My, what good taste you have!

I'm off to enjoy the good life....

2010-02-08T13:55:00.000-08:00

February 8, 2010

Dear Friends,

It is said that “Retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials - much to live on and much to live for.” I believe that I now have both. And so it is my great joy to let you know that I am retiring from the wedding and event-planning world at the end of this week.

Many of you have been my second family and you have supported me in my career and in my personal life over the last several decades. I am privileged to have worked with you through the years – and very proud of the successes that we achieved together. You’ve laughed with me, cried with me, and helped create such wonderful memories that are now part of my life treasures.

My career has been both challenging and rewarding. I am happy that I can look back and honestly say I did my best, gave my all, and I was well rewarded in kind and in friendship.

I'm looking forward to having the time and the freedom to spend time with my wonderful husband, finally get my book published and in the bookstores, relocate to South Florida, enjoy time traveling, yachting and (someday) spending time spoiling my future grandchildren! As I enjoy those days to come, I will reflect fondly from time to time on “the good old days”. Then, I will order another drink, one with an umbrella in it.

Thanks again for everything, I shall miss you.

With love,

Jody

PS. My new email address is: jodytaylorsmith@gmail.com if you would like to keep in touch. As soon as we’ve closed on our new house, I’ll send you our new address in The Sunshine State!

Caveat emptor: Tips when hiring a wedding or event planner

2010-02-03T10:01:00.000-08:00

photo by Veer

"Experience: That most brutal of teachers.
But you learn, by God do you learn." - C.S. Lewis

When you are considering hiring a wedding or event planner, especially in today's economy when every penny counts more than ever, you should be especially wise when making that important hiring decision. Anyone can "hang up a shingle", create a fancy website, print business cards and call themselves a planner.... but without education, industry knowledge, a good reputation, and most importantly verifiable EXPERIENCE, they may not be able to fulfill your expectations. And sadly, you will pay the price.

In all Weddings and Events, there are no 'do overs'. You get one chance to get it right, and the team you have in your corner can truly make or break your special day. You wouldn't hire a Doctor or a Lawyer without checking their credentials and you should shop the same way when hiring a wedding or event planner.

So, when considering hiring that planner, here are some tips from Good Taste Events:

Look for photos of their actual work (not stock photography) on their website. If they have experience, they will share it with you. If they seem reluctant to provide photographs, make a note of it. No actual event photos = red flag.

In addition to actual photos, verify their work. 99% of satisfied clients are more than happy to provide a reference to their wedding and event planner. They will tell you candidly what went right, what went wrong, and if they would hire this planner again. Ask to see their photos as well! No references = red flag.

Ask about any certifications your planner has and when they received such education. Are they affiliated with any national associations? You can call and check on their membership status. Absolutely no certification or associations? Yep. Red flag.

Inquire about their strengths and weaknesses. How will they handle unforeseen circumstances that may occur during your special day? Get some examples of situations they have dealt with in the past. An honest, experienced planner should definitely have some stories to share! Nothing ever gone wrong (ha!) = red flag.

What is their reputation in the industry? Have they been published in magazines or books, interviewed by other industry professionals, taught classes or given speeches or lectures? Again, this is information that is easily verifiable and can tell you much about their true experience. No one has ever heard of them? = red flag.

Avoid hiring a planner simply for their "cheery" personality. While it's imperative that your planner have characteristics that you value and a personality you will enjoy working with, it is also just as important that they have the experience that will make your event planning a joy. Many professionals have worked in various aspects of the hospitality industry for years before opening their own business. Does a new college graduate have the years of experience you are looking for? That's your call.

Whatever you decide, protect your choice by taking the time to check out who you may hire. Your event will definitely be an experience. Make it a good one.

Grazie! A beautiful recommendation from our Tuscan love birds!

2010-02-02T17:41:00.000-08:00

"Ti amo dal profondo del mio cuore con tutta la mia anima."
I love thee with the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.

Italy. Love. Romance. How fortunate were we to be selected to work with this beautiful couple when they planned their amazing July 2009 Tuscan wedding. A private villa outside of Pienza was the venue for this amazing wedding. It doesn't get much better than this.
Thank you, Colleen and Gunter. You're the best.
* * * * * *

And here is their amazing letter they sent to Good Taste upon their return.

