ADVICE FOR A HAPPY MARRIAGE

Andrea and Brian are getting married on the "green grass beside the barn" on Scully Ranch in Napa Valley California this June. But when their guest RSVP to attend they will have a little homework to do first. Enclosed in the invitation is a card that says "Advice for a Happy Marriage." This couple is asking family and friends in weigh in with there secrets to success in relationship and marriage.

I was touched by their idea of seeking comments from the intimate community that will witness their wedding. It made me think of times gone by when the community helped to nurture newly weds. It was Andrea's idea to do the advice card and fortunately she found an online stationer who was willing to work with what she wanted. So be courageous, outrageous, whimical or traditional with your invitations.

Andrea and Brian worked with MackenzieKate, an online stationer located in Rhode Island. The company is run by a real person named Mackenzie Sala, who is willing to customaize invitations for the bride-and-groom-to-be whenever possible.
Andrea dn Brian chose the invitation package called "Paris".

For more information check out their website: http://www.kenziekate.com/
Or you can email: info@kenziekate.com

Mackenzie Sala says she's always just a phone call away: 718.928.3946.

Do you have any advice for a happy marriage! Send me your advice and comments!

TEA ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON

There is nothing like tea on a Sunday afternoon. You dress up in your Sunday best -- a nice dress, your feathered hat and white gloves. It really doesn't matter that you're under ten years of age and celebrating your buddy's eighth birthday.

When time came to celebrate Alexandra's birthday her grandmother Martha was determined that the order of the day was not going to be the usual fare of rowdy fun, candy and chaos. She decided she wanted to start a birthday tradition that focused on culture, fashion, and the fun of being female. So Alexandra's birthday was celebrated by an classic tea party at the popular New York stop for teapots "Alice's Tea Cup" on the Upper Westside of the city.

Grandmother Martha purchased pink feathered hats from http://www.design2bsweet.com/, and added white gloves and costume jewelry for the birthday guests from a local New York's party supply store. And after the girls dressed up they settled down for a few hours of lady like fun. They sipped tea, nibbled scones, sucumbbed to cupcakes and exercised their pinkies more than usual. The girls loved it!

The girls got goody bags on their home which included, of course, a few Easter candies. But the big hit was the Easter colored cup and saucer sets each guest received. Grandmother Martha had ordered the sets from http://www.gourmetofoldecity.com.

The tiny, delicate cups came in hues to purples, pinks, greens, yellows and blues. And I each one I had written the name of the guest on one side. And the date of the party on the other. Even the birthday girl ran home to have tea in her own cute tea cup.

Alice's Teacup is also fun for grown up girls. It's a great place to lunch or brunch and sometimes just to be, for a while, free and female. For more information check out: http://www.aliceteacup.com/