Monday, September 30, 2013

Resourceful Bride: Make It Work Moments

The dress has been purchased, the invitations have been sent, and the DJ has been contracted. Just as you start to relax, it happens...

Every bride has been there -- that moment when something goes very wrong. In that moment, you have two options: let it break you or make it work.

Below I share some of my favorite make-it-work moments:

2013-09-16-RGbeckybling.jpg
A few weeks ago, I attended a beautiful wedding in a historic catholic church with all the trimmings of a traditional ceremony, but for one small difference: the bride was in an arm cast.

The Issue: A few weeks before the wedding, bride-to-be Becky was preparing food for a birthday party and cut her hand. The cut was so bad that it required surgery to repair the tendon. Needless to say, she was going to need a quite a few weeks to recover. This meant that she was going to have to walk down the aisle with a giant cast on her arm.

Make-It-Work Moment: Becky's wedding colors were purple and silver, with a bit of bling throughout. Instead of freaking out about an ugly cast, she decided to bling it up! As seen in the picture above, Becky added large silver gems to her cast, which completely went with her wedding theme. There was still one issue: her fingers were so sore on the day of the wedding that there was no way her hubby could place a ring on her finger. Instead of stressing out, Becky grabbed the nearest silver chain necklace and the groom placed the ring around her neck for a truly special ceremony moment.


The Great Cake Delay:

North Jersey has some of the best Italian bakeries around and provide a lot of weddings cakes for brides in the area. One bride that I know was so excited to order from her favorite bakery that she paid extra for it to be delivered to a venue over three hours away.

The Issue: The cake was set to arrive at the venue around 11:00am the morning of the wedding, which would have been plenty of time for it to be set in its place if the van hadn't broken down. The bride got a call at 11:20am; the delivery person was still two hours away and awaiting a tow truck. He told her that he was nervous about the cake and was trying to get someone else from the bakery to meet him so that they could deliver it ASAP.

Make-It-Work Moment: By 12:30pm, the bride hadn't heard from the delivery person and the ceremony was about to begin. Just a few moments before walking down the aisle, a clever bridesmaid sent her boyfriend with the wedding coordinator to pick up as many Krispy Krème doughnuts as they could carry. The bride and groom are big fans of the doughnut chain, so it seemed like a great idea. The coordinator built a mountain of the doughnuts, topped with some beautiful flowers, while the couple said their "I Dos". When everyone arrived at the reception, the doughnut cake was all the rage with the guests and the bride smiling from ear to ear. When the cake finally arrived an hour later, hardly anyone noticed its tardiness.


A Heatwave in September:

September can be a tricky month for weddings. Early September is very risky, and mid-September can mean the occasional warm day. What is not expected during a mid-September wedding is a heat wave.

The Issue: Fall was their favorite time of year, so one couple decided to get married in an old rustic church amongst 80 of their closest friends and family members in September. The problem? The church did not have air conditioning and the Philadelphia area was experiencing an unprecedented heat wave. The temperature had reached 92 degrees the day before the wedding, and panic started to set in.

Make-It-Work Moment: After a scorching wedding rehearsal, the bride and bridesmaids went into problem-solving mode. They went to the closest home improvement store, bought two large industrial sized fans and four cases of bottled water. They divided up the water and everyone stashed a case in their freezer overnight. In addition to the home improvement store, they stopped by the craft store and found a plethora of fancy hand fans that they could provide to the female guests as they entered the building. That morning, guests were encouraged to take a bottle of frozen water and fan themselves in style. While the wedding was certainly warm, guests appreciated the extra thought that the couple had put into their comfort.

Friday, September 27, 2013

10 Things To Remember When You’re At The Altar

1. Thank whoever’s giving you away. Presumably, you’ve asked this person (or people) to give you away because you have some sort of special connection. Honor that relationship by making sure to thank them. A quick message whispered in their ear and a kiss on the cheek will do perfectly.


2. The words to your prayers. Whether it’s the Lord’s Prayer, the Sheva Berakhot or some other wedding reading that your minister, priest or rabbi will be leading the congregation in, make sure you know the words! It’s not like when you’re sitting in a row and can simply mumble the words–all eyes will be on you and what you’re saying. Take some time to memorize the readings ahead of time.


3. Smile. It might not feel natural to smile while you’re just standing there listening to someone else talk, but remember all eyes are on you. Just like you practice saying your own piece, you may want to practice listening to everyone else’s. Obviously you can’t really run through this with your partner, but try a bridesmaid. This is most important if you’re one of those people whose natural expression looks a bit unhappy or extremely serious.
 
 
4. Look at whoever is doing readings. First, it’s respectful. It’ll also help you keep you present and focused on what’s going on in the ceremony, since it’s pretty easy for your mind to get swept up in other things. And finally, the people doing the readings are probably just as nervous (if not more) than. Actively paying attention will give them a great vote of confidence.
 
 
5. Have good posture. Don’t get too caught up in thinking about this, but do remember that not only is everyone looking at you, but the camera is, too. Your stance at the altar will be captured forever in photographs. Make sure it’s a good one! This is something else to practice ahead of time–no slouching allowed.
 
 
6. Use a tissue. If you’re crying, that is. We hope you chose waterproof mascara for the occasion, but even so, it’s best to err on the side of safety. No bride wants makeup running down her face. If you don’t have anywhere on your dress to keep a tissue handy, ask your maid of honor to hold one for you. Just reach to her during the ceremony if you have the need.
 
 
7. Ask your bridesmaid for help with your train and veil. If your train or veil get crinkled or otherwise messed up at any time during the ceremony, appoint a bridesmaid to adjust or straighten either one out. She should also make sure the train is fanned out when you initially stop on the altar. If it’s an outdoor wedding with wind, ask her to hold your veil in place, too.
 
 
8. Thank the ring bearer. Just like whoever gave you away, you presumably have a relationship with the ring bearer. Make him feel special (and create a great photo opp) by thanking him or, even better, giving him a little kiss on the cheek or forehead
 
 
9. Speak loud and clear. Don’t mumble! We’ll say it again–don’t mumble! This one’s really important. You want the guests and, most importantly, your partner to be able to understand what you’re saying. Speak each word loudly, slowly and clearly so that everyone (even older guests) can make out every word. This is also important in making sure the ceremony is easy to understand in the video.
 
 
10. Why you are marrying this person. This, perhaps, is most important of all. We’ve given you a lot to think about, and as we already mentioned, you probably will have another thought (or two hundred others) running through your mind while you’re at the altar. All those things pale in comparison to this one. No matter what you do right or wrong before, during and after the ceremony, as long as you’re coming from a place of true love and commitment when you say each word… well, that’s just about as perfect as you can get.
 
 
 

100 Ways To Live To 100

live to 100



Want to add more and better years to your life? Now is the time.

We're living longer than ever: The average American born in 2013 will be alive nearly four years longer than someone born 20 years ago. But until recently, it wasn't clear if the years we've added to our lives were good-quality years.

A recent study from the University of Massachusetts Medical School starts to answer that question. Researchers found that today, 25 year olds can expect to live "2.4 more years of a healthy life" and 65 year olds can look forward to 1.7 extra healthy years than people who lived two decades back.

However, those extra years are far from guaranteed. Childhood obesity and its associated diseases threaten to reverse the upward tick of American life expectancy, which is currently calculated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be just shy of 79 years.

