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Recipe Book :: 100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know

by admin on April 19, 2011

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100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know was brought together by the editors of Glamour.  As a fan of the magazine, I was super excited to receive a free gallery copy of this cookbook.  Someone in my family may think that it’s just another cookbook to add to my collection, but it’s way more than that, my friends.  Yes, I do love all my cookbooks but don’t get a chance to put the recipes to use as often as I should–or would like to–but this one truly rocks.  Why?  Well, here are 4 reasons:

  1. It gives you an idea of how difficult the recipe is off the bat, and guess how!? With a “stiletto key.”  That’s right, STILETTOS!  Love this idea!
  2. It’s got pre-made menus so you’re never scrambling when you all of a sudden have to throw a “You Landed Your Dream Job Champagne Brunch.”  How awesome is that, right?
  3. It’s got “Glamour Girl Tips.”  Trust me, regardless of whether you’re a novice in the kitchen or a pro, we all need some glamour girl tips… you know because sometimes we forget when we’ve got a million things going on.
  4. There are so many recipes, including some vegetarian dishes.  Oh yes.  I personally love meat, but the “Engagement Paella” sounds divine.

Well, I love it and I’m sure you will to… There are no excuses not to pick up this book, because it does, in fact, include 100 recipes every woman should know.

P.S. It’s got some amazing cocktail recipes (like the Breakfast in Bed Mimosa aka Mix It Up #119}

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Books, books, & more books

by admin on February 23, 2011

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So… once in a while I get emails from publishers who think I may be interested in checking out a few upcoming wedding-related books.  I think it’s kind of awesome because I love weddings & I enjoy reading {even though I really don’t read nearly as much as I should}.  Anyway, here are some books I have been fortunate enough to preview & check out, along with my two cents on what I think about them.

*Please note that I am by no means a book critic whatsoever.  In fact, I’m very far from it.  So, you may think my comments are not critical enough or somewhat ambiguous, and I admit that they can be.  I’m here to tell you what is out there. =)

The Everything Wedding Book : 4th Edition by Katie Martin (F+W Media, Inc.)

So here’s what I think: as a professional event coordinator, I don’t think it’s ever bad to have too many wedding- (or event-) planning books in your library.  Regardless of whether you know it all (because really you don’t know everything), it’s always nice to not only brush up on some of the basics, or get the perspective from another planner who may do things differently.  This book is perfect for both planners & non-planners for guidance.  What I love best are the worksheets.  (I love checklists!)  They are very helpful & do give brides-to-be some insight on all the details that go into planning a wedding, which they typically won’t know to ask or even think about unless someone else brings it up to them.

You can get this book on Amazon.

Marrying Daisy Bellamy : The Lakeshore Chronicles by Susan Wiggs (Mira Books)

I don’t really read fiction (although I did get sucked in to reading the Twilight series).  As I skimmed Susan Wiggs’s book Marrying Daisy Bellamy, I was asking myself if I could actually see myself reading this book.  Yes, it’s about romance & marriage, but I believe there’s some sort of love triangle involved.  I decided to open up the book somewhere–anywhere–and start reading.  Guess what happened?  I started cursing at the fact that I started in the middle, not knowing who Daisy really was or Logan.  I couldn’t put it down, but decided to stop to I could write this post & do things right–read it from the beginning.

You can get this book on Amazon.

How I Planned Your Wedding : The All-True Story of a Mother and Daughter Surviving the Happiest Day of Their Lives by Susan Wiggs (Mira Books)

So this book is really cute.  It’s in the words of the Mother-of-the-Bride & Bride.  It’s nice to see how the roles of each affect one’s perspective of the big day.  What I like best about this book are the cheat sheets at the end of each chapter (again, I love checklists!)  On page 113, it says:

Were you too busy recruiting a crack team of professionals to read the last chapter?  Here’s your cheat sheet:

1.  The right wedding planner can change your life.  And bear in mind: more often than not, she’ll end up paying for herself with the money you save.

2. Your photographer & videographer are going to be around you all the livelong day.  Make sure you get good vibes from them in person as well as on film.

