I did it - I jumped in the deep end of the pool and just pray I don't drown. What did I do, I applied, was accepted and now am a full-fledged published writer. YEA!!!
Check out the latest news written by yours truly. OK, click on the word "NY BRIDAL EXAMINER", or on the link at the right hand side of my blog...

I don't claim to understand all about marriage even though I have a good model to follow - my parents, but I do know how to throw a party. One of my former part-time jobs was as a bridal consultant for a large department store here in NY so this is a part of where I'm taking my expertise and where I feel I can offer advice to these brides, grooms and anyone who wants to throw a wonderful party.

So check it out - send me your comments, feel free to ask questions and I'll be happy to get back to you. This is just another way to look through "Lisa's Lens".

Yes I'm slowly checking off my list of things to do and I'm really pretty proud of my self. Ok, so I've got a lot to write and have to get started. See ya soon.

Uncle Teddy Kennedy and Michelle Obama in 'da HOUSE!!!

I must confess that I have not watched every CNN news bulletin or debate over the last 19 months. For me it seemed that they boys (Obama and Edwards) were not focused on getting their message out as much as they were interested in attacking Hillary. Not all play nice in the governmental sand box, but sometimes they were down right catty. If I had the strength today to discuss infidelity in marriages I would, but that’s for another blog…promise!

In the two months since Clinton conceded the nomination, she and Obama have danced a political minuet. The New York senator has sided with her primary campaign rival, as Obama has at once battled forward in an increasingly negative campaign against Republican John McCain and looked over his shoulder to hordes of Clinton backers who refuse to join with him.
Her speech and much anticipated appearance tonight will surely be picked apart – every word, gesture and look. Then again, that’s what the news did last night with Sen. Edward Kennedy and Michelle Obama.

Speaking of…Thanks CNN for the use of your pictures :-)

Senator Ted Kennedy – looked WONDERFUL and delivered a speech that evoked the legacy of his late brother and abundant optimism about the future. For a brief moment you forgot that he is battling brain cancer. I can understand his wife cautiously assisting him as he walked on stage, but you know ‘Uncle Teddy’. He is a spit-fire who wanted no help. He was going to do this his way or no way and he rocked it!! He brought over 20,000 people in the arena to its feet for a sustained ovation. I actually loved his speech and my favorite Uncle Teddy line was “Yes, we are all Americans. This is what we do. We reach the moon. We scale the heights. I know it. I've seen it. I've lived it. And we can do it again.” I have to believe that this is true. Have you ever wondered what this world, this country be like had MLK, and the Kennedy brothers lived?

Hmmmm…..

After much anticipation, a video narrated by her mother, and a wonderful introduction by her brother it was that time – show time – Michelle Obama time.

Michelle Obama is in two words - CLASS ACT. Last night Michelle said that Barack would be an extraordinary president and is still the same man she fell in love with 19 yrs ago. She told the story of him inching along at a snails pace as he drove their new daughter home from the hospital feeling the whole weight of her future in his hands, determined to give her everything he'd struggled so hard for himself. I think that last night, it was Michelle who was in the drivers seat. She knew that everything she said, every look, every pause, her dress, hair, and even the outfits the girls wore would be under a microscope. I’m sure she felt that her introduction into their life, family and beliefs was weighted on her just as much as it was for Barack all those years ago. She did a great job, not only reaching out to all those in the convention center and those watching at home. Michelle was masterfully able to connect Barack's story with core American values of hard work and upward mobility. My favorite Michelle line was when she told the crowd, her children's children and future generations will tell the story of "how this time we listened to our hopes, instead of our fears. How this time, we decided to stop doubting and to start dreaming."

I must say in my humble opinion she eloquently and powerfully made her case. She is a mom, wife, partner, sister daughter, and quite possibly the next First Lady of the United States of America.

Of course tonight is Hill’s night. Make no mistakes about it. I can’t wait to hear what she says, but I’m sure she will ask for a united party. No matter what ‘United We Stand, Divided…’ you know the rest.

Come Fly with me, Come fly...let's fly away....

Well I would normally look through the paper and find something to write about, but this week...nope!! I'm tired of the normal "Who shot who"; "What??!? Are we really in a recession?"; and my favorite this week "Politics" ARGH!!!