Much of making it to your 100th birthday is beyond your control, as longevity is partly dictated by genetics and the medical history and health habits of your parents and grandparents. But there are also a handful (okay, a lot) of lifespan-enhancing practices that you can adopt today -- like taking your allotted vacation days, eating more leafy greens and getting enough sleep.

We scoured the research and sought advice from centenarians themselves. And while not all of these life-expanders are doable for everyone ("Be born in Japan," for example!), there is so much you can do to improve your odds of a long and healthful old age.

Find out what you're already doing right and where you can still improve in our list of 100 ways to live to 100.

1. Be conscientious.
In the book The Longevity Project, authors Howard S. Friedman and Leslie R. Martin shared that in their research, being conscientious was one of the best predictors of longevity. That's because people who are conscientious may be more likely to abide by healthful behaviors, may be less prone to disease and may find more success in relationships and in the workplace.

2. Find reasons to laugh.
In a 2012 study published in the journal Aging, researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Yeshiva University identified certain personality characteristics that a group of 243 centenarians had in common. Among them? A love of laughter. “They considered laughter an important part of life,” the lead researcher said.

3. Find a life purpose.
In the centenarian hotspot of Nicoya, Costa Rica, residents cultivate a plan de vida, which means “reason to live,” according to the website Blue Zones. “This sense of purpose often centers around spending time with and providing for their family,” the site says. “This often results in centenarians retaining an active lifestyle, reaping the benefits of physical activity and exposure to the sun.” According to Blue Zones, a 60-year-old Costa-Rican man has roughly twice the chance of living to 90 as a man living in the United States.

4. Go nuts.
Eating nuts could keep you from dying early, according to a study in BioMed Central. The study, based on data from 7,000 people ages 55 to 90, showed that nut-eaters -- who in the study were more likely to have a lower body mass index and waist circumference -- had a 39 percent lower risk of early death, and walnut-eaters in particular had a 45 percent lower risk of early death.

5. Walk a lot.
walking
The 123-year-old Carmelo Flores Laura, potentially the oldest living person documented, says he owes his longevity to regular exercise. "I walk a lot, that's all. I go out with the animals," Flores told the Associated Press.

6. Try a little retail therapy.
Who doesn't love an excuse to go shopping?! A 2011 study found that frequent shoppers live longer. The study examined Taiwanese men and women over 65 and found that daily shopping lowered risk of death by 28 percent for men and 23 percent of women, AARP reported. And if you're worried about the state of your wallet, you're in luck: The benefits hold up even if you don't buy anything, WebMD reported.

7. Be happy.
A 2011 study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that among older people, the group that scored as “happiest” (having the highest “positive affect”) had a death rate of 3.6 percent -- less than half the death rate of the unhappiest group, which was 7.3 percent.

8. Win an Oscar.
Researchers from Toronto's Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre found that Oscar-winning actors and directors tend to live longer than their losing peers, with winning actors and actresses living nearly four years more than their losing peers.

9. Head for the hills.
skiier
You may hear more often about the perils of altitude sickness, but it turns out that heading to new heights may be a good move. A 2011 study from the University of Colorado School of Medicine found that the 20 U.S. counties with the highest life expectancy had an average altitude of 5,967 feet above sea level. That added 1.2 to 3.6 years to a man's life, and six months to 2.5 years to a woman's and lowered all residents' risk of dying from heart disease, the researchers found.

10. Do unto others.
Susannah Mushatt Jones is the oldest resident of New York state -- she celebrated her 114th birthday this past summer. What's her secret? According to her niece in an interview with PIX11 news, treating everybody fairly is one of her "standards," along with taking care of others. The only medication she takes is for high blood pressure, and her diet consists of ribs, chicken, fruits and veggies, according to the PIX11 video segment.

11. But don’t forget about yourself.
Fitness guru Jack LaLanne, who passed away at the age of 96 in 2011, knew the importance of looking after yourself. “This is where I take care of the most important person in my life: me,” he joked of the gym in the documentary How To Live Forever. “Exercise is king. Nutrition is queen. Put them together and you’ve got a kindom.”

LaLanne repeated his message often. Esquire.com also quoted him as saying: “You’ve got to satisfy you. If you can’t satisfy you, you’re a failure.”

12. Put down the takeout menu.
cooking
Here’s a reason to get cooking: A 2012 study published in Public Health Nutrition found that people who cook at home up to five times a week were 47 percent more likely to still be alive after a decade, HuffPost previously reported. The researchers looked at 1,888 men and women over the age of 65 who lived in Taiwan.

13. Practice yoga.
There are some exceptional benefits to hitting the mat, including stress and anxiety relief, better balance and and increased flexibility. Just ask yoga instructor Tao Porchon-Lynch, who, at 95-years-old, credits the practice for her long, healthy, happy life.

14. Be optimistic.
The same 2012 Aging study that pointed to enjoying laughter as a possible factor in longevity also found that optimism was a personality trait linked to longer lifespans.

“When I started working with centenarians, I thought we'd find that they survived so long in part because they were mean and ornery," study author Nir Barzilai, M.D., of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said in a statement when the findings were released. "But when we assessed the personalities of these 243 centenarians, we found qualities that clearly reflect a positive attitude towards life. Most were outgoing, optimistic and easygoing."

15. But maybe not overly optimistic.
Elderly people may not want to view everything through rose-colored glasses: A new study shows that older people who overestimate their future happiness have a higher risk of death and disability, compared with people who underestimate or accurately predict future life satisfaction.

"Pessimism about the future may encourage people to live more carefully, taking health and safety precautions," study researcher Frieder Lang, a professor at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany, said in a statement.

16. Go meatless.
Vegetarians may have a 12 percent lower risk of premature death than their meat-eating peers, according to a JAMA Internal Medicine study published earlier this year. The study included 73,308 Seventh-Day Adventist men and women who do not eat meat for religious reasons.

17. Put a ring on it.
Permanently-partnered Baby Boomers are less likely to die early than their single peers, according to a Duke University Medical Center study. The findings were based on 4,800 people born in the 1940s.

18. And while you’re at it, marry someone younger.
In July, 100-year-old Daisy Dunnett told SWNS.com that one key to her centenarian status might be her husband -- who's 33 years younger. The two met when she was 72, after her first husband died following 50 years of marriage, and he was 39. "I really think I would be dead if it was not for him," she said to SWNS.com. "If you’re elderly and on your own it is easy to give up and not feed yourself properly."

19. Or marry someone of the same sex.
gay married couple
According to a Danish study, gay men who are married have a lower mortality rate than single or divorced straight men. The study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, looked at the mortality rate among gay men in Denmark after it implemented a same-sex partnership law in 1989.

20. Try to keep your marriage friction-free.
A relationship full of turmoil and arguments could have an impact on how long you live. Brigham Young University researchers found in their study of 1,700 married adults that the more arguing there was in the relationship, the worse the adults' health.

21. But get divorced if it isn’t working.
While a happy marriage is a good indicator of future health and longevity, all is not lost for the happily divorced -- at least among women.

“Women who got divorced, often leaving a bad marriage, tended to thrive, as did single women! In fact, even widowed women often did unexpectedly well,” Friedman of The Longevity Project told TIME while reviewing his research findings. “Why? Women were able to rely on other friends, whereas many men depended on their wives for their social networks and so were devastated when they lost these ties.”

And that’s advice anyone can follow: Take control of your own socializing and reach out, especially if you’ve lost a spouse.

