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Monday Musings: Our 2010 Wedding Season Has Ended

Our final wedding of 2010 happened this weekend and it was beautiful! The couple had the most amazing weather for November, I was so happy for them!

We've got lots of exciting blog posts coming up: Real Wedding images and a new series: Lessons Learned: We will go through many of our weddings from the 2010 season and discuss what we learned as planners and as brides and grooms. We did a similar series last year that was very well received.

I took this image this weekend and I love the colors in it:

An Update :: Life Coach Teachings

It has been a few months since I wrote about the journey that I have been on for four months with my life guru. I've made some big decisions in the past four months, all of which have been very positive. A few of the changes that I've adopted into my life, although small, have had big effects and I wanted to share a few of them with you:

1. YOU come first. As women we tend to put everything first: family, work, cleaning, caring, being generous, errands, basically running through our daily lives like lunatics {or maybe its just me that felt that way?}. My guru made me realize that putting everything first before myself was actually doing a huge dis-service to everything that needs my attention in life. By putting me first and my needs first, I can be the best that I am for everything else that needs me.

Putting me first above my family, our dogs, my clients, my home is hard. I have to work on this every single day. I have to remind myself daily that taking 10+ minutes per day to de-stress, zone out and do something nice for myself {even if its just sitting staring at a wall without running my to do list through my head like a bad elevator song on repeat} - by taking a little time for just me, I can be better at every single thing else that I need to attend to.

2. Be positive to yourself. Anyone who has met knows that I have a snarky tone on things, but my snarkiness isn't my overall view on life. I am actually a pretty positive person. I always strive to see the best in every situation. But, I wasn't being positive about myself. Like most women, my internal commentary consists of "i am too fat, my thighs are enormous, this isn't right, that isn't right", which plainly sucks as an attitude. It doesn't help you out in any way. So you have to be positive. I am not thrilled with where I am weight wise, but my big legs are muscular and strong, which helps me ski, run and walk the dogs. I have beautiful eyes that my husband thinks are amazing. It is so much better to focus on positive in yourself than the negative.

I know we are all our worst critics but seriously, stop and take a moment to say "Damn girl, you are hot". I promise, you are and telling yourself that will only help you in the long run.

3. Focus on eating high quality foods. My coach is a nutritionist by trade, so of course a lot of our conversations are about food and consuming food. My husband and I became quasi-vegan in mid-September. A switch I honestly thought my mayo-loving man would never make. I will be completely upfront about this: we didn't opt to stop eating meat and dairy for animal rights reasons, we stopped for our health. I say we are quasi-vegan because to my recent health issues I need some form of animal protein so we are eating fish. {As an aside, we had to consult my GP to discuss this new healthier lifestyle and she okay'd all our changes}.

While I miss cheese on a daily basis, and going out to eat makes things a bit more complicated, I've seen such a glowing effect on my skin, my eyes, my hair and my waistline that its a lot easier to stick with the healthier living. We aren't consuming anything that is processed. I am eating enough fruits and vegetables in a day that I sometimes worry there's a farm growing on the inside!

These aren't radical huge changes, but they've made radical huge outcomes in my life. It's all about baby steps right? Make sure that today you stop and reflect on how awesome a person you are.

Monday Musings: Mini - Vacation

I left NYC this weekend to spend some time with Mr.G whom out of September and October I will only see for a total of 10 days since he's a traveling machine for work! As always, I am on email if need be!


{via Shutterstock Images}

Monday Musings: Frenches Are The Best

Yes, I love our dogs a bit too much!

Monday Musings: Enjoying Life

Let the good times roll!



{taken by me at a Tom Petty concert in August}

Monday Musings: Remembering Summer

Since it seems that the hot weather is behind us and crisp fall weather is here to stay, here's a pic of our Fire Escape Garden from this summer. Can't wait for our plants to begin growing again next year!

Happy Two Year Anniversary Mr. G!

Two years ago today, I became Mrs. Green! Two years ago today, Mr. G and I recited the same vows that both of our parents recited to each other {and have kept for 33 and 41 years respectively}. Two years ago today, Hurricane Hanna tried to blow away our tented wedding reception and instead, all she managed to do was cause a minor leak while 231 guests attended the party of a lifetime. Two years ago today, I became a wife and gained a husband. Two years ago today was hands down the best day of our lives. Two years ago today, I married my soul mate, someone who believes in me, loves me unconditionally and who supports all my dreams. Two years ago today, I got married.

