Wedding Etiquette

When you receive that very special invitation in the mail, you take it for granted that you will be a gracious guest and that you'd be far from being one that is talked about after the wedding. You know ... those that we say to our friends, "remember that woman that wore white to the wedding?! What was she thinking?" or "Honey, should we or should we not ask her if her gift got lost in the mail or she just doesn't want to give us a gift?!".

First and foremost, as a guest, you should never be late. Fashionably late in this situation makes you very un-fabulous. No such thing. For weddings, arrive 15 minutes earlier than the invite states. Note that what is written on the invite is the ceremony start time, meaning you should already been seated and settled. Then there is the topic of bringing guests which I am shocked to know how a lot of people do not know about this ... do not bring a guest to the wedding unless your invite states "& guest" or "Mr. & Mrs.". Don't take it personally if the couple doesn't invite your significant other or your friend ... weddings cost a lot and most of the time, couples are forced to cut down their guestlist.

Gift giving ... many people ask me about gift giving and from personal experience, I've had my share of stories.

- If you've attended the couple's engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party ... etc, you still have to give a gift. Just because you feel you've showered them with enough gifts doesn't mean it's grounds for you to skip or skim on the wedding gifts. These are all separate occasions and they all require separate gifts. If you can't afford so much spending, regrettfully decline an invite to the bridal showwer or the engagement party. Instead, send a well-wishing card.

- If you are part of the bridal party, know that you have your own financial obligations which includes your dress, throwing a bridal shower and a bachelorette party and other wedding related expenses. Similar to the above, you just can't use "I've spent enough money for this wedding" as an excuse to skip or skim on the gift. If you know that you cannot afford such role, speak with the couple ahead of time and find out your options. But do not ask the couple to pay for your things ... a wedding isn't cheap to begin with.

- If the newly weds have asked for donations to charities in lieu of gifts, do not skim on your donation. If you would have spent $200 on the wedding gift to begin with, donate $200.

- Sentiments don't play a role in cases of weddings. You don't have to spend your sleepless nights thinking of creative items to get for the couple. Most couples have registries - purchase something off the registries. You know those are things they want and need. When in doubt, give cash. Cash/check is always appreciated.

Now, before you come screaming what to wear ... weddings are actually pretty easy. One golden rule. DO NOT WEAR WHITE. As a matter of fact, to be safe - don't wear cream or ivory. Don't ask, don't think ... just don't do it. If your invite doesn't state attire, keep in mind that day time weddings and Sunday weddings call for something more casual (by no means you should wear jeans and tees). Jackets & tie and flowy dresses are great for casual weddings. Evening weddings will call for suits and a bit more fancier dresses, such as cocktail dresses. And here is a refresher course on attire etiquette:

Black Tie / Formal = tux for men and gowns for ladies
Black Tie Optional = tux or suits for men and ladies ... it's free for all ... go as formal as you like
or as casual as cocktail dresses
Semi-Formal / Cocktail = suits for men and cocktail or knee-length dresses for the ladies

Keep in mind, never upstage the couple with what you wear. It's their day, not yours.

Puppy Love

Some of my dog-less friends think I'm obsessed. They'll never understand the love and the bond that can grow between a person and a dog. Dogs are called man's best friends for a reason. It's been close to four months since Charlie took his first plane ride from the breeder. In the last five months, the amount of research I've done on everything dog related amounts to a degree. I've had pet boutique owners and vets comment on my knowledge anywhere from dog food ingredients to training. (Charlie knows how to sit, stay, lay down, back off, high five, stand, wave and now in the process of teaching him to wave. But I won't take full credit, part of it is the breeder. Good breeders breed good dogs. I've been blessed with what my friend called, the "Einstein of all dogs".) With my research, here are some of the best dog products on the market, click on the name for more information on the products:

1. QuadBrush Pet Toothbrush: Brushing your dog's teeth is not the easiest task but it is so important. Here is something that will make your life easier. With bristles on all sides, you are brushing multiple areas at the same time.

2. Wellness Dog Food & Treats: Feeding your dog a healthy diet and premium diet will elongate your dog's life. Though premium quality food may cost a bit more, but you save hundreds and thousands on vet bills. Here is a company that puts thoughts in dogs' well being and nutrition through various approaches: holistic, grain-free ... etc. Remember, even though it seems fun to feed the dog table scarps, never do so as it throws their nutritional levels off, especially for dogs with a sensitive stomach.

