The wedding Saturday night was so nice; the bride was beautiful and the groom was very happy. It was obvious Yinnett and Ray are in love with each other…and to think that Ray planned the entire wedding without his bride finding out thing! She really did enjoy and appreciate all his hard work.

While I’ve attend more than a thousand weddings, I’ve only been invited to three. And, even though I’m not a wedding person…this one was very special because the couple truly cared more about each other. So many couples get so caught up in the planning, the huge expense of the wedding and the “ceremonial” process by the time the couple gets married its like “get over it, already”.  The wedding Saturday included every item a couple plans for in their wedding and reception. However, the difference was that most couples take an entire year to plan what this man planned in 10 days. And, he’s not the first! I’ve helped several couples plan extrodinary weddings in less than a month or even less than two weeks. It can be done…it can be enjoyed…and couples can enjoy each other even after the wedding day.

How long did it take to plan your wedding? Was there a reason you planned it in the time frame you did?

Your decor should be sophisticated yet never minimal. Simple linens and dishes in the Halloween color palette express a more adult ambiance than the typical kid-centric party supplies. Try incorporating a few fun and playful elements to spark conversation.

Graphic black-and-white plates and trays are the highlight of an autumn vignette. Affix them to the wall with Fun-Tak adhesive.

Use silk flowers to create an unexpected (and long-lasting) centerpiece. Choose daisies and marigolds or other flowers in shades evocative of fall foliage, and, using wire cutters, trim the stems to an inch and a half long. Then insert the flower heads into a Styrofoam ball to make a densely packed sphere.

A versatile decoration, these floral ornaments can be used to add punches of color throughout the room. Vary the size of the Styrofoam balls, mix the type and color of flowers, and tack on a nylon loop for hanging. Suspend them from a chandelier, or hang them over the dining table at differing heights. Make variations that are appropriate for other holidays ~ your imagination is your only limit.

Whimsical broomstick place cards will give guests a lift. Paint a dowel black for the broom handle. Fold strips of raffia in half and attach to the handle with a piece of string. Cut looped raffia ends to create bristles. Write guests’ names on pieces of ribbon and hot glue to the handles.

For more decorating ideas, keep reading Halloween Table Decorations.

1. DON’T leave guests to awkwardly mingling at a party you’re hosting. “If it’s a crowd that doesn’t know each other, it’s important to give people something to go on,” says Lizzie Post, etiquette expert and great-great-granddaughter of manners maven Emily Post. When making introductions, try to jump-start the conversation—explain where you know each guest from, or bring up something they have in common, whether it’s the same alma mater or just an undying love for Celine Dion.

2. DON’T get drunk if you’re the hostess. “Hosting is a responsibility,” cautions Post. “Know your own limits.” Use caution when you’re the guest a party too, and slow down once you feel yourself rapidly approaching that point where you think strip beer pong is a good idea. When you feel like one too many people has asked you, “are you OK?”—it might be time to put down the wine and grab a glass of water.

3. DON’T be a Debbie Downer when giving a toast. “Short and sweet” is key, according to Post. Stay away from anything that mocks the host and puts down the time of year or occasion being celebrated.

4. DON’T bring an uninvited plus-one to a party unless you’ve cleared it with the hostess. This includes boyfriends, children, and pets. DO bring a dish or a bottle of wine instead.

5. DON’T apologize profusely if someone gets you a gift and you’re empty handed—or worse, lie and say your gift for them got lost in the mail/is being custom-made overseas/flew out of your car window on the drive over. “Just say thank you and leave it at that,” advises Post.

6. DON’T forget to match the food you serve to the attire on your invitation if you’re hosting this year. “If you invite people to a black-tie,” Post says, “I would consider not having spaghetti at dinner.”

7. DON’T forget to ask about your guests’ food preferences and dietary restrictions—and try to make at least one dish they can eat. Not sure how to make vegan brisket? “Ask!” says Post. “Find out how to make something from your guest.” The bonus: “the majority of people will almost always offer to bring a dish.” If you’re the guest, whether you’re keeping Kosher, vegetarian, or South Beach, bring a dish or two and let the hostess know your situation beforehand—when you RSVP, not the morning of the party.

8. DON’T let the party drag on if you’re hosting, and DON’T be the guest that overstays her welcome by four hours. “Don’t walk up to your guests and take their drinks from their hands,” Post cautions—if you’re hosting, give guests the hint by cleaning up the bar and putting away food. Pay attention to those same hints if you’re the guest. If you’re still chatting away over a freshly-poured martini while your host has changed into pajamas, it’s time to go.

