Year: 2013

Don’t shoo Shutterfly away!

by

I am an unabashed fan of Shutterfly, the photo printing website where you can create everything from beautiful photo books, to mugs, to jewelry…I could go on and on, but you may as well just check out the website.  I have made many beautiful albums, and have now branched out into their greeting cards which are my new favorite thing.  The other great thing about Shutterfly is that they constantly send out deals and codes to folks on their mailing list.  50% off photo books, free shipping, and the best one yet, a free and clear $20 credit!  I redeemed that today (for some of the aforementioned cards) and thought I’d share them with you.  How cute are these?  They are now winging their way to my house.  And the husband and I will be able to keep up our manners and write timely thank-you notes.  What could be better?  I highly recommend checking out their deals and offers – completely worth getting the emails.

Be well, love well and shop well!

-Dinah

3×5 Folded Card
View the entire collection of cards.

Breaking News! Kate Middleton is Not Having Twins In July!

by

I gotta say, I’ve never imagined myself saying this, but I am really grateful that I am not the Princess of Wales. I can’t imagine my due date being worldwide breaking news.  I think that young newlyweds are under enough pressure as it is without throwing the international media into the mix.

Prince Harry and Kate Middleton at the Garter ...
Prince Harry and Kate Middleton at the Garter Procession (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And that’s where I’m going with this, to hope I can talk people into tacking on one extra new year’s resolution for 2013, namely to leave the newlyweds in your lives alone about their baby plans.  In American culture, as soon as the last grain of rice hits the ground it’s the next topic of conversation.  When will they start a family? When will there be grandchildren? And when the newlyweds show up anywhere, they face an inevitable barrage of questions.  And frankly, when (and whether) to have children is a serious, intimate decision that they may not want to share at Easter dinner.  It can be terribly uncomfortable.

So think twice about your questions when your favorite couple returns from their honeymoon, and avoid the whole baby thing. Suggestions: ask them about their trip, ask them about the wedding.  Ask them if they know Kate Middleton is not having twins in July!

Be well, and love well.

-Dinah

What’s In a Name? When you’re Getting Married, It Feels Like A Lot!

by
Marriage License Signing 2
Marriage License Signing 2 (Photo credit: Scott SM)

When planning your wedding, as a woman in our society, you get to contemplate whether or not you will take your partner’s name.  Some women have known all their lives that they’d be transitioning along the way, others have watched friends’ adventures as they hyphenated, kept their own, or invented new names. Some guys are very giving on this issue.  My stepsister and her husband BOTH hyphenate.  We have another set of friends where the gentleman (he’s the real deal, you’ll see) took his wife’s name so that her family’s line would not die out. Oh, that’s nutty, crunchy California, you must be thinking. But no – they are in that bastion of old-fashioned traditional behavior, Mississippi.  A gentleman indeed.

 

So what to do? I spend a lot of time in this space talking about not following the crowd, and respecting your instincts as you make decisions about your wedding.  I’d like to think that if you replace the word “wedding” with the word “life,” most of the advice can be extrapolated, since it’s mainly about being who you are, and trusting your choices.  This decision requires you to flex those emotional muscles in the most literal way possible, and to think hard about what you need to “be yourself.” One thing I know: it’s not all in a name. Not by a long shot.

 

Be well, and love well.

 

Dinah