Happy Anniversary Mr. G!







{bottom two pix: courtesy of 5 West Studios}

Happy Holiday Weekend!

We hope that you have a relaxing and refreshing Labor Day Weekend!

Our offices are closed Today and Monday for the holiday - we are hoping that Hurricane Earl doesn't do much damage to Eastern Long Island today!

Monday Musings: A Wake Up Call in the ER

Monday has never felt so good to me. Without getting into all the details, I went to the ER yesterday after having symptoms that were similar to having a heart attack. The testing they were able to do on my tiny, hard to locate veins came back negative for a heart attack but my heart definitely had an episode yesterday. I spent yesterday afternoon basically in shock that at my young-ish age, and someone who isn't a smoker / drug user, eats fairly well, exercises regularly and aims to live a relatively stress free life had an EKG with some 'blips' on it. Only further testing will be able to figure out what happened.

It was a massive wake up call. Too many opportunities small and big pass us by in life because we are rushing from here and there. I have so many dreams that I want to pursue and for a million reasons, they get pushed to the back burner. Yesterday was a huge reminder that life is fragile and things can change in a heart beat. Why spend our time doing things that don't give us joy and pleasure?

My cardiac team at the ER was incredible and we're nice enough to let me leave to get to dinner at Blue Hill Stone Barns with my family last night. If you haven't eaten at Blue HIll Stone Barns yet, honestly, stop what you are doing and get your bum out to Pocantico HIlls in Westchester.

As far as my business goes: its operations as usual, just a slower pace this week. My apologies if I take longer than usual to get back to you but I need to take things slower for a week or so until more testing can be done.

Congratulations!

Just a sweet note to say Congratulations to Michelle & Justin! My uber awesome assistant / Associate Planner is getting married today!

Update from the Life Coach

It's been just over a month since I began working with my awesome nutritionist / life coach extraordinaire. I've made some helpful changes to my life in general that will have a positive affect on my food habits as well. A few of the changes I've made are beyond applicable to weddings, so I wanted to share them:

Put yourself first: Do nice things for yourself to celebrate you. Get a mani / pedi, take a bath, take a walk, indulge in a chocolate, just make sure that every day, you do something nice for you.

Slow down when you are eating: When we are rushed, we inhale food just so "we've had something to eat" and its kind of pointless. Coach had me read "The Slow Down Diet" and let me tell you, this book is an eye opener. When you stop to truly enjoy and savor your meal, your body takes notice and utilizes all the nutrition. If you inhale your food, your body doesn't recognize anything. Read this book and slow down at meals!

Work out consistently: before I started my company, I was a workout-a-holic. Its been depressing to say the least to think that I've been so neglectful of the gym for so long, but Coach made me realize that by going to the gym daily or doing some form of exercise daily, it will make me 100x more productive throughout the day. As Nike says, Just Do It.

What changes have you made that are positive?

What Do I Love?

I was recently interviewed for a blog that features Successful Female Entrepreneur's Under 30 ... in a few months I won't be applicable for this, so I thought I'd better answer them quickly!

One of the questions resonated with me: "What part of my job do I love?" I loved this question because it gave me the opportunity to share my thoughts on what part of the wedding planning experience that I love and it'll surprise you, while I love the planning aspect, the creative aspect and the over-organized aspect, my true love of this industry comes on the wedding day itself. I love seeing all the hard work that my couples and I have put into planning their wedding day, come to life. I love to see a set reception area just before guests arrive, knowing that each element of the design are choices that are reflective of this newly minted married couple. I love seeing my couple's recess down the aisle knowing that they have this new life to begin together. I love being told Thank You at the end of an awesome wedding. So while I love the wedding day, I love more what the wedding day represents: the joining of two souls together and the knowledge that I helped to shape their day. To me, that is incredibly meaningful.

And as an added bonus, coordinating a wedding allows me to reflect back on my own wedding day: the extreme excitement I had almost two years ago when I got to say I do to my best friend.

What do you love about your job?

Anniversary Gifts - Need Recommendations!

We'll be back to non-personal posts next week, but being the plan in advance type, I need some help from y'all!

Our Two Year Anniversary is quickly approaching on September 6th and I need some gift ideas! I know the traditional gift for year 2 is cotton (do I get him yet another pair of khaki's?!) And the modern gift is china (I can't see him really appreciating china plates!). I would love to be creative and meaningful at the same time but I need some suggestions!