22. Brush those pearly whites.
Poor oral hygiene has been associated with shortened life expectancy. Maintaining a healthy mouth by habitually brushing and flossing can lower risks for heart disease, dementia and stroke.

23. Enjoy a cup of (Greek) joe.
A daily cup of antioxidant- and polyphenol-rich Greek coffee could be the secret to living long, according to a study in the journal Vascular Medicine. Researchers from the University of Athens Medical School conducted their study on 71 men and 71 women who live on the Greek island of Ikaria -- an island where residents tend to live to age 90 or more -- and found that those who drink boiled Greek coffee on a daily basis had better endothelial functioning than those who drank other kinds of coffee.

24. Put the pedal to the metal.
biking
Like with walking briskly (also on the list), the pace at which you pedal your bike might predict how long you'll live. In a 2011 study of Copenhagen cyclists, men who pedaled fastest lived about five years longer than men who pedaled slowest. The fastest female cyclists averaged about four extra years. Among both genders, average cyclists lived somewhat longer than the slow pokes, proving the point that physical activity is good, but vigorous activity is even better.

25. Or be a super cyclist.
A recent study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2013 showed that French cyclists in the Tour de France tend to live longer than their non-cycling peers. The study included data from 786 French cyclists who participated in the race at least once between 1947 and 2012. They compared their health and causes of death with other French men in the same age range who did not participate in the Tour de France. Researchers found that their mortality rate was 41 percent lower, compared with the non-cyclists. "In the context of recent concerns regarding performance-enhancing techniques and the potential negative health effects of excessive high-level physical activity, data on the long-term outcomes and causes of death in elite endurance cyclists is of particular interest," study researcher Xavier Jouven, M.D., Ph.D., from the Sudden Death Expertise Center in Paris, France, said in a statement.

26. Get your Mediterranean diet on.
Elderly people who eat a Mediterranean diet -- rich in healthy fats (like olive oil), fish and produce -- may have an increased lifespan, compared with their peers who don't abide by the diet. The study, published in the journal AGE in 201, showed that the chances of living longer increased 20 percent from eating a Mediterranean diet.

27. Stop smoking.
As if you needed another reason to quit the habit, research shows that giving up cigarettes could help women live 10 years longer than if they had continued smoking. The study, published in the journal The Lancet, included 1.3 million women whose health habits were analyzed between 1996 and 2001.

28. Eat your fiber.
Consuming lots of fiber -- especially fiber from grains -- could help stave off early death from heart disease, infections and respiratory illness in men and women, as well as the risk of death from cancer for men, according to a huge study published in 2011 in the Archives of Internal Medicine. That research showed that people who met dietary guidelines on fiber -- 25 grams per day for women, and 38 grams per day for men -- had a lower risk of dying over a nine-year period.

29. Have a family.
family
Becoming a parent could help you live longer by decreasing your risk of conditions such as cancer and heart disease. However, the study, published in the journal Science & Medicine in 2010, showed that this health benefit only seemed to extend to people who had just two children.

30. But wait a few years to get started.
While it might be harder for them to get pregnant, women who have children in their 40s seem to be more likely to live to 100 than women who have children earlier in life, according to a 1997 study. It won't be physically possible for all women -- and that's the point. If a woman has not yet entered menopause in her 40s, she likely has the anti-aging genes required to make it to that 100th birthday, the Independent reported.

31. Hope for a daughter. (If you’re a dad!)
Daddy's girl? You're doing Dear Old Dad a favor. According to a 2006 study of a rural Polish population, having daughters may increase the lifespan of fathers. In fact, for every daughter born, the dads studied lived about 74 weeks longer.

32. Hope for twins. (If you're a mom!)
Those who deliver a set of twins may enjoy a longer lifespan, according to a report released in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

The results surprised researchers, LiveScience reported: “rather than being a reproductive accident that drains mom of energy and nutrients, twins could be an evolutionary adaption in which healthy moms take the chance to pass on double their genes at once.”

One caveat: The study was a review of accounts of childbirth in 19th century Utah, so these twin births were natural and not the result of IVF -- a common factor in multiple births in modern day.

33. Stay in school.
People who stay in school for at least 12 years have more years of life ahead of them than those who don’t complete high school, according to a Harvard University study published in 2008. The research, which appeared in the journal Health Affairs, involved analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Mortality Study.

34. Make healthy changes in your life (starting today).
Adjusting your daily habits so that you eat whole foods, exercise, meditate and lean on your support system might potentially reverse cell aging. A recent study in the journal Lancet Oncology showed that making these healthy changes to your life is associated with longer telomeres, which are the "caps" at the ends of chromosomes; shorter telomeres have been linked in past research to cell aging, as well as higher risks of age-related diseases. While the study didn't show that healthy lifestyle changes can actually make you age backward, we'll take any news we can get that positive lifestyle choices actually pay off for our bodies.

35. Don’t dread getting older.
Turns out, your outlook on aging might play a role in the number of birthdays you celebrate. According to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in August, adults who developed positive attitudes about getting older lived more than seven years longer than those who had negative attitudes. Think of each candle as an accomplishment!

36. Go for the gold.
gabby douglas london
As if they needed it, here’s another reason for elite athletes to go for the gold (or bronze, or silver): Olympic medalists live longer. Although researchers aren’t exactly sure why they tend to fare better than country- and age-matched civilians, they speculate that those lucrative endorsement deals and access to top doctors might have something to do with it.

But not all Olympians are created equal: Those who competed in endurance events like long-distance running or games that involved technique (think: cricket, golf) were longer-lived than power-based athletes such as wrestlers and weightlifters, and contact athletes, like rugby players and bobsledders (though all groups had an advantage over non-athletes).

37. Be Japanese.
People who are born in Japan have the longest average life expectancy, according to the most recent World Health Organization data from 2011. Girls born in Japan in 2012 can be expected to live to 86.41 on average. (However, a recent study in The Lancet suggested that Japan's life expectancy may soon be outpaced by other countries, including Sweden, Italy and Australia.)

38. Lay off the vitamins.
While many health professionals advocate taking vitamins to help prevent deficiencies in vital nutrients, a Copenhagen University review of 815 clinical trials found that taking supplements had a detrimental effect on lifespan. The studies investigated the health benefit of common supplements, reported BBC, and found a relationship between taking some of these supplements and risk of all-cause mortality. As BBC reported, those who took beta-carotene had a 7 percent increased risk and vitamins A and E incurred a 16 percent and a 4 percent increased risk, respectively. What’s more, a separate study found that older women increased their risk of cardiovascular or cancer death by taking a daily vitamin -- especially an iron supplement.

But ask your doctor before you ditch your daily dose: Critics of the study point out that those who take a regular vitamins may have preexisting conditions that affect longevity and have nothing to do, directly at least, with the pills themselves.

39. Take a cue from the Latino community.
Researchers call it the “Hispanic paradox”: Despite lower average income, health insurance, education and other measures of socioeconomic status, people who identify as Hispanic live an average 2.5 years longer than the overall American average, according to government research. Why? Researchers aren’t sure, but one theory relates to the influence of traditional Latin American values, like family togetherness. Reported New America Media:
A smattering of evidence suggests that many Latino community environments discourage high-risk behaviors, such as excessive smoking, high alcohol consumption and heavy use of mind-altering chemicals that may threaten lifespans. Social reinforcement, providing comfort and support, mixed with community-based practical assistance, contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
40. Go to church.
church
Attending weekly religious services can tack on an extra 1.8 to 3.1 years on to your life expectancy, according to a review of research published in 2006 in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. This longevity benefit could lie in church's stress-relieving benefits, though it's also possible that "being in a religious community helps you make meaning out of your life," the researcher of that study, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Daniel Hall, told LiveScience.

