My latest obsession and none of the guilt

I LOVE TO READ! Magazines, anyway. If I see and interesting article, I will read it. Guaranteed.

Why Magazines? I am a sucker for a great cover story and will flip through and read everything.

The last trip I took to Wal-Mart I was finally all done and ready to check out. Then, out of the corner of my eye I saw a magazine cover that just caught my attention. I told myself that I had already been in the store for an hour and needed to get back home. So I said I would simply look at the one article that got my attention in the first place. At that point I lost track of time and space. As I shamelessly look through the Florida Weddings magazine and take pictures of the interesting articles with my phone, I get a text message from my husband asking me if everything is ok.

I had actually been standing there for 15 minutes! Shopping cart full with a Bridal magazine in one hand and a cell phone (excuse me, an iphone) in the other just because I couldn't stand the thought of paying $6.99 for said magazine.

I like websites for information but there's something so fun about getting a fresh magazine full of fun and new things.My problem is, I just don't know what do with the magazines after I'm done with them. So then I feel guilty about all the paper that was used to produce the latest dust collector in my house.

Solution? I found it today and I couldn't be happier!

http://www.nonpareilmag.com/

It's got FANTASTIC ideas. Downloadable templates. Step by step tutorials! The virtual magazine lets you "flip" through their latest edition. It's full of fun, new, and refreshing ideas that encourage do-it-yourselfers. Is that a word? youreselfers? let's just roll with it.

The first visit to the website and I was hooked. Now, I can bookmark the website, take only what I need and not feel guilty about killing trees, although I did use up a lot of electricity.

Low Budget and Cheap Do Not have to go hand in hand

Having a small or limited budget doesn't give you the excuse to make your event look cheap and tacky. It's like with anything else, you get what you put in.

If you don't have the money to put in, then you're going to have to put in some time.

I have recently rediscovered the art of origami in the attempt to make an event more environmentally friendly. What did we use? Old scraps of paper. The outcome? You be the judge

Then I hear about how creative I am and how there's no way they could ever do something like that. Really? Do you think that I created this flower with my own will power? I googled paper flowers and this is one that showed up. I followed VERY SIMPLE instructions and that's what I got. The emphasis on the simple because I have very little patience when it comes to origami.

I use other events and ideas to draw up some inspiration. Look all around you and there's bound to be some inspiration. If you're planning a wedding, look around your house or through pictures and you'll be inspired by the first date you ever went on or the first bouquet of flowers.

Also, be prepared to do a lot of work! The paper for the origami flowers may be free but they're not going to fold themselves. Since you have to do everything by hand this may also be a great time to get your bridesmaids together and have some bonding time. You'll be done in no time and you'll have unique touches to your event that everyone will be proud to show off on your big day!

It's all in the details

While working on our recent project I realize that creativity is a gift and a burden. "A burden?" you say?

Yes, there's a lot of pressure. The more creative, thoughtful, unique and fascinating the things you create are the more pressure there is to perform. It can not be mediocre and heaven help me if I don't make it from scratch.

Latest example: Examine exhibit A (pictured above)

I said we would have coffee and perhaps tea at the end of our next bridal shower. Was I satisfied with the idea of just plain old sugar in a pretty container? No, not good enough, especially when we're making (can't tell you till the shower is over, there are some more surprises) all from scratch.

Thankfully sugar is inexpensive and molds readily available. A drop of water here, a splash of food coloring there, and voila! Pink heart shaped sugar cubes. We'll have people saying, "Would you like one heart or two?"

I am overjoyed in how they came out and think that I've officially raised the bar. I'm going to have to learn how to make sugar statues by next year.

More importantly, when you are trying to make you occasion memorable you have to consider the details. The more events you go to, they become a blur of invitations, flowers, dresses, favors, etc. but you guest will surely be delighted and remember things that are personalized and tailor made for the event.

