoying our own “Shanghai Jazz Ale” or a selection from our wine list. World-Class Jazz and Warm Hospitality make Shanghai Jazz the Perfect Place to host your friends and colleagues for groups from two to 120.
At Shanghai Jazz, we are proud to have recorded a series of LIVE CDS, including the MARIAN McPARTLAND TRIO LIVE at Shanghai Jazz, JUNIOR MANCE Live at Shanghai Jazz, GROVER KEMBLE and SPECIAL GUEST JOHN PIZZARELLI Live at Shanghai Jazz and JERRY VIVINO Live at Shanghai Jazz.
At Shanghai Jazz, our philosophy is Great American Jazz and Gourmet Asian Cuisine – what more could you want out of life!
But please note we also offer Grilled Fiilet Mignon, Roast Chicken, Portobello Mushroom over Spinach, Grilled Salmon, fresh Maine Lobster and fresh Maryland Soft Shell Crabs in Season for those who prefer more American fare. And California rolls and vegetarian rolls for those who prefer sushi.
Shanghai Jazz is conveniently located in Northern New Jersey, just 23 miles west of Manhattan and 3 miles from the Short Hills Mall. We are easily accessible from Route 78 and Route 287 by car, and from Penn Station in NYC by train. Our address is 24 Main Street, Madison, NJ 07940. Tel. 973.822.2899. There is free parking in the back of the restaurant.
For more information, please email us at mailto:info@shanghaijazz.com
or call 973.822.2899
At Shanghai Jazz, it's a "true night out on the town." -- Zagat Survey

Fabulous bridal party gifts

Forget the little silver frame, the flask and all of the other Usuals when it comes to bridal party gifts. Now, the big goal is to get your bridal party members something they'll love (which means personalized) that doesn't cost a lot (under $30 each is ideal, down from a national average of $70 just a year ago). Get 'em a sports team logo shirt, or hat, or plush throw or blanket at ESPN Shops. Whether it's their fave college or pro team, men's or women's styles, even items for kids, your bridal party gifts will thrill your group because they'll actually use them. And you can't beat the sales going on right now at ESPN -- some tees are available 2 for $19.99.

Sign Andy & Angela's guestbook

We're getting ready for an unforgettable wedding at The Office! Sign the guestbook here.

Halloween weddings

That's right, they're more popular than ever! Wedding couples who want to do something different, or those -- like us -- who just *love* the holiday can now custom-design their own pumpkin carving patterns using this great tool at Better Homes and Gardens. Or go to the home page to find their lineup of very cool pumpkin patterns (I'm thinking of doing the Drippy Face pattern on my own pumpkin this year.)

With centerpieces being so expensive (over $150 for some floral arrangements), imagine the budget victory when you find a bunch of $10 pumpkins and invite your bridal party over a day or two before the wedding to carve all kinds of creative pumpkins for your centerpieces and decor. Put on some fondue or order pizzas, make some pumpkin bread and warm up some apple cider for a great night...perhaps even an even greater night if you took everyone to a family farm for locally-grown pumpkins and gourds.

Save hundreds of dollars and have fun with this design tool to make your Halloween or fall wedding extra-special! And browse through their many galleries to get fun new ideas on accessorizing pumpkins with veggies, branches, paint, etc. Some examples are amazing and some are cheesy, but you'll certainly get some fantastic inspiration for your DIY decor plans.

My upcoming books...

...are available for pre-order on Amazon. So far, I have *three* new ones launching in the first half of the new year, so I'm just about to lap my age in published books! I think that calls for a celebration at our favorite jazz club (http://www.shanghaijazz.com/).

Check out my new 'babies':

1001 Ways to Save Money...and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding:

http://www.amazon.com/1001-Money-Still-Dazzling-Wedding/dp/0071611452/ref=reader_req_dp

The Bride's Survival Guide:
http://www.amazon.com/Brides-Survival-Guide-Mistakes-Perfect/dp/1598698176/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224078767&sr=1-8

In May, we celebrate the launch of my upcoming book "Home From the Honeymoon," so keep an eye out for your essential guide to what happens after the wedding!

Did J-Lo use my book?

E! reports that Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony renewed their wedding vows in Las Vegas this past weekend, with just two witnesses in attendance. I wonder if they used my book Renewing Your Wedding Vows? Whether or not J-Lo and Marc-Ant were inspired by my book, they show the new, big trend in renewing your wedding vows after the babies are settled into the nursery. Late-night feedings. Diaper changes. Who's getting up in the middle of the night. The nurturing of a newborn or two definitely inspires some nurturing of your spouse. So get ready for a big Renewing Your Wedding Vows boom, as new parents take a moment to reaffirm their vows and show appreciation for one another. This is exactly why I wrote this book -- to bring couples closer -- and I couldn't be more thrilled.

'Green' your wedding beauty preps

Going green has never been easier, especially with authors like Sophie Uliano providing us with great resources! As we prep for our weddings, we're trying out skin creams and tooth whiteners, new shampoos and conditioners...all in our attempts to look and feel our best, and some of these new products we're trying might contain insanely bad-for-you ingredients! You can't be the radiant bride if you're full of toxins! Do you really want a bad case of dandruff right before the wedding day because you're using a so-called botanical shampoo that has an unpronounceable ingredient that shreds your scalp? The answers are in this book! Download their Cheat Sheet as well, to look out for ingredients in the products you own as well as the products you're looking for to look your best.