41. Drink alcohol. (But only in moderation!)
Drinking just one or two glasses of alcohol a day could help middle-aged and older adults live longer, according to a 2010 study in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. However, it's all about the moderation -- the study also showed that heavy drinkers had a 42 percent increased mortality risk. "Older persons drinking alcohol should remember that consuming more than two drinks a day exceeds recommended alcohol consumption guidelines in the United States and is associated with increased falls, a higher risk of alcohol use problems and potential adverse interactions with medications," study researcher Charles Holahan, of the University of Texas at Austin, said in a statement.

42. Get fishy.
Consuming lots of omega-3 fatty acids -- which are found in fish, as well as some vegetables and seeds -- could boost your longevity. A Harvard School of Public Health study showed that older people with the highest levels of omega-3s in their blood had longer lifespans by 2.2 years (on average) than those with low omega-3 blood levels.

43. Help someone else.
Volunteers may live longer than people who don't give of their time, according to a University of Michigan study. However, there's one catch: the volunteering has to be done for the purpose of helping others, versus helping yourself.

44. Take off.
vacation
In case you’re feeling particularly guilty about taking your vacation days, consider this: An analysis of the famed Framingham Heart Study showed that the more frequently men took vacations, the longer they lived.

45. Get busy.
Spending a little extra time between the sheets may add years to your life. A 2010 study of 1,165 middle-aged men showed that having sex once a month or less is linked with a 45 percent higher risk of heart disease than having sex two to three times a week, WebMD reported. And women who enjoy sex may live up to eight years longer than women who don't.

46. Get enough sleep.
It's time to stop burning the candle at both ends. People who don't get enough sleep die younger of any cause than people who get sufficient shut-eye. In a 2010 study, men who got fewer than six hours of a sleep a night were four times more likely to die over a 14-year period. The study's authors wrote that this link is "a risk that has been underestimated."

47. But not too much sleep.
You don't want to cut your sleep short, but you don't want to overdo it, either. A number of studies suggest that more than nine hours in the land of nod can increase your risk for a number of serious health conditions, as well as earlier death. One study found that long sleepers faced a 30 percent higher chance of premature death than people who slept around seven to eight hours a night.

48. Get a pet.
pets
If you need another reason to get a pet -- besides, you know, unlimited adorableness and unconditional love -- consider this: Research shows that both cat- and dog-owners tend to live longer than their petless peers. One study found that owning a cat could cut your risk for heart attack by nearly one third. Another discovered dog-owners (and even just dog-petters) cope better with depression and certain stress-related disorders. And to reiterate: The cuteness!

49. Join the 1 percent.
Yep, rich people live longer. In findings that surprise no one, a padded bank account is strongly correlated to longer life expectancy, thanks to a myriad of factors that include (but are not limited to): Better access to education, which is associated with longevity in its own right; access to health care; and lower risk of violent crime. What’s more, some researchers suggest that health creates wealth: Those who are well can work, accumulating resources that, in turn, keep them healthy, reported U.S. News and World Report.

The health-wealth index is not limited to individuals, either. Countries with higher GDPs have longer-lived citizens.

50. Eat broccoli.
Barack Obama’s favorite food may help him hang around long enough to meet Malia and Sasha's grandkids. One study found that those who munched on plants from the mustard family -- like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage -- tend to live longer lives. Researchers suggest this may be tied to the high vitamin C and nutrient count in these kinds of veggies. Broc on, Barack!

51. Run -- but not too much.
Turns out there really can be too much of a good thing. A moderate jogging habit can add between five and six years to your life, according to 2012 analysis of data from the Copenhagen City Heart study. But according to research from the University of South Carolina, people who run more than 20 miles a week, faster than 7 miles an hour, or more than five times a week seem to lose the longevity boost.

52. Wash your hands.
It sounds silly, but washing your hands could save your life. In fact, a 2005 study cited by the World Health Organization estimates that hand-washing could save more lives worldwide than any vaccine or other medical intervention.

53. Drink your coffee -- but in moderation.
coffee
There's a lot good about your cup of joe: Coffee is high in antioxidants, it could decrease your risk for diabetes and it's even linked to a lower depression risk in women. And yet, it might be best to keep your cup count under four: A long-term study published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that those who drank an average of more than four cups of coffee a day were at a 21 percent higher risk for death than those who sipped more moderately.

54. Buddy up at the office.
Making friends at work is good for more than productivity. Tel Aviv University researchers followed 820 adults for 20 years and found that the ones with the most social support from coworkers lived the longest. The lone wolves with no pals in the office? They were 2.4 times more likely to die during the study.

55. Be a woman.
Women live an average of five to 10 years longer than men in industrialized countries. And 85 percent of centenarians are female, longevity researcher Tom Perls told TIME in 2008. There's little conclusive evidence as to why, however. A recent study suggested it may be because women have more robust immune systems. Other theories have ranged from men experiencing more work stress to women choosing healthier nutrition habits.

56. Grow from trauma.
In an astounding display of resiliency, a study showed that male Holocaust survivors lived longer than men of the same age group who immigrated to Israel before Nazi rule. The study's authors write that this counterintuitive finding could be a display of "post-traumatic growth,” leading these men to "greater meaning and satisfaction in their later lives."

57. Keep busy.
While many look forward to retiring, the best way to enjoy one’s golden years may be to keep working. Among the men who were subjects of Harvard’s famed Longevity Project, those who made it into old, old age had successful, satisfying careers and continued to work -- at least on a part time basis -- into their 70s, Slate reported.

58. Don’t take it sitting down.
By now, we all know that sitting all day is damaging our health, but according to one study, it could even affect your lifespan. According to a theoretical analysis of existing data, published in BMJ Open, sitting for fewer than three hours per day could add two years to your life.

59. Cultivate your green thumb.
green thumb
Almost all of Okinawa's famed centenarians share the same hobby: These long-living inhabitants of the well-documented Blue Zone grow (or once grew) gardens. Not only is it a calming, low-impact physical activity, it can also provide a steady stream of homegrown fresh produce.

60. Pick up the pace.
Have a friend or family member you just can’t keep up with? Natural speed walkers have an edge, and not just for calling shotgun. The fastest walkers seem to live the longest, according to a study of over 34,000 older adults from 2011. Unfortunately, powering up your next walk around the block won't exactly add candles to your birthday cake. It appears to be your natural walking speed that predicts lifespan and not something you have much control over, researcher Stephanie Studenski told Discovery News.

61. Smile.
It's not just that optimistic spirit that keeps you going. The actual size of your smile might make a difference. In a 2010 study, researchers examined smile intensity among a series of photos of baseball players from the 1950s. Of the players who had died during the years 2006 to 2009, those with no smile in their picture lived an average of 72.9 years. The biggest smilers, on the other hand, lived 79.9 years.

62. Hit the gym.
If this doesn't convince you that you need to exercise, nothing will: Meeting (or exceeding) the World Health Organization's recommendation to get 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week can add about four years to your life, compared to never exercising, US News reported. Even just getting half the recommended amount of gym time can tack on about two extra years.