****

Dear Good Taste Gals,

We did it! We had the wedding of our dreams and much of the credit falls squarely on your sturdy yet refined shoulders. We came to you with a glimmer of an idea, the thought of a wedding abroad. At the time, we did not intend to hire wedding planners. All we thought we needed was someone to help kick start the process. We had a set of parameters but no specific destination in mind. You scoured the globe and presented to us thirteen different destinations, each one unique in its allure. By the time we completed this part of the process and had decided on a wedding in the rolling hills of Tuscany, we were hooked; your professionalism, attention to detail, and reassuring communication style won us over. We left every meeting thinking that our dream wedding was possible. We simply had to hire Good Taste Events to plan our wedding.

Given these economic times and the exchange rate, we thought a destination wedding may be out of the question. Or, if we did do a destination wedding, our plans would have to be dramatically scaled back. However, early in the process Jody said a very nice wedding was doable for our modest budget. And to be honest, we had our doubts. But Jody kept her word and we had a wedding that topped our expectations and stayed on budget, thanks to her hardnosed negotiations and creative alternatives.

Planning a destination wedding is not easy and it should be noted that we are both often referred to as Type-A personalities. Going into this process, we had no idea how we, as detail oriented people, would be able to work with a wedding planner. Would we have to just give up control and be happy with whatever we got? Would we micromanage our planner into a nervous breakdown? Neither turned out to be the case - you handled us very well. :) Every meeting was like a good therapy session and we always left feeling stress free and excited about some new aspect of our wedding. You not only ensured that appropriate tasks were being completed on time, but you also took our event to another level by brainstorming with us to build on our theme and create an event that was memorable, personalized, and visually stunning.

A key aspect to hosting an event abroad is having good contacts. Jody was able to use her professional network and create these relationships. The situation turned out ideally for us. We worked directly with Jody, whom we have supreme confidence in, and in turn, Jody worked with her contact abroad to make it a reality. By the time the process got underway, it was remarkable the level of detail we were discussing for a wedding thousands of miles away.

Even though, at some level, this was always a business relationship, it never felt that way. We honestly felt that you cared about our wedding as much as we did and that means a lot to us. Our wedding was simply spectacular. It was a loving, intimate set of ceremonies in a beautiful far off land. We feel blessed to have such a lovely event mark our union and we can't thank you enough for making it possible.

Love,

Colleen and Gunter

Jody's Note: Special thanks to Carlos and Monica for photos and assistance with planning.

Thanks again!

2010-02-02T09:46:00.000-08:00

"It ain't the heat. It's the humility." - Yogi Berra

We are truly humbled by the confidence and support our amazing clients have given us again this year. Without you, we would not exist. Thank you again for allowing us to share our passion for creating and managing the most beautiful and memorable events imaginable.

With love and sincere appreciation,

Jody

Thanks! We're honored to have received WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2010

2010-01-21T09:08:00.000-08:00

Photo by Jack Young

Thank You to the amazing couples who honored us with this award, and the opportunity to be a part of your very special wedding days. Our hearts truly overflow with gratitude.

For Immediate Release

Seattle, Washington – January 19, 2010 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Good Taste Weddings & Events, LLC has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for Wedding Planning!

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

Good Taste Weddings & Events, LLC is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that Good Taste Weddings & Events, LLC is among the very best Wedding Planning Services within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/GoodTasteWeddingsandEvents.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding vendors. WeddingWire enables engaged couples to search, compare and book over 100,000 reviewed wedding vendors nationwide, from wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding vendors, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. In addition, WeddingWire has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) to provide its network of local vendors and online wedding-planning tools in the Weddings section of www.MarthaStewartWeddings.com. For additional information, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery

2010-01-06T17:40:00.000-08:00

"A lotta cats copy the Mona Lisa,
but people still line up to see the original."
- Louis Armstrong

Thoughts on Grace....

2009-10-30T14:49:00.001-07:00

As the Holiday Season begins, I'm always reminded of the countless Blessings that I have received in my life - many more undeserved than deserved. Remembering those Blessings is a great way to keep my priorities in order as the hustle and bustle begins. What is your definition of Grace? I like this one.

GRACE

When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day's pay for his time, that is a wage.

When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize.

When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award.

But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no reward - yet receives such a gift anyway - that is a good picture of God's unmerited favor. This is what a Christian means when we talk about the grace of God.

From Mannersmith Monthly... Holiday Manners for Minors

2009-10-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

Manners are important. They are like your calling card and reflect YOU in so many ways. Teaching your children proper manners is one of the greatest gifts you can give them - and it costs nothing but your time! One of my favorite monthly reads is the Mannersmith Monthly. It's filled with great tips for all types of situations dealing with everyone from infants to CEOs. Take a look. Life is too short to have bad manners.