I have to confess. I originally bought this book as a Christmas gift for my friend Jen, but I couldn't stay away from it, and now Joe and I are clearing out a lot of our toxin-filled ingredients in the ol' medicine cabinet and our shower. Let's just say we're going to be buying a LOT of Burt's Bees replacement items today.

They're not kidding when they say you look and feel good from the inside out, but slapping on creams and lotions is part of our ingrained beauty rituals! Check out this book and the book's website www.gorgeouslygreen.com to 'clean up your act,' be radiant on your wedding day, and give your bridesmaids a fantastic bridal party gift in the form of this book!

Not Just Any Old Day

Here's a find! Jewelry that marks a special day!

"NOT JUST ANY OLD DAY calendar charm keepsakes are a lovely new way of remembering, cherishing and celebrating a special occasion in your life. Designed to identify a significant month and day in the life of the person who wears it, the NOT JUST ANY OLD DAY solid sterling silver calendar charm (approximately ¾ inches by ¾ inches) is marked with a genuine Swarovski crystal stone on the date that holds a special meaning.NOT JUST ANY OLD DAY is designed to appeal to everyone, and with an extensive collection of necklaces, bracelets, key rings, money clips and letter openers, these charming trinkets make the perfect gift for men and women from 9 to 99. Whether it's for a birthday, anniversary, birth of a child, or any other significant date, they're wonderful for all occasions! The Not Just Any Old Day collection ranges from $98-$258 and is available at www.NotJustAnyOldDay.com.

The most innovative photo-sharing service I've seen yet!

You HAVE to check this website out! SeeYouThen.com provides a fabulous new service where all of your guests can upload their digital photos from all of your wedding events in *one organized place* for great photo-sharing opportunities. This is the most innovative program I've ever seen for photo-sharing, and I'm so pleased to have connected with them.

When Joe and I got married, we were quite fortunate to have many of our friends and family take terrific digital photos on our wedding day (our awesome professional photographer Rich was beyond superb, but one man can't be everywhere at once!). Each of our loved ones e-mailed us their photo collections, so we had a ton of separate websites to go to in order to see these snapshots. We had to sign in, create accounts, etc. With SeeYouThen.com, you and your guests get to see everything in one place! And here's the kicker: the site reminds your guests before the wedding to make sure their date and time stamps are accurate on their cameras, so that you can go into the website and request to see all of the photos from the cocktail party, or from the ceremony, from the first dance, etc. This program *collates* all of the many photos coming your way! Super-organized! I *wish* we had this for our wedding!

There are a ton of other features, from themed layouts, easy 1-minute creation of a personal website, and more. So go check it out, sign up, and spread the word. This site is a fantastic timesaver, and they'll even send you a DVD or USB stick with all of your images on it! I'm very impressed, and I know you will be too!

My "Bride's Diplomacy Guide" in Martha Stewart Weddings

Having 'People Problems' with your wedding? I was interviewed, along with Karen Bussen and Peggy Post, for a fabulous roundup of etiquette questions in this month's Martha Stewart Weddings. I'm very thrilled to see my Bride's Diplomacy Guide included in the story, since good diplomacy is at the center of diffusing people problems, and I wrote this book to help you with your stickiest wedding dilemmas. Wedding coordinators and florists tell me they're recommending my book to their clients [perhaps so *they* don't have to play mediator anymore!] -- so get your copy today through my website www.sharonnaylor.net or through the link in this Martha Stewart Weddings story.

Help with your registry choices

Do you really understand the differences between thread counts for sheets and blankets? Do you know the qualities of a *good* vacuum cleaner? Can you tell the different kinds of china apart? Check out the Product Guides at Bed, Bath & Beyond for glossaries and buyers' guides -- and yes, point-outs of their top registry items. It's Don't-Miss information for your best registry choices:

Product Guides
Air Purifiers
Gourmet Gadgets
Baby Monitors
Grooming
Bakeware
Heaters
Beauty
Humidifiers
Blankets
Irons
Blenders
Lamps
Breast Pumps
Luggage
Car Seats
Massagers
Child-Proofing
Mattress Pads
Closet Storage
Pillows
Coffeemakers
Safety Gates
Cookware
Scales
Cutlery
Sheets
Dental
Stand Mixers
Dinnerware
Strollers
Down Comforters
Tablecloths
Duvet Covers
Toasters
Espresso Machines
Top of the Bed
Feeding
Towels
Flatware
Vacuums
Food Processors
Water Filters
Furniture Covers
Window Treatments
Glassware

Go to the BB&B site for additional primers on china, stemware and other fun bridal shopping spree categories.

Win a trip to Fiji!

Now through 17 November 2008, submit your favorite travel story using my Budget Travel’s unique Travel Journal tool and get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to win roundtrip airfare and seven nights at beachfront accommodations in Fiji from Air Pacific and Sonaisali Island Resort. Journals will be rated by BudgetTravel.com’s diverse online community—from the web site’s editors to your closest peers—and the Grand Prize, Fiji trip-winner will be hand-picked from the journals which score highest. In addition, the best photo and video submissions with high ratings will each win $500 gift cards. So grab a pen, camera, or camcorder and spread the word to family and friends! The more votes in your favor, the better your chances will be! To enter the contest and/or for rules and regulations, please visit www.budgettravel.com/fijicontest