63. Take it easy on processed meats.
It’s obvious that nutrition plays a big role in longevity, but it isn’t just what you eat -- it’s also what you don’t eat. While you're busy adding omega 3s and antioxidant-rich produce, you might want to consider cutting back in one area: processed meats. A 2013 study linked a diet heavy in processed meats -- like sausage and bacon -- to a higher risk of dying from cancer and heart disease.

64. Avoid the gridiron.
Slowly but surely, science is helping us unravel the true dangers of playing professional football. Among this growing body of research is a 2012 study that found that professional football players are four times more likely to die of Alzheimer's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

65. Have a little extra. (But steer clear of obesity!)
In research that defies the conventional wisdom, overweight people are less likely to die from any cause than are normal, underweight and obese people. Researchers found that having a BMI between 25 and 29.9, a measure that describes about 30 percent of the U.S. population, was associated with longer life.

66. Take the stairs.
stairs
Do yourself a favor and bypass the elevator (you didn't really have the time to stand there and wait for it anyway, did you?). Researchers from the University of Geneva calculated that among people with a sedentary lifestyle, simply taking the stairs instead amounted to enough physical activity to burn body fat and lower blood pressure enough to cut their risk of an early death by 15 percent.

67. Get a Nobel Prize.
Much like Olympians and Oscar winners, the learned men and women who win the Nobel Prize have a leg up, longevity-wise, on the rest of us, according to research from Cornell University. They even have a leg-up on Nobel finalists who do not win the actual prize, living one or two years longer, on average, than the runners-up. One theory may be that Nobel Laureates have a perceived higher social standing than those who do not win. The higher one’s social standing, the lower his or her stress, suggests this theory. And that has a real advantage when it comes to longevity.

68. Slow your resting heart rate.
A fast heart rate may be a sign that you’ll meet an earlier end, according to a study in the journal Heart. Danish researchers discovered that a key predictor of long life in otherwise-healthy middle-aged and elderly men was resting heart rate -- regardless of fitness level or other health behaviors.

69. Win the genetic lottery.
You can do everything right when it comes to your future health and long life, but about one-third of the factors that relate to longevity are in your genes, The New York Times reports. Mothers, in particular, play an important role in determining lifespan by passing on genetic mutations that relate to the aging process. according to a study conducted by the Karolinska Institute.

70. Believe in your own good health.
Researchers often ask elderly patients to rate their own health. Those who report feeling crummy actually have a higher risk of death than those who self-assessed as “excellent,” “good” or “fair.” While much of that is likely because these people accurately assessed that they were unwell, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have a positive outlook.

71. Don’t rush to first grade.
first day of school
Most states or school districts dictates when a child is ready to hit the books, but in certain cases, parents will push or delay their son or daughter's first day in first grade. But according to a 2008 study, starting first grade before age six is linked to earlier mortality.

72. Think about... death.
It sounds counter-intuitive, but contemplating your mortality may actually help you live a longer life. According to research in the Personality and Social Psychology Review, being self-aware about our inevitable passing impacts our compassion for others. Even more, studies have shown that when we're reminded of death, we're more likely to make better decisions about our own health, like using sunscreen, smoking less and exercising more.

73. Turn off the TV.
Here's a frightening factoid: Every hour of TV you watch after age 25 cuts your lifespan by about 22 minutes, according to 2012 research from The University of Queensland, Australia. They also found that people who average six hours a day in front of the boob tube died nearly five years sooner than people who didn't watch any TV.

74. Tune in.
Too much TV is no bueno (see above), but consuming mass media -- TV, newspapers, Internet -- in search of information is a saving grace. Researchers followed the news-gathering habits of more than 1,100 Italian adults and found that people with the most media exposure were also the healthiest eaters (sorry, but "Friends" reruns don't count). And of course, we all know that we are what we eat.

75. Cut the sugar.
Got a sweet tooth? It’ll cost you. Researcher Cynthia Kenyon, a geneticist at the University of California, San Francisco, decided to give up sweets after she discovered that a sugary diet cut the lifespan of roundworms by 20 percent. Sure, it isn’t quite as definitive as a study in humans, but when a longevity researcher makes a dramatic change to improve her health, we listen up!

76. Choose your job wisely.
If you’re planning on a long life and you have the freedom of choice, you may want to avoid these careers, which count among the deadliest in America. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics‘ National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, there were 4,383 fatal work injuries in 2012 alone, Forbes reported.

77. Eat an Andean diet.
Bolivian farmer Carmelo Flores made headlines when he attributed his 123 years to a traditional Andean diet of superfoods, like quinoa, mushrooms and coca. But according to HuffPost blogger and nutritionist Andy Bellatti, it isn’t the individual foods that likely contributed to Flores’ long life -- it is simply the absence of modern, processed foods. “The notion that simply eating [a superfood] is the key to health is reductionist and silly if one's diet is otherwise largely composed of highly-processed and refined food products,” wrote Bellatti in a blog post.

78. Move to the aloha state.
hawaii
In addition to being the happiest and least-stressed state in the country, Hawaii also boasts greater longevity than any other U.S. state. A 65-year-old in Hawaii will go on to live another 16.2 years on average, as compared to another 10.6 years in Mississippi, the state with the lowest longevity rankings, according to recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

79. Or choose the Dakotas.
While Hawaii might have the greatest life expectancy among the 65-and-older set, North Dakota has the highest rate of centenarians per capita, followed closely by (you guessed it) South Dakota. The effect of your locale on your longevity is likely due to a confluence of socioeconomic factors, reports U.S. News and World Report, although no one is certain why the Dakotas have such a long-lived population.

80. In the face of bad health, keep a positive attitude.
It's all about looking on the bright side! A recent study in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes showed that heart disease patients who keep positive attitudes are more likely to exercise and live longer than their less-positive peers. The findings suggest that "we should focus not only on increasing positive attitude in cardiac rehabilitation, but also make sure that patients perform exercise on a regular basis, as exercise is associated with both increased levels of optimism and better health,” study researcher Susanne S. Pedersen, Ph.D., a professor of cardiac psychology at Tilburg University, said in a statement.

81. Eat less.
Women from Okinawa, Japan enjoy the longest disability-free life of any population on Earth -- and the rest of the world has been looking to the population for its longevity secrets. One is the Okinawan habit of beginning meals with the phrase, “Hara hachi bu,” which means, “Eat until you are 80 percent full,” Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones, a book on the science of longevity, told New America Media. Restricting calories and never overeating is one reason that the Okinawan population has such a large concentration of centenarians, Buettner explains.

82. Get up when you fall.
resilience
Psychological resilience -- that is, the ability to effectively cope with life’s challenges rather than being beaten down by them -- has been linked with increased well-being and longevity.
“Research into the psychology of aging shows that psychologically resilient adults cope well with an aging body,” says Al Siebert, PhD, author of The Resiliency Advantage. “When they lose friends or loved ones they express their feelings in an open, healthy way.”

83. Get a mammogram.
Women face a higher risk of death when cancer isn’t detected early: A recent Washington University study found that women diagnosed with breast cancer in their 40s who died from the disease were more likely to have never had a mammogram than older women.

84. Have a happy childhood.
happy childhood
Experiencing a traumatic incident in as a child could actually make you more likely to die early, according to a study by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and University College London. Women in particular who experienced a traumatic event before reaching age 16 had a 66 percent higher chance of dying before reaching age 50.