Always double check, never rely on spell check

My partner and I have known each other our whole lives, well mine especially because I'm the younger sister. Going into business together also means we trust and respect each other's work. That being said, I just cracked up when she sent me her latest design for a bridal shower we are working on. Why? Because it had a grammatical error and my sister has been reading books just about her entire life. She's also my personal spell checker

No doubt I have already made a spelling mistake that I will get a cute text reminder to make sure I change it. You can just save my ego and change it directly, you know the password ;)

Making spelling, spacing, or grammatical errors is not only embarrassing at times but can also be a very expensive mistake. Can you imaging having to reprint invitations, programs, or anything that's been printed for that matter because you misspelled or punctuated something wrong?

Imaging my horror when I finished and submitted an ad and realized I spelled "Best Hold" instead of "Best Hole" for a charity golf tournament advertisement. Thankfully, I caught it quickly and was able to catch it before it went to print. Yes, I cursed at my computer for not alerting me with a squiggly red line but ultimately it was my responsibility. Also to my credit, I showed 2 different people and no one caught it. Then there's this pesky spacing error that I'm convinced is being done on purpose by our printer just to bother me.

Let's move on, shall we?

So, it's not about trust or about a lack of self confidence but even the NY Times has an editor. Everyone will see the fruits of your labor and you want to be proud of your work.

Also, don't think that no one will notice, oh they will notice. So, you also want to save yourself from hearing "It looks great but did you realize you ________ wrong?".


In my defense, it was very late at night, and a first draft ;) ~ Nubia

Cat Lover?? This Event is right up your Alley!

Cats Exclusive, Inc. 5th Annual Dinner Auction

We are holding a fund raiser and dinner auction gala March 20th. The goal we are striving for is to purchase our own building so we can take in more cats for adoption and expand our clinic to do dogs as well, we wish to provide low cost for all. Renting our facility voids us from some grants that would really help the cats.

Since 1979 our no-kill adoption branch has taken in over five and a half thousand cats and has worked to find them the best homes possible, but at the facility itself we can only care for sixty cats at a time. We know the need is enormous, while I type this we have received calls from several different people desperate to place 8 different cats, and the calls continue to pour in all day. We want to help more; we simply do not have the capacity.

We have performed over 9000 surgeries in our 2.5 years, that is preventing thousands upon thousands of kittens being born unwanted and homeless. The dog population could certainly use our help, too, but our facilities cannot handle the space that they require.

The event is formal, black tie (optional), and will be held at the South Florida Convention Center in the Rainbow Ball Room. 6101 NW 31 Street, Margate, FL 33063.

Cocktails start at 7PM, and dinner is at 8PM. Our exciting auction event will be held after dinner; there will also be a silent auction throughout the evening.

Reserved seating is required and available at $150 per person or $200 per couple. Please contact Niuvi Liriano at 954-975-8349 ext.#305

If you would like to help out, but cannot make it out to the dinner, please send a donation to Cats Exclusive, Inc., and note that you would like the donation to go towards the new building. As always, your donation is tax deductible.

If you have something unusual or spectacular to contribute for the auction, please contact us 954-975-8349 ext. 305 or stop by our center. If the item does not get used in this event, we will use it in future fundraisers. Cats Exclusive, Inc. 6350 West Atlantic Blvd, Margate, FL 33063

The Problem with Trends

As I see all of the 80's styles slowly creeping back, I shudder at the thought of shoulder pads, fanny packs, body suites, stir-ups, teasing (hair that is), scrunchies, and so much more. The rest of the trends are thankfully repressed in a distant memory.

I would also like to add that the styles are coming back but looking a little more polished and modern. Some actually worth reliving while others, not so much. I just don't know how I feel about hair bows literally made out of hair.

Any event is going to have a photographer which means there will be evidence of your big day. So as trends come and go we need to remember to not get too caught up in the fad. Remember what your mom always asked you: "If you saw someone jump off (insert structure here), does that mean you're going to do it too?"

Look at any picture from a wedding that took place in the 80's and early 90's and after you peel back the layers of crinoline and overly starched Tulle and you'll see the real bride. I would imagine you'd also have peel back a few layers of eye shadow and blush. They were also real big on big hair and HUGE hair pieces. I mean there was no missing the bride when you saw what looked like an albino peacock on their head. It was all TOO much and the beauty of the bride and sometimes groom was lost in the excess.

By changing a popular saying I will say: What is popular is not always stylish and what is stylish is not always popular.