*Wedding Planning Advice*

Getting married? Think it's too early to plan ahead? Think again. Whether your wedding is in 2016 or 2018, it's never too early to organize yourself. Start by buying a binder or downloading, "the knot" app. If you decide to buy a binder, seperate each section with tabs. They should be labeled venues, floral arrangements, cake possibilities, photography, videography, etc. Make sure you have a budget and if you don't, that's amazing. Without a budget, you should be stress free and can plan the wedding of your dreams without a struggle. If you're not that fortunate as most of America isn't, it's vital to have a realistic outlook on what you plan to spend. It's never too early to set up payment plans with venues. That way, you aren't stressing out the week before your wedding worrying if you have enough to pay each place. Venue search as early as possible. Make as many appointments with as many venues as you can to find the place of your dreams. If you're comfortable with the venue, set a date as soon as possible. Remember, most venues fill up quickly. Reserving a date, holds your place. My strongest suggestion is finding a venue that doesn't treat you like a business transaction. It doesn't matter how beautiful the place may be, if you're pressured into booking your date, chances are, the place isn't right for you. If you're getting married in South Florida, I highly recommend the Royal Fiesta Event Center in Deerfield Beach. It isn't the most beautiful venue in Florida, but they make you feel like a part of their family. They don't rush you into anything and are the most accomodating venue I have ever seen. If you plan on getting married in church, make sure to research the proper procedure necessary to do so. If the wedding is on the beach, you need permits to have the ceremony. There are many diverse companies that provide the necessary documents. The one that I used in South Florida, is Weddings By the Sea. If you're having a big wedding, I suggest you hire a wedding planner. Either way, Pinterest should become your best friend. When choosing invitations, please ensure that the ink used is high quality. If not, it will run. Once you have reserved your date, you can send "save the dates" if you choose. Stay focused and keep organized the best you can. Happy planning and good luck!

*Check Twice for Your Child!!!*

As a parent, my biggest fear is leaving my child behind. I don't understand how people could leave their children in a car. How could they walk away and forget their children? A child depends on their parents for everything. When someone leaves their babies in a car in smoldering heat, that is not a mistake. Your child is a priority! How do you continue to live your life knowing that you did that to your baby? I would never be able to breathe again. Yet, careless parenting happens every day. People "forget" their children in  cars. It takes 15 minutes for a baby to suffocate in a car. I urge every parent to look twice before leaving their cars. Check your car completely before you walk away. Being trapped in a car without being able to talk or move for yourself must be the worst feeling in the world. Don't be that parent! Don't "forget" your child! Please don't make that tragic mistake. Their are millions of people who can't conceive. They would die for a child. If you can't handle parenthood, don't bring innocent lives into the world only to be taken away. Give them better lives. Spare them the pain! Children deserve the world. Their precious lives are irreplaceable. So, please check your backseats before leaving your car. I don't care what kind of parent you think you are! Don't make a child pay for your carelessness. You are the center of their world. You are their voice!

*Who Do You Think You Are- Really?*

Isn't it fascinating to evaluate your heritage. Obviously, we are told a rough estimate of our nationalities by our parents, but is that where it ends? You see, I became interested in digging deeper into my routes after watching the show, "Who Do You Think You Are?" I found it captivating that with a simple swab of DNA, celebrities were able to uncover their ancestral roots. The show also traced last names to original towns and were able to go as far back to the 1800's or more. Personally, I knew I was of Italian descent. I am first and second generation Italian. My mothers parents are italian immigrants and so is my father. I wanted to save the $200.00 necessary for the swab test. Over the years, I forgot it existed. It wasn't until I had a discussion with one of the girls at work that I heard she had done the swab test. The price had drastically decreased. It was only $100.00. I immediately typed in the website she told me to go to: ancestry.dna.com. I was 7 months pregnant and my thirst for heritage grew stronger. I thought it would be an amazing gift to share with my future child. The DNA kit was shipped and received in approximately two weeks. I had to wait thirty minutes without drinking or eating and put my saliva sample in a tube. I mailed out the kit and received my results within a few weeks. My Italian heritage was confirmed. I was indeed 70% Greek/Italian, which amazed me. The 100% didn't exist. I was also 9% Middle Eastern and 4% Eastern European. When I logged onto ancestry DNA to view my matches, I discovered so much about my origins and I was absolutely astonished. I could see a link between all of my results. I was 12% West Asian, which I would like to attribute to the Etruscan tribe that invaded Tuscany, where my surname is said to originate from. As I digged deeper, I knew it wasn't a hoax. I recommend everyone to do this test. It's 100% legitimate and if you don't know who you are, you will become emotional uncovering the past. It's the best thing I've ever done in my life.