3. Kwigy-Bo Carriers: Finding a stylish dog bag is not easy. Finding a stylish and functional dog bag is even harder. Kwigy-Bo has started making stylish and functional dog bags and they are flying out of stores across the country. In stylish designs, Kwigy-Bo bags are ultra comfortable for your little dogs and are all equipped with endless pockets for your personal items like wallets and cell phones! They are also airline friendly.

4. Dog Car Seat: Safety first! Our pets are as precious as a child, so if a child rides in a car seat, so should a dog. I've seen numerous dog owners drive with their dogs in their lap or on the passenger seat unsecured and it scares me to death. Do you know that in an accident, the impact from an airbag will instantly break a dog's neck? Airbags are made to save humans but not pets. Car seats comes in all colors, sizes and price points. Please be safe and invest in a car seat even if it's a short car ride.

Spring Trends 2009

BOHO CHIC
Embrace yourselves for bold jewelry, metal-adorned belts and shoes and flowy, diaphanous
skirts, the new crop of fashion offers a different approach to rich detail that may make you
feel more pulled together than looking like a gypsy, thought Gypsy Rose does play a role in
this. This Spring find tops that have loser bodice and bell sleeves. And don't forget the mini
floral prints.

COLOR BLOCKS
If Boho isn't your style, try color blocks like 1970's. Pair bold colors like neon green and red ...
use colors that normally wouldn't match. I did a TV segment the other day and put an
ensemble together like this: neon green fitted warp top with dark blue jeans and a patent
leather toy blue hobo bag (big hobo bags are in season as well!).

CHUCKIER SHOES
Think platforms (but don't go over board), thicker strap sandals and wider heels.

A Sophisticated Fairy Tale by Rebecca Taylor

Last week was fashion week and I am exhausted. New York Fashion Week has always been a lot of fun picking out dresses at the showrooms before the show, prettying-up for the shows and seeing friends in the tents. But it's always right when fashion week ends, that the exhaustion of show hopping hits.

As always, a long time favorite designer of mine has set the bar very high for this coming fall. This Fall 09 collection was inspired by imagery from Northern European fairy tales or more realistically - a young, girlish but sophisticated European traveler. The palette is deep hues of violet and pomegranate softened with natural girlish shades of beige and pink. Ultra feminine ruffled tops and playful dresses are softly embellished. Her ensembles are a mixed of the softest wool and cashmere with chiffon, velvet and taffeta. The jewel tones and flirty floral prints added a jolt of vibrancy to the collection that is sure to enliven any bleak Fall wardrobe. My favorite were her very sexy and hip fur jackets and her very Valentino mixed with Yves Saint Laurent ruffled blouses and dresses. I can't help but find myself say, "I can't wait till the Fall" (and I hate the Fall).

Seated next to me were Tori Spelling, Alexie Gilmore, Mena Survari and my friends Ramona Singer and Anisha Lakhani.

After the show, I decided to skip the Ports show and headed to lunch and a massage with my sister till the after-party of Rebecca's which was hosted my Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

Alexie Gilmore, Danielle Panabaker & me

Tips for Greener Events

I am arranging a bridal shower for a good girlfriend. I got the pretty letter pressed invites that matches her wedding colors of pale pink and mint. For the first time, I've decided to make my events a bit more eco friendly and here is a great way to start ~ on the bottom of the invite, I had printed" for a greener event, please bring your gift unwrapped!". Wrapped gifts completes the idea of your brilliant gift, but the papers get tossed anyway. What ideas do you have to make your events more earth friendly?

Ushering New Traditions

Happy New Year, Chinese new year to be exact. I grew up with strict household traditions of what never to do during the first few days of Chinese New Year. You see, even in a non-Asian, Christian/Catholic household, traditions from our Chinese ancestors still stand strong. Comes Chinese New Year, the household staff would thoroughly clean our place like never before. My mother would wear a white glove and go through every corner of the home herself and if she finds one spec of dust, the cleaning starts from the beginning again. The Chinese believe cleaning before New Year is like Spring cleaning ... out with the bad in preparation of the better luck in the coming year. There were lots of rules. Only wear happy colors, mainly red (Chinese believed red to symbolize luck and black means mourning); Never to say the words "die", "sick" or anything negative for that matter (that rule was adhered to strictly as my sisters and I would be punished if anything bad slipped out of our mouths); The kitchen maids would spend days (I really mean days) with my mother cooking different different dishes with names that resembles luck, health, wealth and happiness ... the rules can go on and on forever.