As the holiday season approaches, Mannersmith's Marianne Cohen shares suggestions to prepare your children for the festivities. Here is her fabulous latest posting.

It is crazy how the calendar says October, and already the end-of-year holiday decorations are out. Children are getting excited about wearing their cool Halloween costumes while parents are fretting about planning the upcoming holiday meals and gatherings. One way to ensure the holidays are smooth sailing for all those involved is to provide your children with the proper tools for polite behavior. Here are some tips and techniques to transition your Halloween monsters into Holiday angels.

Review the Basics ~ Of course we recommend working with your children all year long, but now is a perfect time to review the five building blocks of proper manners: please, thank you, you're welcome, sorry, excuse me.

Do Your Homework ~ Ask each child to come up with one new thing about themselves to share with relatives and friends they have not seen in a long time. Those involved may be surprised to learn how much they have in common. For instance, if your daughter scored the winning goal in her soccer tournament, she may find that Great Aunt Sophie was also a star soccer player in her day.
Act Like a Journalist ~ It is never too early to teach youngsters how to handle an awkward pause in a conversation. Have the child pretend they are a journalist. They can ask a guest questions about their past or their interests, and may find something in common which can lead to an interesting conversation.

Practice, Practice, Practice ~ It takes approximately 28 repetitions to make a behavior a habit. If you would like your children to learn how to set the table, have them do it every day and soon it will become second nature. Every time they ask for something without saying "please," have them say the whole sentence again. Soon it will be routine.

Be a Model ~ As parents, we are the role models for our children. For example, if you want them to have good table manners, you need to have good table manners; if you want them to set the table correctly, you need to show them how to set the table. Practice a formal dinner at home and make it a game. Using role reversal, pretend to be their age and show them the bad manners they are exhibiting. Ask them what they saw and how it can be corrected.

Mail Call ~ Children should learn to write thank you notes as early as they can hold a crayon. There is never a bad time for a thank you note. Toddlers can draw a picture of the gift and once they can write their name, they can sign the cards. As they get older, you can make or purchase fill-in-the-blank cards and have them write the recipient's name and their name, and then keep expanding as they get older. By third grade, they should be able to write a simple thank you note. At Mannersmith, we like to say that an "emailed thank you means you cared enough to send the very least." Handwritten thank you cards are a cheap and effective way to make someone's day.

Oscar Award ~ Has your child ever opened a gift, and by the look on their face, thought it was the ugliest sweater they had every seen? Before the holiday season gets underway, review with your children that it is the thought that counts. The giver may not have thought enough about the recipient's interests and likes, but they did give the child a gift nonetheless. You can also teach your children the art of philanthropy. If they really do not want the sweater, you can donate the gift to someone who may need and enjoy it. The holiday season can be very stressful for all those involved but by practicing polite behaviors, it may make it a little less hectic. We wish you and your trick-or-treating monsters a very happy holiday season.

When insults had class

2009-10-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend ... if you have one." - George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill

"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second ... if there is one." - Winston Churchill, in response.

__________________________________________________________________

One of my dear friends, business associates, colleagues, mentors and wanna-be comedians (hee hee), Ron Castle posted this on his blog and I couldn't help but steal it from him. If you ever need to know anything from website production, SEO genius info, how in the heck Google works, how to be #1 on Google, and some great recipes for some good ol' Tennessee cooking, give Ron a call. He picks up his phone 99% of the time on the first ring. So dang impressive.

I love Winston Churchill. This photo was taken from Time magazine where he was named their man of the year both in 1940 and 1949.

As an English statesman, author and prime minister, it would be his masterful speeches that dominate his legacy. Serving as First Lord of the Admiralty from 1939 to 1940, he offered all of himself in his words 'blood, toil, tears, and sweat.'" He rallied his countrymen in their resolve against the Nazis by saying, "For a thousand years, men will still say: 'This was their finest hour.'

Another favorite saying of his that I especially enjoy today: "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last."

We need more Winston Churchill's today.

An Open Letter to Wedding Church Coordinators

2009-09-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

My church - St. Barnabas Episcopal, Bainbridge Island, WA on the day of my wedding. Do you LOVE the dendrobium orchids? (I do!)

Today's post is taken directly from the talented team at planningforever.com. If you haven't taken time to look at their website, you should pay them a visit. The picture at the top of their home page is worth the trip alone! Thanks, Shauna.