85. Live a spiritual life.
In WebMD’s 2008 survey of centenarians, 84 percent say that staying in touch with one’s sprituality is “very important” for healthy aging. Whether it’s being part of a faith-based community or maintaining your own meditation practice, finding what spirituality means to you could help you enjoy more of your golden years.

86. Find the healthy hobbies that make you light up -- and do them.
Salustiano "Shorty" Sanchez, who lived to the impressive age of 112, found pleasure in "gardening, crossword puzzles and nightly gin rummy games with friends," according to Guinness World Records. His hobbies, whether he knew it or not, had some major health benefits. Finding respite in these kinds of simple, productive activities can help to relieve stress and provide a sense of accomplishment, both of which can contribute to a long, happy life.

87. Practice positive self-talk.
Ninety-four-year-old yogi Tao Porchon-Lynch says that repeating positive affirmations to herself is a part of what has kept her feeling young, even into her 90s. "My mantra is to wake up the morning and say, 'This is going to be the best day of my life,'" Porchon-Lynch told the Huffington Post in May. "That way I can face anything. My mantra for life is, 'There is nothing that you cannot do.'"

88. Be a city-dweller.
Recent results from the Country Health Rankings show that urbanites tend to live longer and healthier than their rural counterparts. That's because of higher rates of cigarette use, obesity, and chronic health conditions (such as diabetes and hypertension) among people who live in rural areas, the Wall Street Journal reported.

89. ...But living in the country can be good, too (if you're British).
The U.K.'s Office for National Statistics reported in 2010 that rural residents in Britain live longer than their city-dwelling peers -- two more years for men, and one-and-a-half more years for women, according to The Guardian. Plus, the countryside seemed to be associated with a closing of the life expectancy gap between rich and poor.

90. Take a mid-day snooze.
nap
Regular siestas -- combined with genetics and consuming a healthy produce- and fish-heavy diet -- could be the key to living longer, if the long-lived residents of Ikaria island are any indication. Agence France-Presse reported 10 times as many residents on Ikaria are older than 90, compared with the rest of Europe.

91. Be a knockout.
Research from the University of Waterloo showed an association between attractiveness and longevity. Researchers had student study participants look at 50 photos of 17-year-olds from the 1920s, and rate them on their perceived attractiveness and healthiness. Researchers found that the ones who scored higher in attractiveness lived longer -- to 76, on average -- than their less-attractive counterparts (who lived on average to 69), The Houston Chronicle reported.

92. Breastfeed your baby.
Women who breastfeed their babies could lower their own chances of death from cancer, heart disease and other conditions, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Yahoo! Shine reported that the risk of dying from heart disease is 8 percent lower and the risk of dying from cancer or other diseases is together 17 percent lower for women who breastfeed exclusively for at least six months. "Longer breastfeeding means fewer menstrual cycles and reduced lifetime exposure to the hormonal factors, especially estrogen, that influence breast cancer risk," Susan Higginbotham, director of research for the American Institute for Cancer Research, told Yahoo! Shine. "Physical changes in breast tissue that accompany milk production provide some protection as well."

93. Be driven.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the oldest and longest-serving senator currently in Congress, believes that age is nothing but a number. Instead, staying sharp, healthy and -- above all -- motivated is the key to a long and fruitful life:

"You can be very old at 50 and you can be very young at 90. I really believe that. It depends on your brain, it depends on your health, it depends on your drive, on your determination and your motivation," Feinstein told the San Francisco Chronicle.

94. Stay active.
Take it from the iconic funny lady Betty White, who, at age 91, is still "good and energetic." She told People magazine last year that she owes her health to being "active all the time. I think that forces you to stay well. To be 90 … and still be working -- that's what I wouldn't have expected. I'm the luckiest broad on two feet."

95. Take the plunge.
swimming
Swimming may be the sport to beat when it comes to longevity. A study in the International Journal of Aquatic Education and Research showed that compared with running, walking or being sedentary, swimming cut death risk for men by 50 percent.

96. Putter.
Your ability to move and get around is a good indicator of healthy aging, according to a review of studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association. "The review confirmed that increased physical activity and exercise are extremely important for healthy aging," study researcher Cynthia J. Brown, M.D., of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said in a statement. "We've also identified mobility-limiting risk factors and created an approach to help medical professionals screen for and treat those risk factors."

97. Use your brain.
Another long-life secret of the Okinawans is keeping their brains actively engaged with games and intellectual stimulation. A 2008 WebMD survey found that 89 percent of centenarians keep their minds active.

98. Finish college and then consider grad school.
An education enriches your life -- and it may help to make it longer, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis. Earning a bachelor's degree or higher was associated with nine additional years of life, compared to earning only a high school diploma.
"Highly educated people tend to have healthier behaviors, avoid unhealthy ones and have more access to medical care when they need it," lead author, Amy Bernstein told USA Today.

99. Live in a blue state.
The 13 U.S. states with the lowest life expectancy were also reliably Republican-leaning states in Presidential elections, according to a Daily Beast analysis of government data.

100. Be creative.
Recent research on U.S. military veterans suggests that creative-types may enjoy longer life -- those who had the highest measure of creativity reduced their mortality risk by 12 percent. (Critics of the study point out that the results can only be extrapolated to a very specific population, as 90

Confessions of a Newlywed: Month 11

1. It amazes me that this year has gone so quickly.
2. My favorite moments from our wedding still makes me smile
3. Finding the perfect anniversary gift is harder than finding a wedding gift.
4. Speaking of Anniversaries.... Mines is in a month...LOL
5. Being Mrs. Cameron is awesome.
6. The shoes are still under the table.
7. I cant wait till we own a house of our own.
8. Romance.....
9. My husband's smile still gives me butterflies.
10. I enjoy spending time with my husband... Wish sometimes we had more time.
11. PDA's are cute.
12. Cooking is becoming my new hobby as a wife... Lets see how good I get at it.
13. Chivalry is not dead.. It lives on in my husband
14. I love that my friends think my husband is so great
15. There is something special about knowing that someone is going to spend their life with you...
16. To hear him say I Love You makes my day
17. Wine is still our thing....
18.I still giggle when I tell people I have a husband. Its such a great feeling.
19.I now believe that I am meant for happiness.
20. Funny how time flies when your having fun.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Do You Need an 'Engagement Counselor'?

For Caroline, the wedding invitation was the first sign of trouble. On it, she and her fiancé had chosen to use a "simple, elegant, but certainly not traditional" black and white image of his native Holland. Her parents, however, who ran with a well-to-do crowd in Northern Virginia, "had very Emily Post ways of how things should be done," she recalled. "There were rules."
Such as: Proper invitations were printed on Crane & Co. cardstock and used her fiancé's full name, whether he liked it or not. (He did not.) The wording would be ultra-formal (even though the couple was in their 30s and had lived together for years). And no, there would be no windmills. (Had she lost her mind?)

From there, "negotiations" moved on to her parents' fight for a band over a DJ; a 5 or 6 p.m. start time over the couple's choice of 5:30 ("we thought it would be nice to get married as the sun set," Caroline told me, resignedly); and a different dress than the one she had picked out. She remembered for months feeling perpetually caught between her old family and her new one, leading to what she calls a "pretty severe depression" that lasted long after the cake was cut. In fact, she said, "We've really only just gotten over it."

The wedding in question was in 2001.