3.  Know what you want and have inspiration photos for you hair-stylist–and start looking early enough in case your search for the perfect beauty team turns into an epic saga, as mine did.

You can get this book on Amazon.

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Jomygoodness features Southern Weddings Magazine

by admin on January 28, 2011

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One of my favorite wedding resources is Southern Weddings Magazine.  It’s practically a look-book that makes me say “oooh”  & “awwww” with each turn of the page.  I sent over my questions–both wedding-related & random–to their team, and quickly (very quickly) received responses to find out a little bit more about the magazine from their Art Director, Emily Ayer.  This “Bachelor”-obsessed board game-lover shares where she gets her inspiration & what she loves most about her job… I like her!  Although she prefers something more traditional than modern, I know she’s got a rebellious side.  How do I know?  When I asked her to pick between black & white, she said “How about black & white together?”  And when I asked her between coffee & tea, she chose “Lemonade.”  She sounds like me!  Get to know Emily a little better.

JoMG: How would you describe the magazine?  What kind of bride should pick up your magazine?
SW: Southern Weddings Magazine is the South’s premier publication for the modern bride. The Southern Weddings blog, updated daily, highlights the best in real Southern weddings and event details from around the country and shares behind-the-scene details from the making of a magazine with a fresh, fun, and fabulous staff of women.  Our readership tends to skew a bit younger than most wedding magazines, and we like to think of our readers as “young sophisticates” — belles (wherever they might live!) who are planning a classic, elegant, and fun wedding.

JoMG:  When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
SW: At different ages I wanted to be a ballet dancer and a high school English teacher, but starting in middle school I knew I wanted to work at a magazine.  I’ve loved weddings fanatically since I was a little girl, so my present job is pretty much perfect!

JoMG: What is your background?  How did you get started in the magazine industry/wedding industry?
SW: Working at Southern Weddings was my first job after graduating from college.  You can read the whole story right here!

JoMG: What inspires you?  Where do you get your inspiration for the magazine?
SW: I’m inspired by our readers, and from classic, understated style in all arenas including fashion, food, and interiors.  After pushing one issue out it seems like you’ll never be inspired to start again, but something amazing always comes along that lights a fire under us.  For V3, it was the cover shoot from Joey + Jessica Weddings.  We’re just starting to find our mojo for V4!

JoMG: Where do you get your daily motivation?
SW: My Google Reader, stocked with way too many amazing blogs, as well as Pinterest — such a great way to collect visual inspiration!  Here’s a link to my boards.

JoMG: What do you love most about your job?
SW: I love the independence. I am (mostly) free to decide what a given day’s priorities are, how to handle situations I find myself in, and what I want to work on when.

JoMG: What is your pet peeve when it comes to work?
SW: Since I handle submissions, I’d have to say it’s when photographers, vendors, and/or brides don’t understand our exclusivity policy.  It can cause so much unnecessary confusion and heartache for all involved!  To read up on our submission FAQs, click here.

JoMG: What wedding “trend”–past or current–is your least favorite?
SW: I’m sure some would disagree with me, but I have to say the picnic engagement session.  Cute, but not terribly authentic for most couples, and definitely not unique at this point!

JoMG: What wedding “trend” or “tradition” is your favorite?
SW: Bows are my favorite “trend” right now.  Katharine wore a bow-bedecked Amsale gown (the beautiful Blakely) for her wedding this past September, and it was GORGEOUS.  My favorite “tradition?”  Classic white cakes.  Love them!

JoMG: What is a wedding day must-have?  What is a wedding day “nice-to-have, but not so necessary”?
SW: Unsurprisingly (since I’m the SW Art Director!), a wedding day must-have for me is superlative photography.  You only have one chance to capture beautiful images of your family, your friends, and your love in one place.  Hiring a professional photographer who will record your day seamlessly is (in my opinion) priceless.  Nice to have, but not so necessary?  A brand-new couture gown (you can find amazing deals on pre-loved sites these days!).