I was going to write about the California Supreme Court overturning the lower court ruling on Gay Marriage, but I'm going to hold off for a bit. Not because I don't think it's great - I really do - but I just want to see if the US Supreme court will throw their 2 cents into the mix. I realize that the courts don't like interfering with the state courts decisions, but this has been such a hot bed issue for such a long time. Frankly, I have a dear friend who is totally beyond in love with his partner, and I can't wait until they can be married. Will they hop to Cali - I don't know. I think that they would hope that the NYS Supreme Court would follow suit. That they could be married with their friends/family around them in the state where they live. I do know that if they do decide to do it...I'll be there with them, to support and celebrate their love. I love a good party :-)

Next week, I'm heading on an adventure. It's been a long time since I've really had any fun, and am desperate to have some. Normally I travel with my BFF, but she's just recovering from 4 months of sailing (I know...tough life :-)) and taking it easy. Where am I going...a surprise...BUT... I will have great pictures, and amazing stories to share when I return.

So that's it for this week. Sorry nothing exciting to blog about.

Celebrity Wedding of B&J…no not Ben and Jerry, Beyonce and Jay-Z

Oh, I’m going to admit something pretty embarrassing. Last week I was GLUED to TMZ’s live feed of the comings/goings of the “wedding of R&B and Hip-Hop Royalty – Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z”. I’m embarrassed to admit that I was a little sad that it wasn’t me getting married…let me for the record state, I’ve only met Beyoncé once when I worked at Sony Music (she was lovely), and Jay-Z and I know each other in passing because I have been to his Club 40/40. It’s not like he was ever going to ask me, he doesn’t even know me so I have no illusions about it, but it’s still embarrassing to admit.

For those of you who may have been living on another planet two weeks ago, they applied for a marriage license. That started the rumor mills working overtime with speculation of Where, When and Will it be bigger than XYZ’s wedding? Then there was the “if they are getting married in a hurry, it must be because Beyoncé might be pregnant.

I ask you…Why can’t they, after 6+years of dating just get married when ever they want. I mean, it’s not like they need a long engagement in order to sign up at Tiffany’s for a wedding registry. I absolutely know the headaches of planning weddings. The drama, what china to pick out, the 'future husband’ not wanting to have anything to do with it, the yelling, screaming, the tears. This was any Saturday, watching people when I was a part-time bridal consultant at Bloomingdales. On many occasion I told a couple to get “paper and plastic, it was easier”. I’ve seen people almost come to blows over the crystal pattern. Let me tell you a small secret. These girls register for the most expensive things. You the guest, want to make them happy and you purchase it. They get the gift, get married, and then RETURN EVERYTHING so they can buy clothes or get the cash. Yes, you heard it here first. So if you’ve spent big bucks on the Waterford Crystal, make sure you visit them and ask to see it. Just kidding!

So back to the B&J thing….
The paparazzi was intense, they bum-rushed each and every car that even ‘looked’ like there was ‘someone famous’ in it. It was crazy, and here I am…watching it unfold. Then, there was a truck, a moving van of sorts that no one paid attention to…and there are unconfirmed reports that Beyoncé was in that truck which is the way she got into the building un-noticed. SMART GIRL, and that truck must have been amazing on the inside (if this rumor is true). Finally while the press is scoping for a ring on both of them, and even taking a picture of Beyoncé’s fingerless gloved hand. Speculating if she has a ring and then in the next breath…she has a 16 carat ring. Believe me when I say, there is No Way to hide a 16 carat ring under a glove. I say give it up already and leave them alone.

So why are people mad at them? They feel like they are missing something because these two people didn’t confirm or deny their relationship? Are they truly angry because they weren’t invited to the wedding? Beyoncé’s dad is being criticized for supposedly 'shopping the wedding photo's out for the highest bidder'. Why are you mad at that? They do it for celebrity babies...oh, that outside voice of mine. Look no matter how many albums of theirs you have purchased, and even if you are the president of their fan club, you don’t know them!!

Let’s consider what happens to other celebrities who put every detail of their lives in the press, only to complain that they have no privacy. I say its because they don’t really want any privacy at all. There are too many to list, but you know who you are.

