Blog Remix: Honorable Mentions

(Originally posted April 20, 2009)

Have you just been asked to be your sister's/cousin's/friend's maid of honor? If the answer is yes, there are a few things I'd like to say to you...

Be supportive

Your bride is experiencing a wide range of emotions right now. It's your job to keep her grounded...be her voice of reason from time to time. You may find yourself as the deciding vote on many issues throughout the planning. If that isn't something you know how to do, then learn...if it's something you don't feel comfortable doing, then get over it and learn how to swallow your pride. She's asked you to take this ride with her and is counting on you to help her navigate all the madness coming her way.

Be On Time

If you are generally late for all your appointments, get an alarm clock! Get your measurements to the bridal shop before the due date and encourage the bridesmaids to do the same. Beat her to every appointment...show up at her house before she's finished getting ready. Your reassuring face should be there for her each and every time.

Take her out for a Girls Nite Out

The pressure will be difficult to handle every now and then while your bride is planning her wedding...anyone who tells you that they will eliminate ALL the stress is blowing smoke. Be sure to take her out to a favorite hot spot or to her favorite nail place to recharge and rejuvenate her. She will love you for it!

Happy Planning!

Blog Remix: When Things Go Wrong On Your Wedding Day

(Originally posted May 1, 2008)

(Photo from WeddingAce.com)

Let's face facts...There are things that are bound to go wrong on your wedding day. No one is perfect and wires get crossed because of how people interpret OR don't interpret things. We are all unique creatures and we don't always see things the same way that others do.

But...

You CAN avoid blips in your wedding day festivities if you follow a few simple steps. Of course hiring a wedding planner like me, ensures that you won't be dealing with those mishaps. I'm not suggesting that things will go wrong if you don't hire a wedding planner; I'm simply saying that having one allows you to enjoy your celebration without dealing with the photographer that didn't show up or the wedding cake that's falling over like the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

That said, here is some advice, courtesy of the folks over at WeddingChannel.com, on how to "Avoid" and "Cope" with disasters that may happen on your wedding day.

How To Deal With Wedding Disasters

Don’t worry – those nightmares you’re having about your wedding going wrong are perfectly normal. While it’s impossible to predict everything that might go awry on your wedding day, you can take steps to prevent some of the most-common major upsets ahead of time. So, check out our tips on avoiding wedding disasters, and dealing with them head-on if they can’t be avoided... and start sleeping better at night.

DISASTER: Somebody spills something on your wedding gown before the ceremony.
AVOID IT: Ban anything colorful like juice, wine, or dark lipstick from any room you’ll be in while wearing the dress.
COPE WITH IT: White out the stain as much as you can with chalk, and remind yourself all eyes will be on you, not your gown.

DISASTER: It’s raining and your ceremony will take place outdoors.
AVOID IT: Have a back-up plan already in place.
COPE WITH IT: If the venue doesn’t have an indoor space available, get your wedding party to start calling tent companies in case a vendor can accommodate you at the last minute. If this doesn’t work, send your groomsmen out to buy dozens of umbrellas (preferably in white).

DISASTER: Your ring bearer or flower girl refuses to march down the aisle.
AVOID IT: Do several walk-throughs at the rehearsal until they’re comfortable with the routine.
COPE WITH IT: Have the child’s mother stand discreetly at the end of the aisle – preferably with candy -- and tell him or her all he has to do is walk straight to her.

DISASTER: The best man forgot the rings.
AVOID IT: Bring the rings yourself and hand them over to him before the ceremony starts.
COPE WITH IT: Do the ring exchange with your parents’ rings; you can have your permanent rings blessed by the officiant later if that’s important to you.

DISASTER: Your guests exceed the final guest count by about 10 people, so you’re short on food and space at the reception.
AVOID IT: Contact people via telephone who haven’t RSVP’d two weeks before the wedding (feel free to pawn this task off on members of the wedding party, your mom, etc.), and then pad your final guest count by five people.
COPE WITH IT: Tell your catering manager and/or venue manager about the problem and ask them to arrange seating either by squeezing extra chairs around existing tables, or slipping extra guests into a cocktail area where they can munch on appetizers (and vow to each other that they’ll never again neglect to RSVP).

DISASTER: Your band or DJ doesn’t show up.
AVOID IT: Confirm all dates and times the week before the wedding with every vendor you’ve hired, and have a list of contact numbers with you.
COPE WITH IT: Hook an iPod or MP3 player up to the stereo system, and let the dancing begin.