9. DON’T be a doormat when it comes to having friends or family stay at your place over the holidays. “Stand up for your own sanity,” Post advises. If you can’t fit your in-laws and their two Saint Bernards in your studio apartment, say so. The same goes for guests that have overstayed their welcome. “The fish and the house guests go bad after three days,” according to Post. Make it clear before their arrival that you would love to host them between certain dates, and point them to a hotel for the duration of their stay.

10. DON’T cry over spilled wine. Stop fretting over whether or not your napkins match the tablecloth, and don’t sob uncontrollably in the bathroom if you fumble your toast. Just enjoy the company and the festivities, and be glad that holiday stress comes only once a year!

I like pizza just as much as the next person…although not as much as my friend, Junior, that could eat pizza for every meal. Still, I found the best pizza and although I don’t want to eat it daily, it’s still pretty darn good. It has corn added to the traditional ingredients of ground beef, cheese, black olives, onions, (maybe) a few jalapeños, and salami. I don’t know what it is about the corn, maybe the added sweetness, but the addition of corn really makes for a great pizza! Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Have you ever heard a song that just hits you in the heart?

I’m pretty eclectic when it comes to music and living in different countries has allowed me the privilege of listening to the music of other cultures within the cultures where they were born, from the Mariachi bands of Mexico to the Reggae and Calypso music of the Caribbean to the Latin from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and more. Some, I’ll admit, I’ve just plain gotten used to after hearing it over and over and over. Even though I’m eclectic, I’ll never get used to rotten-rap or heavy metal…and some of the newer music I’ve recently been privy to. But, overall, I like what I hear.

However, and I repeat, however…I will never forget the chills I felt as my heart skipped a beat the first time I heard Luis Miguel sing Si Tu Ti Atreves. Until last night, I had no idea what the title of the song was or what he was singing…only that each time I heard it on television ~ I’d stop typing. And, for me, that’s saying something. Usually, when my television is on I can’t to tell you what program is on because I’m be into whatever work I’m trying to accomplish. But, when I hear Luis Miguel sing Si Tu Ti Atreves, each and every time, I stop what I’m doing and watch the music video that I’m fortunate enough to watch on several Mexican and Latin channels my cable company subscribe to. Si Tu Ti Atreves is one of the major commercials on each of these channels so if my TV is on, I get to hear it almost every hour.

To this moment, the only translation of the song I know is the title, Si Tu Ti Atreves meaning, If You Dare. My Spanish is all right, at best, so I understand many of the words but not enough to put them together to comprehend. Still, the emotion behind Luis Miguel’s voice, the look in his eyes, his body language…all speak volumes that anyone can understand.

Now, click play and tell me I’m wrong…Si Tu Ti Atreves…If You Dare…

~ Diana

Serendipity is the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely.

Have you ever had a Serendipity Effect? I’d love to hear more….

~ Diana

My hubby and I are on our way to the St. Kitts Music Festival the end of this month. Ever since we lived on this beautiful Caribbean island we’ve tried to return for the annual music festival. The festival has brought in great performers like the beautiful voice of Dionne Warwick, R&B beauty, Jully Black, and nostalgic Air Supply. Of course, it wouldn’t be the same if the night air wasn’t mixed with the Calypso and Reggae music from local artists. 

As one of the few approved photographers, we always get to go behind-the-scenes, talk with the artists and see the cool ‘stuff’ (equipment). Many of the Caribbean television and radio stations carry the concert live for all four nights. By now, they all know us and welcome us backstage. It’s interesting, to say the least, to listen to the sounds, see the lights, and hear guys talk about how their patch panels has made the change of artists so much easier and smoother. My favorite part is photographing them as they tell their stories about past concerts.

It’ll be fun going back again to listen to the Reggae music of Morgan Heritage, Socrates, and Beanie Man that the Caribbean is known for and seeing old friends.

~ Diana

Facebook and MySpace are the two top social networking sites. Personally, I like Facebook more than MySpace because it’s easier for me to use. MySpace tends to have more obvious advertising that gets in the way…but look who’s talking. I have ads on all my blogs. Still, Facebook seems more organized and eye-friendly than MySpace. I’ve done previous articles on Facebook and believe that, from my research, both sites try to protect minors from predators.

Tonight I was adding my camera to sell Ebay and found out that I was also able to add it to Facebook through Ebay, which is very cool since I have quite a few fellow photographers as friends.