Though now years have past and the same traditions are still kept at my MOTHER'S house, I now have the freedom to keep my household anyway I wish. And back when I was a child, New Year, though festive, sometimes seemed like a pain in the neck, now as an adult - the traditions are quite fun and sometimes they are what keeps me going. It's like "thinking happy thoughts". So here are some ideas to keep yourself positive and happy on New Years Day, the day after, two days after and maybe ... everyday of your life ...:

- Speak in positive terms. It's the same thing as my parents not letting me say the word "die" during New Year. It is like cursing at yourself.

- Wear happy colors. Red has never been my color and for every New Year, the new red shirt/sweater/dress I'd buy, they'd always end up in my "charitable donation" bag. But that's not to say your wardrobe should only be chicly black. Always add an item on your body with colors that pop whether it's a belt, a scarf or shoes! (This is why no one should laugh at my lime green Tods driving mocs.)

- Buy something new to wear on New Year's Day. New year, new clothes, new luck, new happiness, new successes ... you get the idea.

- It seems like most times the holiday festivities end after New Year's Eve when people go home drunk and they start the next year out cold, hungover and ordinary. In Chinese traditions, they burn firecrackers, they have dragon dances, they play the drums ... they make a lot of noises. Thousands of years ago, the noises are meant to ward off evil. Now, the Chinese do it for festivities, as a form of celebration. So why do our festivities have to end with the New Year's Eve party? Celebrate with friends on the first weekend of the year with yet another get together, go to a restaurant with live music, go dance the night away! Make noise! Laugh! Be happy!

None of these ideas are religion based. It's what you believe in. When I was younger, I believed that if I shower before midnight on New Year's Eve, I'd wash away everything bad from the passing year and I'd usher in the New Year with new hopes. That was nothing but a silly non-sense ... but guess what, I believed in it and I had good years. Find something you believe in, even if it's silly. Make it your tradition and you'd have a new year with lots of happy things to look forward to.

Holidays Do's & Don'ts

It's that time of the year already ... festive music, sparkly lights, shopping rush and lots of family dinners and parties with friends. While having fun, don't forget some basic holiday etiquette!

Gift Giving:
- Regifting is okay only when you won't offend the person who gave you the gift. When in doubt, don't do it. The best way to deal with unwanted gifts is to donate them to charities. Just remember, maybe you absolutely hate that sweater that Auntie Sally got you, but there is someone out there who will really need that sweater. The same goes for books, toys, decorative goods ... etc.

- In tough economic times, spending less on your close friends & families is understandable. After all, it's the thought that counts. Also, you can always offer services such as pet or baby sitting.

- Another great present to give someone, especially those that have everything is donating to charity of choice in their name. A lot of charities will in return, give you a card to give to the person whose name you donated money in to notify them of your gesture. But please know that donating to charities is not an outlet to skim. If you had planned on giving a $50, donate the entire $50.

Hosting Parties & Companies:
- Be a gracious host. If you are expecting guests to stay over in your home, be sure to have extra blankets and pillows. Try to give your guests what you'd expect at a hotel. Put together an amenity basket of small goodies. Make your guests feel welcomed.

- As a guest, always bring the hostess a holiday gift. Chances are, they've gone out of their way to do some extra cleaning and organizing in anticipation of your stay. Show that you appreciate them doing all that and opening their home to you. If you don't have time for gifts, taking the hostess out for a nice post holiday meal is a good gesture as well.

- Don't be high maintenance. If you have special food needs, eat before you attend a party or give the hostess notice well in advance.

- Mingle at parties. Don't make the hostess feel bad that she's left you alone to sit when she's busy manning the party and greeting her other guests at the same time. Plus you never know who you'll meet.

- Drink a full glass of water before heading to a party so that will keep you full in case of any food delays. That will also keep you from binging.

- Don't restrain yourself from eating certain items. It's the holidays after all. Indulge in a bit of cake, pastries and those delicious sweet potato fries ... just remember portion control is key.