DISASTER: The wedding cake melts, falls to the floor, or never shows up.
AVOID IT: Confirm in advance there is a cool place to store a butter cream cake to avoid a meltdown, and go over transportation, set-up, and back-up plans with the cake designer.
COPE WITH IT: Call local bakeries to see if one will let you ‘borrow’ a wedding cake for photos, and then slice up a sheet cake behind closed doors to serve to guests. If you can’t swing that, send someone out for cupcakes, and act like that was the plan all along (cupcakes are nowadays very fashionable at weddings).

Whatever happens, keep in mind that even if the details may not go as planned, if you carry it off well, the guests often don’t know the difference. And above all else, remember what’s really important – if you are married at the end of the day, the wedding was a success!

Happy Planning!

Enjoy Your Engagement...Period!

You said yes and have been on the phone all day with family and friends telling them all about the awesome proposal and how "GORG" your ring is. And you may be wondering what to do next...

I'll tell you one thing...it's not time for you to go out and buy every wedding magazine you see. Nor is it time to make a decision about who your MOH will be, or which girlfriends to invite into your inner circle as bridesmaids.

Nope, Uh-uh!

Girlfriend? Just BE!

Wrap yourself around the newness of being a bride. Enjoy your man! It's a special time in your life and you need to reflect on the new life ahead of you.

The wedding is just a party to celebrate the decision you just made. And while it's going to be FABULOUS, I'm sure; you really want to take the time to enjoy your engagement.

Let your friends and family fawn over you...
Pamper your fiance...
Let him pamper you...
Talk about what a full life means to each of you and how you can accomplish your goals together...

Then...when you pick a date...

Call me!

Happy New Year!

Happy Planning!

Do I Really Need a Wedding Planner?

A few weeks ago, I had a roundtable discussion with a few other planners about whether or not every bride needs a wedding planner. Once we got through the discussion about affordability, we decided to concentrate on needs. I've read many blog posts on this subject before but I feel its a subject worth revisiting.

There are valuable benefits in most, if not all situations to having a wedding planner. Couples today have demanding careers with complicated schedules and on top of that, many more choices in choosing the dynamics of their wedding day. Gone are the days of cake and punch in church social halls!

Hiring a good, reputable planner means hiring someone to handle all of the things you can't or don't have the expertise for. Plus, she'll make sure you get that well deserved face time with your groom on your wedding day...instead of you having to dealing with the waitstaff that is moving a bit too slow with dinner.

Here are some situations where hiring a planner is necessary:

Off Site Weddings - Incudes weddings at home, or at any site that needs to be transformed into an event space. Most couples and their families don't know the massive laundry list of things needed for an off site event. Rentals, tents, parking, catering needs, restroom needs...and more.

Complicated Family Situations - Do you or your groom have serious food allergies? A mother of the bride that refuses to walk down the aisle without granny's hankie that she left in the dressing room? How about a relative who insists on sitting at the guest table reserved for more immediate family members? Having a point person for family and friends to go to for information and referee duties is priceless! (Oh the stories I have!)

Destination Wedding - Simple...you don't know anything about the local venues or vendors, the laws of the destination city nor the specific logistics of moving around in that city. Ever heard the expression, "You don't know what you don't know"? Hiring a planner is a no brainer.

Large Weddings - Self explanatory...more people means more work.

Organization doesn't come easily to you - Good planners are organizational wizards. You hire professionals to do other things you aren't the best at...organizing and lists make you crazy? Hire a planner.

Happy Planning!

Honorable Mentions

Have you just been asked to be your sister's/cousin's/friend's maid of honor? If the answer is yes, there are a few things I'd like to say to you...

Be supportive

Your bride is experiencing a wide range of emotions right now. It's your job to keep her grounded...be her voice of reason from time to time. You may find yourself as the deciding vote on many issues throughout the planning. If that isn't something you know how to do, then learn...if it's something you don't feel comfortable doing, then get over it and learn how to swallow your pride. She's asked you to take this ride with her and is counting on you to help her navigate all the madness coming her way.

Be On Time

If you are generally late for all your appointments, get an alarm clock! Get your measurements to the bridal shop before the due date and encourage the bridesmaids to do the same. Beat her to every appointment...show up at her house before she's finished getting ready. Your reassuring face should be there for her each and every time.