Dear Wedding Church Coordinators,

I’d like to introduce myself, I’m a professional event/wedding planner. Professional in the fact that this is my full-time job, assisting clients with their weddings. It feeds my family and keeps my lights on. This isn’t a whimsical hobby, so I take my responsibilities and the happiness of my clients very seriously. I have a dedicated office space, published telephone number, business website, business license and file business taxes. Just wanted to clarify the “professional” part of my statement before I carry on.

With that said, I would like to personally apologize for the dozens of ignorant girls that came before me that said they were “wedding coordinators”. Many of them just finished their own wedding (which was really, really awesome by the way) and they are now helping their BFF/MOH get married by coordinating her wedding. Their frame of reference has been to make themselves happy and being catered to by other vendors at their own wedding. For the many times these “coordinators” stepped on your pews, moved furniture around on the altar and dug in your closets, I will apologize for them. The next time one of these little darlings skip into your church, please feel free to give us a call; we’ll hold her down and you can dunk her head in the baptismal pool repeatedly.

You see these precious angels ruin it for professional planners. When we walk in the door, you are already rolling your eyes and exhaling loudly. I understand your frustration. But I’d like to have you stop for a moment and take a closer look. Does the wedding planner have a professional business card (not an ink-jet card with perforated edges)? Does the planner ask questions that make it painfully obvious she has done this before? Is the planner respectful to you and your place of worship? Does she inquire about setup times and when the wedding party must leave the church so mass or other ceremonial programs can start? These are telling signs that this person knows what she/he is doing.

Please remember we are not there to usurp your authority. This is your church, your sanctuary and place of Worship of God. Professional wedding planners know this and treat it accordingly. We know that most likely you met the bride, once at the time of her visiting the church and giving you a signed contract/retainer. And the second time again at her Rehearsal. However, we have been with her throughout the whole planning process. We have fielded the teary phone calls, countless emails and numerous meetings. It only makes sense that since we know her this well, that we should be the ones to line up the wedding party and take care of their needs. Also, it is our job — we are paid to do this.

I submit a crazy idea for your consideration. We’ll take care of the duties of lining up the wedding party, sewing last minute buttons, making sure food is there for them and you will coordinate your church. Meaning, you know where the lights are, keys to doors, reserved signs for pews, etc. We could work together in harmony and unity. So the end result is that our mutual client has a terrific, stress free wedding day.

Thank you for your time, and we’ll see you on Saturday.

In Christian Love,

saundra

Love someone today - even if it seems they don't deserve it.

2009-08-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." - (attributed to Mark Twain)

Love your kids today.

We're teaching a Wedding Planning Certification course. Join us!

2009-08-24T16:58:00.001-07:00

We're honored to be a part of the Everett Community College continuing education staff as we conduct the fall session of the exciting Wedding Planning Certification course! Beginning September 29, and running for 8 weeks, you'll get hands on training (from the fun and experienced team at Good Taste), comprehensive learning materials, field trips, guest speakers and more!

All tests and assignments are done on-line in an easy to follow - yet very thorough- format. It's a great introduction to the career of wedding planning, and by the end of the course, you will successfully understand all the aspects of running your own wedding planning company.

Call us today if you have any questions, or learn more at learn@everettcc.edu.

We believe that great mentors love to share what they know - and great apprentices love to learn from the best.

Join us for this great opportunity!

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!

2009-08-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

"Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness, has never danced in the rain."

We've had a busy few weeks at Good Taste Weddings & Events (that's a Good thing!). Hot off the press are the gorgeous sneak peek photos of our amazing couple - Jenn & Howard, with beautiful photos by Leanne Scherp of Vancouver, BC.

In the beautiful Pacific Northwest, one of our constant concerns in planning events is the dreaded rain. Leave it to this fun-loving, gorgeous couple to embrace the rain during their ceremony which was held at the gorgeous Sooke Harbour House in Victoria, BC.

Congrats, Jenn & Howard! You never stop making us smile...

Love ya!
The Good Taste Gang

In Memoriam: Sean Patrick O'Reilly, beloved Seattle wedding officiant & friend

2009-07-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to my friend Gayle O'Donnell for the majority of this posting today.

All of us in the Seattle wedding community are mourning the loss of Sean Patrick O'Reilly. Word of Sean's sudden death from a brain aneurysm started getting out Sunday in the close-knit wedding network here, and the reactions of all who hear it are shock and disbelief.