The billion dollar wedding industry sells engagement as a time of sweep trains, fondants, and last hurrahs in Vegas. But engagement is just as likely to be remembered for stress-induced meltdowns, battles over money and control, and family dynamics gone horribly wrong. Which is why many couples are seeking out help -- "engagement counselors" of sorts -- to deal with what is supposed to be the happiest day of their lives.

A 2003 study published in the journal Guidance & Counseling found that wedding preparation was immensely stressful for both men and women -- though more for women -- and that talking about it helps. What makes being engaged so fraught? For one thing, part of engagement is making your relationship really official, much more than 'Facebook official,' and that makes everything more intense.

With the permanence of marriage looming, small issues take on a greater meaning as couples work to align on such trademark marital issues as money, work, household tasks, and, yes, each other's parents.

At the same time, engagement is an important teacher because it's a transition from what makes a dating relationship work into what makes a marriage work. For many couples, planning a wedding is the first time they're called on to problem solve in any major way. And on top of the logistics of planning a big, important event, what often underlies the stress of a wedding is doubt and fear. Marriage is a symbol of change, and change is scary. Women, I have found, tend to act out their fear by overthinking wedding details. Men go the opposite way, and avoid getting involved.

The biggest challenge for a couple can be learning that it's okay to fight, and to have differences that may never be reconciled. Jessica and her fiancé Jeremy purposefully opted for a short engagement. Still: "I hated -- hated -- being engaged," she said. "I had this overwhelming sense that I was doing everything for other people, even though my in-laws, my mother, everyone was great. There was just this intensity to every decision. I was baffled that I was as stressed out as I was about choosing tablecloths."

In sessions with her therapist, Jessica discussed her anxiety, and realized she had a long history of working herself up in the name of pleasing others. "We talked about how to prioritize myself and find a balance," she said. "And how it was okay not to make everyone happy." She also realized that she was not alone in her distress. "People want to give the impression that everything's great and your relationship is wonderful and your wedding will be, too," she said. "So a lot of women don't talk about what this period of time is really like."

Two years ago, Laura and her fiancé enlisted Laura's therapist as sort of psychological wedding planner. "Because she knew my personal history, I think she was more qualified than anyone else to help us prioritize," Laura told me. But therapy also helped her identify the root cause of her stress, namely what she now saw as an expectation for everyone else to experience the wedding as she did. "A close friend had to be chased down for her RSVP to my shower, and then didn't come although she lived closer to the venue than almost anyone else," Laura said. "That's still hurtful two years later, but therapy helped me sort through my emotions and expectations."

Of course, wedding-related anxiety isn't limited to the betrothed. Marriage can be the first time a child truly separates from his or her parents, who in turn, often experience this separation as a loss. In turn, the parents may become controlling -- or overly sensitive, feeling hurt when their choice of photographer, flower, or invitation goes ignored.

Caroline said it took her many years to wonder if her mother's inflexibility was a result of pressure she had been feeling from her own mother, Caroline's grandmother, an exceedingly proper woman who had recently had a stroke. Caroline's mom, for the record, has since apologized. "She's the first to tell you she was a crazy person," said Caroline. "And I will say that the wedding day itself was actually pretty lovely. I did my own hair and makeup in my parents' hotel room with my sister helping out, and that's a really nice memory." All the same, more than a decade later, they've yet to get their wedding photos developed.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Father Walks Daughters Down The Aisle, Knowing He Will Die Before They Marry

No one has ever asked me to get married, so as of now, I have no plans to. If the day ever comes, also known as the day “hell freezes over,” I will not have my father to walk me down the aisle — he died five years ago. Too bad we did not do what this dying dad did for his daughters.


Fred Evans unfortunately lost his battle with melanoma. Fred had four children total, two daughters of which are not married. Before he passed, Fred wanted to make sure he was able to walk his girls down the aisle. With the help of his wife and other kids, he surprised the girls at a church. You can see it captured in the video below. Get the tissue ready!







Wedding Dress Shopping Comments No Bride Wants To Hear

Brides-to-be usually ask their family and friends to accompany them to the bridal salon in order to make dress shopping easier and more fun. Unfortunately, sometimes these well-meaning people -- mom, your maid of honor and even the salespeople -- end up making the search for "The Dress" more stressful and less enjoyable by opening their mouths to voice some rude and unnecessary comments.
We recently asked our readers to tell us one thing you should never say to a woman trying on a wedding dress.


  1. You have plenty of weight to loose...
  2. Oh surely you are not wearing white are you?
  3. That makes you look bigger than you really are
  4. Thats not very you...
  5. It looks ok, but it really dosent
  6. Are you sure that you have not gained weight (After ordering the size is too small)
  7. Why arent you crying???
  8. Are you sure this is the one???
  9. It would look better if you were smaller or had bigger boobs......





Photo of the Week

2013-09-24-jenjeffwedding.jpg


Last December, San Jose, CA hairstylist Jen Bulik received the worst news possible and was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. She and her boyfriend of six years, Jeff Lang, a yoga instructor, decided to marry as soon as possible. Due to time constraints, her illness and limited finances, they planned to have a very low-key backyard barbecue.

That is, until Jen's friend, Emily LeDeau, posted Jen's story on a Facebook group page for wedding professionals. Enter wedding planner Erica Ota, who spotted the post and immediately responded. She offered her services, met with the couple and was so moved by their story that she decided to give them a wedding they could only dream about. "As a former social worker, I met countless people with terminal illnesses but was only able to offer emotional support. However, as a wedding planner, I now had the ability and resources to do a lot more for them," says Erica.

With only two weeks to plan, Erica started to pull together all the details. She looked at Jen's Pinterest board to get an idea of the "rustic chic" wedding Jen truly wished for and, with the help of Jen's friend, Emily, and Erica's intern, Elizabeth Tarantino, secured over 65 vendors to donate everything from decorative items like chalkboards, wands, and wood signs, to a guest book quilt, succulent favors and mason jars. Several wig companies also provided custom-made wigs that Jen loved wearing on her wedding day. It was a Herculean task, but Erica worked 'round the clock to secure place settings, furniture, rustic wood tables and chairs and more.

It all came together, and on July 27, 2013, under the Redwood trees of Saratoga Creek Park in San Jose, Jen and Jeff walked down the aisle surrounded by 120 family and friends, who had received e-mailed invitations just two weeks in advance. The couple selected their own readings, picked their own rituals and asked their friend, Anne, who had introduced them, to be their officiant. They were in awe of Erica's efforts and by everything she had accomplished for them, calling her their very own "Olivia Pope" (the main character on TVs "Scandal") who had made the impossible happen.

Needless to say, Jen and Jeff were amazed at the outpouring of love and support they received not only from Erica and their friends and family but also from complete strangers -- all of the vendors who offered donations so they could have a wedding they never thought possible. "I had no idea that people were so giving," said Jen. "I feel more gratitude than I have ever felt in my entire life."

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Wedding Officiant Halts Mid-Ceremony, Angrily Tells Photographers To Leave







Despite the best-laid plans, plenty has been known to go wrong on a wedding day.

But this? This is altar-cation is an entirely different creature. No one could foresee a squabble between the wedding officiant and the wedding photographers -- particularly one long enough to disrupt the entire ceremony.

A video of the incident, uploaded to YouTube Monday and humorously titled "something would happen," opens much as any other ceremony would. Several seconds in, however, the officiant snaps after hearing one too many shutter clicks.