While I don’t check my Facebook or MySpace accounts all that often, I do check them. Sometimes I even try to search for people I know, people I’ve met in the past or classmates from eon’s ago. I used to have a paid account with Classmates.com and am a non-paying subscriber to Reunion.com but they aren’t as entertaining as Facebook or MySpace. Even when you pay for their subsciptions to Classmates.com or Reunion.com, you don’t get to interact with people or friends like to you do on the other social networks ~ for free.

So, my question is: Why aren’t more baby-boomer classmates on these social networking sites? Both Facebook and MySpace are fairly easy to use but you have to take the time to learn them, which for some of us, is in short supply. So, my answer to this is to ask one of your kids, nephews or a teenager to set your account up for you. They’ll have a blast and get it all taken care of. Then, all you have to do is invite a few friends and…voila! You have a social networking page. Just for the record, to date (kow), I’ve not received one piece of spam, porn or been asked to add someone I don’t want to add.

Many of us baby-boomers that graduated from high school and college eon’s ago are so busy with our lives it’s often difficult to find the time to do the social networking our kids or grandkids are so into. Still, I’m thinking that if someone was my friend in high school, chances are they’d be an even better friend today. We all have great life-experiences that have enriched each of us. So, if you’re reading this and don’t have a Facebook or MySpace account…get one and link me in. I’m always happy to have new and renewed friends.

~ Diana

Am I just being naïve or is it considered cool to follow the style set by Brittany Spears being pantyless? The other night my hubby and I were out and it was obvious that several young ladies were not wearing panties. No bikini, no g-string, no jeweled underwear, no thong…nada. It was obvious they were trying to imitate the icon and be the next Brittany Spears sexual icon but do they really know what Brittany Spears is all about?

From my research (actually reading not just photo browsing), Brittany Spears doesn’t see herself as a sexual icon and denies men are fascinated with the concept of her as a sexual icon or some kind of hot virgin, or that she feels that her success says nothing about what our society fantasizes about. In truth, she doesn’t disagree with any of this because she swears she’s never thought about it. Not even once.

In an interview last year with Esquire magazine, Brittany told author, Chuck Klosterman, “I don’t even want to think about that. That’s strange, and I don’t think about things like that, and I don’t want to think about things like that. Why should I? I don’t have to deal with those people. I’m concerned with the kids out there. I’m concerned with the next generation of people. I’m not worried about some guy who’s a perv and wants to meet a freaking virgin.”

So, why is it that young (and not-so-young) American women that try to imitate this sexual icon do it so disappointingly? You would think these young ladies would learn more about their icon before they begin mis-dressing like a sexual icon. I have a feeling that being Brittany Spears or Brittany Spears as a sexual icon or even the Brittany Spears rock star takes a little more than going pantyless.

Britney Spears is one of the least self-aware people any of us will ever have the chance to meet or read about. Either that or she’s way more savvy than any of us realize. Or maybe both. Brittany can carry off (sort of) going pantyless, the Brittany wannabies…obviously, cannot.

My point in this article is that for a person to be who they are is wonderful, to copy a sexual icon, a rock star icon, or Hollywood icon is probably all right as well, if they don’t think they have enough self-esteem to be who they are themselves. But, before we copy an icon, we need to find out more information about them and what makes them tick. It’s not that there’s an information black-out on Brittany Spears, Jennifer Aniston, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and the rest of the Hollywood icons. There are plenty of great articles to read on every news stand, websites devoted to our sexual icons, television shows about Hollywood, and radio stations that report all the comings and goings of our stars. So if our young people are going to copy a sexual icon, like Brittany Spears, shouldn’t they read and learn about what makes them who they are?

It is truly a shame that our women only look at the superficial part of the icon (their photos) when they can learn so much from them, if they’d only read.

~ Diana

I’ve liked Clay Aiken since I saw his first try-out on American Idol. His voice far outweighed his geeky look and will always cause me to stop whatever I’m doing and listen.

The poor young man (can you believe he’s now 29?) has gone through so much scrutiny over his looks that its amazing anyone knows he can sing…but he can, that’s for sure. For me, as long as he’s happy with who he is, I don’t care if he wears a paper bag over his head…however, with his new look…I don’t think he’ll have to do that. Is this change brought on by his hairstylist or his role in Monti Python’s Spamalot? hmmm

Before you scroll down to see his new look…remember, after you see it I want to know how you like it.