Thank you so much, it means so much to me! Feel free to comment below or email me directly. I promise that Mr.G doesn't read the blog so everything will remain between you and I until the 6th!

Time Out New York!

I was recently interviewed for Time Out New York on an article that focused on five entrepreneurs who began their businesses just before or during the recession. It is beyond an honour to be along side this group of talented individuals. Click here to check out the article!

Who Died And Made You God?

This question was posed to me this morning during a session with my life guru. We were discussing my business and how I like everyone to act in a manner that I find acceptable ~ which is basically beyond wrong as an outlook on life. Everyone is different, has different perspective and because of that, I shouldn't try and stuff the entire population into my 'box' of how things should be done. Its such a simple thought, but seriously, I am sure that most of us act this way in some form at some point in our lives. It literally begs the question "who died and made you god"? What gives me the right to want everyone to act in a manner that I think is appropriate when they can certainly can act however they know how. Its going to be a shift in thinking, but one that is going to make me a better person.

So how in the world is this vaguely related to wedding planning? Simple. Your vendors are working to the best of their ability using their knowledge base. They aren't gods {unfortunately} and maybe sometimes the way you {bride / client} wants things to be dealt with just isn't the way this vendor works. Everyone has their work style, their flow, and while flexibility is a big plus, don't expect a vendor to change their process simply because you signed a contract and are paying them. The same holds true to clients ~ vendors have to be mindful that a first time bride doesn't know everything and needs help. As a wedding vendor we can't just expect that a woman gets engaged and poof, ten seconds later the wedding fairy has given her all the wedding planning education she needs to be the best bride. This process is about give and take for all involved and we have to be respectful of that.

Monday Musings

Folks, the new imac is here and let's just say the learning curve is going to be huge!

Monday Musings

One of the loves of my life:



{Courtesy of my mother in law}

Fabulous Friday: Bridal Event Not to Miss

My awesome nutritionist guru, Sarah Jenks is holding an intimate evening for brides on July 27th at Gabriella New York Bridal Salon called: Breathtaking Bride Master Class: “How to feel centered, confident and drop dead gorgeous in your wedding dress without crash diets, deprivation or turning into bridezilla”.

This master class will show you a completely different way of losing weight for your wedding. A way that doesn’t involve starving yourself, counting calories or giving up chocolate {um, seriously, having your cake and eating it too literally while shedding pounds - hello, this is awesome news}.

This incredibly helpful evening is on Tuesday, July 27th from 6:30-8:30, and the class is limited to TEN BRIDES, which will allow Sarah to give each participant the kind of one-on-one support she, until this point, has been reserved for her full-time clients.

Sarah’s philosophy is truly a life changing in this culture of crash dieting. I hope you will read more about the master class and Sarah on her website.

A sampling of what you will learn in the master class:
• The three letter word that is the ultimate catalyst for weight loss
• Why most wedding weight loss programs are actually causing you to gain weight
• Why trying to use “willpower” and “discipline” is a complete waste of time and what to do instead that actually works
• The 3 fool proof steps to stop emotional eating FOREVER
• How to be the same weight you are at your wedding, for years after you say “I do”
• The exact step-by-step plan to losing weight, feeling centered and having clarity on your wedding day

There's still availability, so click here to sign up!

Happy Weekend y'all!

I Hired "A Life Coach"

OK I have a confession to make. I hired a life coach. She's not entirely a life coach, she's actually more of a nutritionist / therapist / going to be spending a ton of time with me over the next 6 months person.

Now, what did I do this and why am I telling you {the world}?

Simply because I want to. I am so excited at the possibility of fundamentally becoming healthier in mind and body that I've been telling lots of people {including my dermatologist} about my journey to becoming a better version of myself. Not that I think anything is wrong with my past / current self, but everyone needs a system upgrade, right? {i.e. the recent launch of the Iphone 4} Owning and running your own business is stressful even when you love what you do. Trying to run a household and a business + attempt a social life can cause stress. Stress = No Good. Essentially, my nutritionist / life coach is going to be bringing order to my diet, my routine and my life so that I am an even more fabulous wife, daughter, frenchie mama, business owner, friend and wedding planner. See, a win win for everyone!

As I begin this journey, I will share my insights with you all ~ especially the ones that relate to wedding planning. Your first lesson: breath. Sometimes stopping to let some oxygen deep down into your lungs can relax you and de-stress you. Go ahead and try it!