Turning from the bride and groom, the officiant addresses the photographer and videographer behind him with forced restraint: "Please. Sirs. Leave."

"Where do you want me to be?" asks a baffled cameraman, as the bride and groom exchange mortified glances.

"Anywhere other than here," the officiant states. After a brief pause, he continues the scolding: "This is a solemn assembly. Not a photography session. Please move. Or I will stop. I will stop this ceremony if you do not get out of the way. This is not about the photography. This is about God."
PetaPixel notes the misunderstanding could have easily been avoided with a little pre-ceremony communication between the minister and the photographers. Instead, we bear witness to awkward horror.

Marriage Problems That Can Be Good For Your Relationship

Written by Sasha Brown-Worsham on CaféMom’s blog, The Stir.


When you get married, you vow to love that person in sickness and health, for better or worse, until death do you part. On a wedding day, those vows may feel easy to say to the man in the tux standing in front of you. He's young and hot and sexy (and so are you) and those big problems are still (god willing) a long way off. But they come. Trust me, they come.
Over the course of a lifetime together, a couple will encounter many things. A large number of them will be happy -- births of babies, huge promotions, anniversary trips -- but they won't all be so. Some will be hard. If you stay together, you will encounter parental issues, illness, and death. You will encounter job strain and even financial strain. Your marriage will encounter rough waters.
But those rough waters can (and should!) make you stronger as a couple. Here are 6 problems many marriages encounter that can actually be blessings in disguise. See below:
  1. A big fight: Personally, I hate/love our big fights. Over the course of a decade-long marriage, my husband and I have encountered our fair share of fights, but probably only three or four for the record books. These awful, crying fights often ended with a talk. Sometimes over days. And these talks always changed things, made things better, and made us more loving than ever. Sometimes you have to go through the rapids to truly appreciate the moments when the water is still and calm.
  2. An unexpected pregnancy: It's rarely good news to see double lines on a pee stick when you weren't expecting the stork. But the good news is that the stress can bring you closer with your spouse. Even if you don't agree on the way to deal with it initially, the talking and the deciding and the stress can make you stronger.
  3. Job loss: There is almost nothing scarier than being faced with an unexpected job loss. But there is an upside. The two of you get to work together, harder than ever, to make things work. It can be a good, albeit terrifying thing. Especially once you come out the other end.
  4. A big move: My husband and I just did this, and although it was HARD (we lived apart for a while), the reality is, it was great for us. We both learned to appreciate each other's strengths in ways we hadn't had to before. A move is very, very difficult, and if you aren't working together, it's even more difficult.
  5. Illness: There is nothing fun about a scary diagnosis. But for many couples, it's an opportunity to really understand how much you love one another. I adore my big strong husband, but I also know if I had to, I would be there, doing whatever was needed to get him well at his weakest point. I know he would do the same for me. You get to show what true love is all about.
  6. Financial strain: Maybe you get a big bill that was unexpected or the car goes kaput and that wasn't in the budget. But whatever the reason, financial strain is the number one reason people divorce. It doesn't have to be. Money problems CAN be a catalyst for much needed belt tightening that, if you work together, can actually become a bonding exercise. By working together to strengthen the financial picture, you two also strengthen the WHOLE picture. See how that works?
Did you ever have a "bad" moment in your marriage that made you stronger?

10 Wedding-Worthy Gowns From the 2013 Emmy Awards

Last night the 2013 Emmy Awards brought some of our favorite TV celebs to the red carpet and we were immediately drooling over their gorgeous gowns. We even spotted a few that were totally wedding-worthy.
taylor-schilling

Taylor Schilling in Thakoon
julie-dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Monique Lhuillier
Untitled-1

Carrie Preston in Romona Keveza
malin

Malin Akerman in Marchesa
julie-bowen

Julie Bowen in Zac Posen
kate-mara

Kate Mara in J. Mendel
january-jones

January Jones in Givenchy
claire-danes

Claire Danes in Armani Prive
zooey

Zooey Deschanel in J. Mendel
kerry-washington

Kerry Washington in Marchesa
All photos by Getty Images, EOnline.com

Monday, September 23, 2013

Georgia Family Donates Cancelled Wedding's Reception to Homeless

PHOTO: When Willie and Carol Fowler’s daughter cancelled her wedding, they decided to turn the reception into an event for 200 homeless individuals in Atlanta, Ga., on Sept. 15, 2013.

When Willie and Carol Fowler's only daughter cancelled her wedding 40 days before she was set to walk down the aisle, the parents were faced with a venue, food and entertainment that had all been paid for.
 
But instead of cancelling everything and losing their deposits, they decided to change the guest list -- to 200 homeless people.
 
"We went home that evening and my husband woke up the next morning and I was in the process of cancelling out the venue and he said, 'No, what we'll do is donate it to Hosea Feed the Hungry,'" Carol Fowler told ABCNews.com today.
 
"It was a vision," Fowler said of her husband's idea. "He said he had prayed on it during the night and God had directed him and that's what we were going to do."
 
The Fowlers called Hosea Feed the Hungry, an organization that their daughter had volunteered for when she was younger. It is a nonprofit organization in Atlanta, Ga., that provides homeless individuals with services and resources.
 
"When they first called, the administration thought it was a prank call because it was too good to be true," Quisa Foster of Hosea Feed the Hungry said. "It's a very creme de la creme wedding venue, so to say that you're going to host 200 homeless individuals at Villa Christina -- it sounds like a prank call."
 
The Fowlers persisted and eventually had a meeting with the organization to prove their good intentions and plan the event.
 
On Sept. 15, buses transported 200 homeless women, children and families to Villa Christina for the event. It began at 2 p.m. with outdoor appetizers and space for the children to run and play.
 
The event then moved inside, where the approximately 50 children had a room to themselves with face-painting, juggling and crowns.
 
"The children had chicken fingers, French fries, fresh fruit and chocolate chip cookies," Carol Fowler said. "The adults had salmon and chicken."
 
"All the plates were empty and there wasn't any leftover food at all. It was an eye-opening experience," Foster said. "You go to weddings sometimes and you see a lot of people really waste food. We take so many things for granted. These clients or guests, as we call them, they don't."
The day's "inspiration program" included a motivational speaker for the adults.
 
"When you look at the faces of the women and children and actually participated in the event, they look like you and me," Foster said. "These are working families that for whatever reason -- the recession, economic turn -- have found themselves in a place where they're without a place to live and starting over."
 
"It was a wonderful event. It brought tears to my eyes," she said.
 
The Fowlers were very involved in the whole event and enjoyed greeting all of their guests. Their daughter was also on hand for a day that was "bittersweet but rewarding" for her, Willie Fowler said. The family declined to comment on why the wedding had been cancelled.
 
"There is no way to explain how it makes you feel, but it's wonderful," Willie Fowler said of seeing the joy at the event.
 
"It's just that wonderful, rewarding feeling," Carol Fowler said. "If we could just inspire one youth in that crowd to rise above the situation today and be a very responsible member of society tomorrow, that would be extremely rewarding."
 
The Fowlers are hoping to make the affair a yearly event that will be two days and incorporate educational elements for the participants.
 
They pointed out that events are cancelled all the time and encouraged others to think about donating
"If you have cancelled an event, do not walk away. Pick up the phone and call your favorite charity and offer it to them," Carol Fowler said. "We're regular, working people and anybody can do this. This is not star stuff."