I first met Sean several years ago when a lovely couple of ours selected him as their officiant. He later went on to officiate many weddings and even a beautiful baby Christening that we had the pleasure of being part of. During those years, Sean and I spent lots of time discussing my daughter's sudden death at age 7 - also of a brain aneurysm. Sean wrote a special poem for Kelsey and always signed his emails to me with the note: 'Remember the angels, they are always nearby'. How true that statement feels today.

With his amazing personality, genuine loving spirit, tender and loving heart and brilliant character, is it any wonder he won the Vendors' Choice award several years running for Seattle Bride Magazine's "Best of" awards in the Best Officiant category.

Sometimes things happen that make all of us question "WHY?", and the loss of Sean Patrick O'Reilly is certainly one of those times. He had so many friends, all of whom felt like they were his only friend. He radiated warmth and love. Heaven has a new angel in residence, but we will certainly miss him here. Our love and prayers go out to his beloved partner, David Skover, who has shared Sean's companionship for so long, and will certainly feel a void larger than any of us can ever know.

Peace be with you Sean "The Celt" O'Reilly as you begin your too early but well deserved rest.

I pray that you will have the blessing of being consoled and sure about your own death.
May you know in your soul that there is no need to be afraid.
When your time comes, may you be given every blessing and shelter that you need.
May there be a beautiful welcome for you in the home that you are going to.
You are not going somewhere strange.
You are going back to the home that you never left.
May you have a wonderful urgency to live your life to the full.
May you live compassionately and creatively and transfigure everything that is negative within you and about you.
When you come to die may it be after a long life.
May you be peaceful and happy and in the presence of those who really care for you.
May your going be sheltered and your welcome assured.
May your soul smile in the embrace of your anam cara (soul friend).

Have tags, will travel....

2009-07-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

I love luggage tags. I use them on my laptop case, my gym bag, my emergency kit, and of course, my luggage! These would be such a darling gift for the newlyweds - especially if they were off to a fabulous honeymoon following their wedding.

From the Mindy Weiss collection, we found them at one of our favorite online stores - See Jane Work. For $25 for the set, these are a pretty and unique gift for the lucky couple.

The honeymoon continues....

2009-07-14T09:23:00.001-07:00

Isn't love grand?

These are some fabulous shots of Sean & Avanie Trovato, taken by the absolutely incredible - April Greer during her recent visit to NYC. We were so fortunate to coordinate their gorgeous wedding - almost one year ago!
Time flies, but love lives on...

Happy (almost) One Year Anniversary, Sean & Avanie!

Meet Alex - our latest team member!

2009-07-10T08:02:00.001-07:00

We are thrilled to introduce you to our latest team member - Alex!

Alex Chaffee, Event Goddess

Alex has never been one to miss a party, or at least plan one. Whether it is Grandpa Oscar’s 98th birthday bash or little Halle’s kindergarten graduation celebration, Alex is there to party plan and boogie down.

In college, Alex was the social chairman of her sorority, where she planned several events including her chapter’s Centennial Celebration for over 2,000 attendees. She did such an outstanding job that she was honored with the position of sorority chapter president. Following college, Alex worked as a hospitality and marketing intern for the Seattle Seahawks. Utilizing her passion for sports and event planning, she flourished when planning VIP events.

As the Event Goddess, Alex lives to plan absolutely fabulous and unique events. No need to stress when working with this chick—Alex’s work ethic, experience and kind heart make her an absolute gem to work with.

Alex describes the joy of event planning with the Taylor Hanson quote, “Happiness is like peeing your pants—Everyone can see it, but only you can feel the sensation.”

Contact us at 877-389-1382. Let us help make your next event absolutely legendary. For all the right reasons.

Beautiful couple...beautiful wedding at Hotel 1000 Seattle

2009-06-18T13:57:00.001-07:00

They say that if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. Having had the great pleasure to help plan Robin & Brian's recent wedding proves that saying to be true. They had a gorgeous, intimate wedding with family and friends at the beautiful Hotel 1000 in downtown Seattle.

Thanks, as always, to the amazing photographer - Jack Young - for sharing his work, and to our other fabulous vendors for their time and incredible talent. They always make us shine and we are forever grateful.

This was a beautiful day and one that we'll always treasure.

Happy Graduation, Taylor!

2009-06-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends in the world (Murphy) has two gorgeous daughters. The youngest one, Taylor Sawyer, is graduating this week from high school and is off to college with a soccer scholarship.

