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We are now in an age where reinvention is necessary and equally celebrated.  Long gone are the days where we can maintain the status quo and continue being spectators.  A city reinvents itself every 10 years.  It is time to show the world how much you’ve grown.  As a race we have been given an extraordinary gift to create our desired lives.  Many of us hold ourselves back from moving forward and embracing the new.  We continue to define ourselves by the past and by our titles.  We have conditioned ourselves to become comfortable with the known.  The key to unlocking a new level of untapped potential is to become uncomfortable with the comfortable.  Recognize that comfort suppresses the  passion for the soul.  Now is your time to stretch and grow into who you NOW want to be in this moment.  Leap forward, stand up, raise your hand, engage others and define yourself in this moment, its all you have.  The past is no longer relevant and the future has not arrived.  Use the power of WHY as your fuel and driver for your...

  The term “tying the knot” comes from India! The phrase ‘tying the knot’ derives from a longstanding Hindu wedding tradition in India. Instead of a wedding ring, a Hindu groom will give his bride a “mangala sutra” or “mangalsutra”, also referred to as a Thaali—a sacred thread of love and goodwill made of black and gold beads. He will loop the thread around his bride’s neck, tying the cord in three knots to symbolize the unity of their two souls for 100 years. The act of tying the knots concludes the ceremony, officiating the couple’s marriage. Much like a wedding ring, once a Hindu woman has wed, she will always wear her mangala sutra, as it signifies to others that she is...

Wedding insurance may not seem like a necessity, or fit well into your budget, but it could save you from financial catastrophe.  Follow this checklist to help you ensure your big day is protected: Items that could get lost, stolen, or damaged You invest so much in your engagement and wedding day, so protect the big-ticket items, such as wedding and engagement rings, the wedding gown, bridal party gowns, gifts, and other valuables. No-show guests You organize your seating arrangement and dinner menu according to the number of attendees, so you’ll need to prepare yourself for guests, whole families, or out-of-towners who can’t make it last minute. Wedding vendors If you hire certain vendors—such as caterers, florists, a DJ, a band, or anyone else—you expect them to show up, and show up on time. Make sure to ask your wedding vendors if they have insurance of their own, and if they are affiliated with any associations that may be more reliable, such as the Association of Bridal Consultants or the International Service Events Society. Many times, vendors have to adhere to the standards of their industry associations to stay in good standing, so they won’t risk unprofessional conduct. Choose vendors that you feel are reliable, flexible and willing to accommodate your needs. Contracts When it comes to vendors and venues, get a contract. Make sure that your contract includes back-up plan items. Sometimes venues will say that they have coverage and so you do not need it – that’s not always true. Just because they have liability insurance doesn’t mean that it covers you and your wedding. Ask to see their liability insurance plan. Ask if the venue has backup generators. Ask about the refund policy. Ask as many questions as possible. The more you know, the more you can protect yourself. You should also have someone review your contract, such as a lawyer. If you’ve hired a wedding planner, they can assist you in your contract as well, plus they’ll know to ask plenty of questions you might not have considered. Liquor license If you plan on serving alcohol at your wedding, it is absolutely necessary that you get a liquor license. Ask your bartenders, servers, caterers, and the venue if they already have liquor licenses. Ask your lawyer or wedding planner to review their licenses. If you need to get a liquor license of your own, get one. Make sure the bartenders card everyone who looks underage. Make sure no one is over-served. Take every precaution you can. That way, if Aunt Linda’s boozy new boyfriend drives over someone’s mailbox after your reception, you won’t get sued. And even if you do, everyone will be covered. Cancellations or...

Literary Centerpieces In place of traditional centerpieces, spice up your reception tables with quirky, and partially non-living centerpieces-try books! A short stack or an arrangement of books topped by a seasonal fruit, vegetable or a small vase of flowers would create an interesting and eccentric décor. Guests can take a book home as a souvenir of the evening and perhaps even catch up on some of the classics and it will take care of your decorations and favors in one swoop. If giving away classic books to each of your guests is not in your budget; consider making a donation of classic books to a local charity in need. If you’ve designed a seating chart, select each table’s books to reflect the interests of the people seated there. You can even name your tables after your favorite literary pieces and create table names instead of the traditional table numbers using titles such as The Great Gatsby, Sense & Sensibility and Wuthering...

Photo Courtsey of http://www.nygeekcast.com Your home should be a place where you and your partner want to spend time, a place where loved ones and friends will want to visit, a place where anyone could feel at home. Studies show that laughter and socializing enhances resilience, lowers stress hormones, strengthens relationships and creates a space to let go and start living more fully. Setting aside special times to have co-workers, friends, family or neighbors over may seem overwhelming at first but it doesn’t have to be a time intensive, fancy or complicated affair. It could be as simple as ordering take out, or asking friends over for a game night where everyone brings an appetizer. Most importantly it’s a time for you and your guests to take a break from the all of the other day to day responsibilities of work deadlines, wedding planning and home projects and just.. relax.. Getting your home ready for guests doesn’t have to be complicated or time intensive either. Try these easy decorating tips to create a welcoming atmosphere. 1. Focus on your entryway  You want guests to feel immediately comfortable entering your home, so the entryway or foyer should be the most inviting part of your house. Keep the flow open, and well lit. Add a table with a bouquet of flowers or a plant in view of the front door. You could even put a small cozy bench near the entrance. 2. Feng shui your living room Arrange your living room furniture in a square or circular pattern so that guests can see each other. If people can sit together and easily converse without having to move chairs across the room or twisting around to hear each other, the energy of the room will circulate in a positive way. 3. Personalize your hallways Decorate the walls of your hallways and stairway with photos of family and friends and your favorite paintings and other artwork. Bare walls have no personality, and they don’t reflect the people who live there—so don’t waste that blank space. 4. Warm your kitchen Even if you and your partner aren’t big on cooking in your kitchen, fake it. Nothing says, “welcome home” like a warm kitchen with freshly baked cookies on the counter. The kitchen is the area that brings the family together, and it tends to remind people of their own family home. Hang your pots and pans on a rack above your kitchen island or over your oven instead of hiding them in cabinets. Put out a spice rack. Store flour, sugar and other ingredients in antique jars on the counter. Give the illusion that your kitchen is well used, even if it isn’t. 5. Don’t forget...