*Confederate Flag: History Gone too Far

The Confederate Flag has stirred up controversy from the beginning of it's existence. The original purpose of the flag was for families who fought in the war to remember the victory. It was supposed to be used for the family of loved ones to remember them. Instead, America has twisted the meaning of the flag and turned it into a symbol of white supremacy. It has been turned into the main flag for the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). In recent weeks, a 21 year old boy decided to go into a predominately black church and murder the people in cold blood. His symbol of pride: the confederate flag.  caused an uproar across the nation forcing stores and the country to ban the use of the flag. This has upset people who's family members fought in a battle that waved the confederate flag. Unfortunately, the ignorance of people like the KKK and the 21 year old boy has destroyed the definition of the confederate flag. It has caused tv networks to pull the classic show, The Dukes of Hazard. Has society gone to far? That's a question I leave to my readers. It's insane how people can turn a flag into a symbol of hate. The purpose of my writing is to educate the ignorant and racist people of America. Because of their stupidity, a country has been suffering for years. We are all human and racism exists within black and white people combined. We choose whether to live on hate or love. I hope that everyone chooses love, but in a world filled with destruction and violence, it's impossible. It will continue. All we can do is spread the love.

*South Florida Party Experts*

Are you in a bind and need a party planner? Are you in the south Florida area? If you need assistance, please contact me for further details. All items are handmade and done with lots of time and love. The main organizer has over 20 years of experience planning a variety of parties. These include baby showers, bridal showers, weddings, baptisms, first birthdays, and etc. It can all be done. If you're interested, simply comment on this blog and I will connect you in the right direction. 

*A Review on "Orange is the New Black*

What is this new social phenomenon Orange is the New Black? It's a popular Netflix original about females in prison. It gives women a sense of empowerment behind bars. It highlights sexual preferences in jail and the harsh reality of prison treatment. I am not saying that every prison has this way of life, but it does happen. We have seen guards abuse their prisoners and have inappropriate relationships with them. The reality is that no matter the authority, we are all human. People are mistreated in jail on a daily basis, but they do not have a voice. Orange is the New Black highlights the improper treatment of inmates in a comedy series. We relate to the prisoners' struggles behind bars and in their households. I am sure that women who have been to prison may not appreciate the show because it hits close  to home. I'm also sure that others are content with the education behind the scenes. People are mistreated behind bars every day. These people do not have a voice. They are violated on a constant basis and because of the crimes they've committed, their opinions don't matter. They are treated as animals and have lost all of their rights. The women in Orange is the New Black unite and fight against the abuse. They use the power that exists within their souls to make their lives livable. They show society that it doesn't matter where we are in the world, we are all human. The show enhances feminism and feminine power. Not only does it persuade women behind bars, but all females whom have ever been abused by society. I recommend all women to watch the show and form their own opinions. It's an incredible depiction of feminine power.

*Baby-Wearing Benefits*

Most of you have heard of it, may have never tried it, tried it with the wrong appliance and decided it wasn't for you, or have never attempted to do it. Baby wearing has been around for centuries, but only recently has gained extensive popularity in the United States. Why baby wear?

Baby wearing enhances your bond with your child and calms them down. Research shows that worn infants barely ever cry. They are swaddled next to your chest. It mimicks the womb. Wearing your baby also allows you to complete household chores that could not be completed with a fussy baby. You don't have to worry about lugging around a stroller when your child is wrapped. Where should you inquire about wearing your child? Believe it or not, there are many Facebook support groups that discuss baby wearing and also have meet ups to show you how to baby wear. They give advice on baby wearing items and where to purchase them. You can go to a meetup and purchase one there. Personally, my favorite wrap is a woven wrap. My wrap is called the hip baby wrap. I purchased the item on amazon for $67.00. Wraps are expensive, but they're worth the cost. It will not disappoint you. You can wrap your child until they're two years old in my wrap. Many momma's wrap until 5 years old. It's a little complicated, but easy when you get the hang of it. YouTube tutorials help as well. Don't be afraid to wear your baby. If you're breastfeeding, it allows you to discreetly do it without a cover! Have fun wearing away!