This couple has chosen, since day one to be private about their relationship. We don’t need to have every detail of their lives. We know they’re dating…we see the pictures in Saint-Tropez, and Miami Beach. We have watched them 'come-out' at the MTV Music awards.

I don’t know which of them thought of just close family and friends, but that’s so smart. Isn’t the point of a wedding to be with the people that mean the most to you? I mean really so if it’s 30 or 300…do it for the right reasons. If your ring is a pebble or 16 carats, what does it mean if the marriage fails?

So maybe this couple is finally married, I just wish them well. Being a celebrity and dating, even for 6+ years is one thing. Being a celebrity and being married completely different. Instead of speculating if she’s pregnant, if they’re married, what size her rock is, shouldn’t we just pray that they stay 'Crazy in Love'? So after all this, am I still jealous, just of her body, then again I'm not in my 20's anymore. Let me be among many who wish you continued success, a lasting friendship and a forever love.

Are we a marriage-disposable nation?

Photo of Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil by: Bauer-GriffinI'll admit, I'm a sucker for entertainment ("news") gossip. Not so much the where is Britney shopping at 2:00am, or who was seen at what "give-me-all-the-freebies-you-can" at Sundance. [Let me say...I've nothing against a 'gifting', but when you make a few million a movie, do you really want me to believe you can't afford the $250.00 jeans you're wearing.]

I am one of those completely hopeless romantics that likes the celebrity couples - any couple who are together, loving, laughing, holding hands, and in it for the long hall. Of course you never know what happens behind those closed doors, but I want to believe that they are happy. I want to believe that there is a happily-ever-after, because if you don't believe...what else is there?

I'm also a tech-a-holic..I love technology. The fact is, things used to take hours, days, weeks, months to find. Now...click, click and here it is.

INSTANT GRATIFICATION.

What really gets me is that in this day of modern technology, we seem to be creating a generation of "must have it ALL now, and if I don't like it...throw it away". Everything must be instant, bigger and better than anyone...EVER. If it's not, then move on to the next bigger, better, faster...

So I found this really interesting. Amy Weinhouse is a celebrity, and for all her many 'unique' qualities, she believes in long term, and is willing to fight for it. Blake Fielder-Civil, who's been rumored to be threatening to divorce Amy can't, and being behind bars has nothing to do with it.

"Under English law no divorce proceedings could be commenced until a year has passed since the date of the marriage," says Alison Green, head of the family law department at Mackrell Turner Garrett's London office. They will be married 1 year in May 2008.

Maybe the English have something here. They know that even in the best of circumstances, the first year (and sometimes second, and third year) of marriage can be difficult - so give it a chance, don't be so quick to throw it away.

When I look at some of the recent celebrity marriages (elaborate, expensive and photographed for the world to see) and their divorces (where they seek their privacy-does anyone else see the contradiction), it makes me wonder "just how much work do you do, to make it work after the party's over, and the press goes home?" What causes the pledge for life one moment, and then the fighting over the dog the next??

For the rest of the human population, disposable marriages begin when he leaves the toilet seat up - you threaten to glue it down; she wants you to hang out with her instead of going out with your friends - she's a nag; the dreaded conversation of saving money, buying a home, the "X-factor", children, 'in-laws'...ARGH!!!

No one ever said that it would be easy. Some dream of their wedding, others just look for the gifts they can return and cash in for ... the $250.00 jeans. For someone like me who has parents still together after 46 years, loving, laughing, holding hands, cuddling and being friends - that's what I want.

Of course like life, nothing is promised.

So does that mean you should throw away your relationship - or cash in that All-Clad, just because it's not perfect...not just yet. Let's learn a bit from the British. Unplug the microwave of life and love. Let's not make things so black/white; right/wrong; you vs.me; or life/death (unless it truly is). Let's slow down, and let our relationships cook on a slow flame. Put minor disagreements on the back-burner. Make you and your partner - the person YOU CHOOSE, the main ingredient...the "X" should be just that...X'd out of your lives! Stir gently, yet constantly, add lots of things that are healthy, and a dash of spice. Allow for the true richness of your relationship to blend, become hearty, and hopefully last a life-time.

I know this is my view...but what do you think?