JoMG: What advice would you give brides & grooms when planning their big day?
SW: I love details.  Obviously!  But if planning and then attending my sister’s wedding taught me anything, it’s that details are lovely, and they can absolutely help create a desired environment on the big day, but they’ll never replace or outshine a happy bride and groom.  Makeup artist a half hour late?  Priest stumbles over your names at the ceremony?  Caterer serves the wrong appetizers?  Band plays the song you put at the top of the do-NOT-play list?  DON’T LET IT BOTHER YOU.  Just don’t.  Prepare yourself in advance for the realization that something WILL go wrong on your wedding day, and make the decision to not let it bother you.  There will be plenty of time to speak with the caterer/makeup artist/DJ after the honeymoon, if you so choose, but you only have one wedding day.  So choose to be happy!

JoMG: Describe your dream wedding.
SW: Classic elegance.  Ceremony in a tiny church with a center aisle, evening black tie reception at a private home in Connecticut with a lawn that rolls down to the sea.  A swing band.  A delicious white cake.  Happy guests.  Cousins and sisters in my bridal party.  A handsome groom :)

JoMG: Name 3 things you cannot live without in life.
SW: God, my family, and my friends.  Since none of those are actually “things,” however, I’d have to say Kraft macaroni and cheese, Google Reader, and my family’s summer cottage in Maine.

JoMG: Name 3 things your business cannot live without.
SW: That’s easy: Mac books, iPhones, and solid vendor relationships — we couldn’t do much of anything without our fantastic vendor partners.

Favorites:
- drink The North Carolina invention Cheerwine is high on my list (hint: it’s not actually wine!)
- TV show 24
- song “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin
- movie Too hard to pick a favorite, but I do have a weak spot for government conspiracy/action thrillers (i.e. Air Force One, Enemy of the State)
- guilty pleasure Oh, this is embarrassing, but it’s definitely “The Bachelor” on ABC.
- game Scattergories or Settlers of Catan.  I am a HUGE board game nerd.
- book The Bible
- flower White tulips
- color palette Navy and white
- blog(s) {aside from Jomygoodness, of course!} Too many to list!  Inchmark and Oh Happy Day are my favorite non-wedding blogs.

Pick
- PC / Mac For years I was a PC, but I’d have to say I am most definitely a Mac now.
- iPhone / Blackberry iPhone
- black / white How about black and white together?
- modern / traditional Traditional
- coffee / tea Lemonade :)
- chocolate / vanilla Chocolate

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Review: The Newlywed Kitchen

by jomylene on May 13, 2010

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Looking for something you & the new hubby should do together?  Well, the geniuses behind The Newlywed Kitchen includes 83 recipes for a variety yummy meals for you to prepare together.  If cooking doesn’t bring you together, I don’t know what will.  This book is perfect for beginners who are looking to develop their cooking skills.

The recipes & instructions are made ideally for two people to do together… so if you like cookbooks or you’re looking to try some new recipes with a friend or your hubby, this is perfect!

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Miss Manners’ Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding

by jomylene on March 17, 2010

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W.W. Norton & Company sent me a copy of Miss Manners’ Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding by Judith & Jacobina Martin.  Some call it controversial.  Some may consider it ludicrous.  I thought it was rather interesting how I personally agreed with some of the rules, yet adamantly disagreed with others.  The “personality” behind the responses to some of the questions are hilarious.  For example: “Dear Miss Manners: What is the proper way to request cash in lieu of gifts?”  Sounds like a reasonable question that many brides these days ask.  Here is the response: “Gentle Reader: Sit on the floor with a hat turned upside down on the floor beside you.”  What?
I could see how some people would consider the response kind of insulting since, as I said, it’s a genuine concern from couples these days.  I hear questions like that all the time.  The book also goes over how to deal with inviting ex-lovers, self-inviting guests, pregnant bridesmaids, disapproving mothers, and even pre-nuptual agreements among other things.
I found it enlightening & entertaining at the same time.  Some of the advice given opened my eyes to the ‘logic’ behind the ‘tradition’, while others seemed outdated.  You decide.  You can get it at Amazon.
*No payment was received for this post, aside from a free copy of the book.

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