I've been tagged!

By Tracey, Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge, which means I have to list 5 songs that I am embarrassed to admit I secretly love. You see the trouble with that request is that the songs I should love secretly, I am very open about, which embarrasses the heck out of my family and friends. They are:

1. Double Dutch Bus by Frankie Smith - When I was a kid I thought I'd never stop loving this song, and I haven't.
2. Look What The Cat Dragged In by Poison - As a teenager I went through a metal phase. It was short-lived to the relief of my family and so they called off the intervention. However, intervention or not, they could not stop me from loving song #3.
3. You Don't Have To Be Irish To Be Irish by Roy Budd - Okay, you have to know me to truly appreciate the humor in this one.
4. The Rainbow Connection by Kermit - Backoff Miss Piggy! and finally,
5. When I Need You by Rod Stewart - Sigh.

Yeah, that's right. I was a child of the 80's. Now, I have to find seven people to tag, who haven't already been tagged. Any takers?

How to deal with the stress

Recently, my twice monthly massages have turned into weekly massages (it's become something of an obsession). I love the way I feel the day after: refreshed and renewed, and ready to take on the world. My spa loves me too. These days I get discounts, and I've heard my name used in conjunction with words such as "preferred customer". I've had a chance to be treated by every therapist in the place, so now I know who's terrible. Who talks too much. Who uses way too much pressure. Whose hands are too rough. And most importantly: Who is the absolute best! I've got my favorite locker, my favorite time of day to visit, my favorite spot in the steam room, my favorite shower... I could just as easily run forty minutes a day, six days a week and with time look as good as I feel, but to each her own.

Okay, I have a point, so let me get to it.

Stress is a big part of wedding planning. As a planner, I do my best to shield my clients from it, but there are some stressors that I can't control: family, friends, fiance/fiancee, finances and themselves, so instead I look for ways to help them deal with the stress (and, btw, I'm speaking to the minority here, because no two weddings are the same and not all couples experience external or internal stress during the planning process). For me, visiting the spa often to have the toxins rubbed out of my body does wonders for my well-being, but it's also a treat, so most of the time I use a tip I learned from my frequent spa visits: Breathing.

Don't say it, don't say it, I've heard it all my life too, but it's only now that I fully appreciate it.

Take a long deep breath and then drop it (like a huge sigh). Let your body drop with it too. Or as my favorite therapist says, "let it all fall down." You can't look pretty or cute doing this either. Especially when the stress is at it's worst: breathe and drop. Breathe and drop. Breathe and drop.

Do this throughout your day and soon you'll notice just how much time you spend clenching some part of your body, and eventually you'll also notice what situations make you clench, so you can avoid them (if you can).

There's one caveat though, people will often ask: "why are you sighing?"

What I'm loving today

When a friend told me to check out this site, I thought it was a joke. Thai Green Crocodile Curry? I think not. However, as with most things, my curiousity kept me looking around until I found something that I did like: APHRODISIAC. My attraction quickly faded when I realized everything in this section could kill me (gotta love a shellfish allergy). But that was until the I saw the 24 Karat Gold Lollipop. A champagne flavored lollipop that contains flakes of real 24 Karat gold. Now, that's an aphrodisiac!

Tip of the day

Okay, the heading is misleading, because I don't actually have daily tips. However, I did find this tip today, which makes it the tip of my day. This one comes from La Cafetiere:

"Enjoy beautiful bouquets and keep them longer using this tip: Add a few drops of bleach in the water to avoid development of rottenness."

Skal!

I'll drink to that.

This event on the rooftop of the House of Sweden on the Georgetown Waterfront almost drove me to drink. Just as how some TV shows are better when there's no volume, I enjoy this event a lot better when I don't comment on it. Just sit back and watch the pretty pictures.

When I consider that this is the last event of its kind to be held on the rooftop of the Embassy/Event Center, according to the Ambassador, I'm at least happy to have it in my portfolio for posterity.

I must admit I had a lot of help with the concept from one of my favorite florists (yeah, same florist). Thanks Dexter!

Talk about a "green" idea!

I asked one of my favorite florists (okay, the same florist from my previous post) to create some centerpieces for me that can be used over the course of a three-day event. I told him that I needed sturdy arrangements that will look as good on the last day as they did on the first. His idea: potted culinary herbs (pictured above). These worked great, because they became fuller and more fragrant with each day (and event) and were more valuable than currency on the last day as the attendees fought over them. I got to take one home and let me tell you, there's nothing like having fresh mint handy when you're in the mood for a mojito.

My bride has a blog

and I'm loving it! more so because since I'm coming in at the end (day-of coordination), I can keep up with her and the progression of her wedding plans. Maybe even keep an eye out for some retro plates for her this summer. Hey Crystal, one word: Freecycle (shh...it's a secret). But seriously, for a bride (if you have the time) a blog is a great planning tool for both you and your planner.

Considering the "D" word?

Not that "D" word: DETOX.



Ever since I learned last year about brides adding detox to their wedding day beauty regimen, I've been intrigued. I love the benefits of detox - healthy glowing skin, better digestion, weight loss and increased energy - not so much the process: sweating, pimples, hunger and the other stuff. Let's face it, there's no pretty way to cleanse your body. But more importantly, is there a safe way? most over-the-counter products have left me doubtful, and expensive out of reach spas remain out of the question. Then today I stumbled upon the Notes on a Party blog and learned about the dextox at-home kit from The Organic Pharmacy, "the first and only pharmacy in the world dedicated to health and beauty using organic products and treatments"...yada, yada, yada. Madonna uses their products, so I'm all over it. And a 10-day treatment at $280. is definitely within reach.

A blessed day

Three days ago, my bride stood heel deep in mud on the site of her garden ceremony and I, for the first time since getting into the business, fully understood the history of the aisle runner as I tracked the NOAA forecast that called for an 80% chance of rain on Saturday, her wedding day. On Saturday, the only problem I had with the weather was trying to keep the shadows out of their faces while taking some post-ceremony photos of the happy couple. Congratulations Suliat and Bolaji! may you have many, many more blessed days.