Time always kind of hits you when you see rites of passage like this - especially when you've known the honored guest for many years. As I look at what a gorgeous young woman she's become, I'm filled with laughter and fond memories over our times together these past 12 years. (Yes, Murphy. It's been twelve glorious years of friendship. ha ha).

So, Taylor, my love and wishes are with you as you turn the pages to begin the next chapter in the story of your life. May all of your dreams come true. Godspeed. xooxox - Jody

I leave you with this oldie but goodie from Mary Schmich. Enjoy!

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

A beautiful, intimate wedding....

2009-05-28T21:05:00.000-07:00

Photos by Jack Young Photography

Once in a great while, there are no words that can accurately describe the amazing weddings and events we are honored to be a part of. The gorgeous wedding that we were blessed to be a part of last weekend was one of those 'amazing' ones.

The bride was beyond gorgeous - a Southern Belle with class and grace that came so naturally it was breathtaking. The groom - a handsome, self-described 'type A' executive with a heart of gold and the same amazing taste as his lovely bride. Talk about a match made in heaven.

It was our joy to work with them and their family to make their long-dreamed of fairy-tale wedding come true. We are chalking them up to 'our favorites' and look forward to hearing more about their honeymoon and life beyond.

Lucky us. Congrats, Robin & Brian. Thanks for letting us be a part of this amazing day.

Love always,

The Good Taste Gals

Up and coming wedding planners!

2009-05-12T14:15:00.001-07:00

Lots of DIY fun happened at our Edmonds studio this past Tuesday evening. Maude May and I ("the Good Taste Gals") are teaching a wedding planning class through The Wedding Planning Institute at the Everett Community College. Tuesday night Maude took the students on a fun and educational 'field trip' and had an invite and favor extravaganza at our Good Taste DIY studio. The students are now walking 'invite encyclopedias' - they learned everything from informal to formal wording and what should and should not (where the couple is registered for wedding gifts!!!!) go into a wedding invitation package.

The girls created lovely favors (full of chocolates, of course), in our DIYTM studio. Here they are with their pretty creations.

Happy Mothers Day!

2009-05-09T23:25:00.000-07:00

My beautiful daughter, Kelsey.
(1988 - 1996)

My beautiful step-daughter, Heather.

I am truly Blessed.

Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, comrades and friends - but only one mother in the whole world.
~Kate Douglas Wiggin

Give me Moore!!!! Amazing jewelry & accessories by Heather Moore

2009-05-01T09:04:00.001-07:00

Last night I stopped in one of my favorite local boutiques in our local town of Edmonds called C'est la vie. They always have unique, high quality, and fun items in stock. Even if I'm not in a buying mood, their store is so bright and happy that you feel good just browsing!

When I was there, the lovely owners showed me one of their latest lines that they're carrying and I fell in love. Heather Moore is the artist and her jewelry is out of this world. Completely personalized with gold or silver tokens with quotes, dates, name and real gems make each piece a work of art.

Take a look at her work when you need the perfect gift for that very special someone. She also has 'add on' bracelets and necklaces so you can start with a basic charm and add to it over birthdays and anniversary dates.

How fun to provide a groom with cuff links with his wedding date, your Mom with names of all her children, or girlfriends with some inspirational quotes?

Mammograms save lives

2009-04-26T14:59:00.001-07:00

I am one of the millions of women who have survived breast cancer - the leading cause of cancer death among women ages 35 to 50. Tomorrow I will go in for my twice-annual mammogram and pray that I am still cancer free.

Today I am sending a reminder to all of the women out there who need to schedule their mammograms. Taking care of yourself to live a long and healthy life is truly one of the greatest gifts you can give to your family and friends.

My cancer was only detected through a mammogram. I had no other symptoms. That mammogram led to a mastectomy which ultimately, I believe, saved my life.

So today's message is please schedule your mammograms. Someone who loves you will be glad that you did!

Breast Cancer Statistics

1 out of every 8 American women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women ages 35 to 50
250,000 US women living with the disease are under the age of 40
8 out of 9 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease
70% of women who develop breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors

Happy Birthday, Kelsey & Noah!

2009-04-15T21:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my precious daughter, Kelsey Miles!
April 16, 1988 - February 14, 1996
She would be turning 21 years old this year...

AND

Happy Birthday to my ultra-awesome, amazingly cool nephew, Noah!
April 16, 1998
(He was born ten years to the day after Kelsey!)
Noah is turning 11 years old today!!

I'm very Blessed.