Take her out for a Girls Nite Out

The pressure will be difficult to handle every now and then while your bride is planning her wedding...anyone who tells you that they will eliminate ALL the stress is blowing smoke. Be sure to take her out to a favorite hot spot or to her favorite nail place to recharge and rejuvenate her. She will love you for it!

Happy Planning!

Wedding Planning Advice from Sacred Moment Weddings

Wedding planning season is in high gear. The holidays are over...he's asked you to marry him and you've said yes...we've got a new President in charge of the nation (Woot!) and hopefully the planning "drama" hasn't started yet.

But just in case it has started...

We've shared some great advice and ideas in the last year and we wanted to dig through our archives and pull some of our more popular posts to help you out. We've got lots more in store for you in the coming weeks so be sure to come back and see us each week for more.

"Define and Design Your Wedding Style" Series
These posts are designed to take you through the wedding planning process, element by element. We've given you advice on the five things to do first, creating your budget, picking your wedding date and venue and this week we talked to you about your personal "wedding style". Not every bride is the same and this post will help you find a style that fits your personality and taste.

Be sure to read our blog every Monday for the next step in the planning process. Up next? Bridal Fashions!

"Inspired to Love" Quotes
"Inspired to Love" was originally posted every Monday. We changed it so that they post every Friday morning. Why? Well, we thought about it and decided to hit you with an inspiring love quote to motivate you for the weekend, which is when most of you tend to spend lots of quality time with your fiance. :)

Etiquette and Advice
This is some of the most important information you'll need while planning your wedding. What to do if you've hired the wrong wedding planner, preparing for the things that may go wrong on your wedding day and how to deal with those frantic moments throughout the wedding planning process. (Yes, stress free is a myth!) All these topics and more can be found here. In the coming weeks we'll also talk about invitation wording, seating arrangements and how to pick your wedding party.

Inspiration
Not sure which direction to go with your colors or wedding theme? These posts will definitely help to "inspire" you to create a wedding all your own.

"Savvy Tip of the Week" Series
Each week we share a tip or fab find we've come across while surfing the net or reading our favorite magazines. Wedding toasts, saving on flower and bar costs and being the perfect wedding guest are some of the areas we've shared about. Be sure to come back for more savvy tips and tricks!

Happy Planning!

Savvy Tip of the Week: Being the Perfect Wedding Guest

Emily Post is the first name that comes to mind when you hear the word etiquette. Today I would like to share what she has to say to all you wedding guests out there.

Tips on Being the Perfect Guest

1. RSVP. Immediately.
RSVP is French for “please respond” (répondez s’il vous plaît). Your most important obligation as a guest is to respond to the invitation immediately, especially if you are unable to attend. At the very least, it allows your host and hostess enough time to give an accurate count to the caterer. There is usually a card to return with your reply. If not, you may write a formal reply or a note indicating your intention.

2. Respect your invitation.
Do not ask your host or hostess if you can bring a date or your children. The invitation will be addressed to the people invited. If you may bring a guest, your invitation will read “Mr. John Phelps and guest.” If your children are invited, they will either receive their own personal invitations or their names will be listed under yours on the envelope. This is not the time to question your host’s decision, to argue or to beg for an exception. And, please, do not add their names to a reply card or show up with them anyway!

3. Send a gift.
If you are invited to the ceremony and/or reception, you should send a gift, whether you are attending or not. Generally, gifts are sent to the bride in advance of the wedding. In some localities, gifts are brought to the reception and placed on a special table. If you hear from family that the couple would prefer a charitable donation—as in the case of an older couple or an encore wedding —please respect their wishes. If you receive an announcement after the wedding has taken place, you may send a gift if you wish, but you have no obligation to do so. It is nice to acknowledge the announcement with a card or a note expressing your best wishes.

4. Be on your BEST behavior.
Be on time, wear appropriate clothing and be respectful during the marriage ceremony. Pay your respects to the hosts, the wedding party and other guests at the reception. And remember.

“The good guest is almost invisible, enjoying him- or herself, communing with fellow guests, and, most of all, enjoying the generous hospitality of the hosts.”
— E.

Happy Planning!

Economics Or Smart Planning?

There is an article posted on the Time Magazine website entitled, Downsizing Your Wedding that talks about ways in which couples planning their upcoming wedding celebration, have cut costs because of the so called "recession" we're in. (I'm not convinced that we're in a recession yet...but I'll leave my political views out of this post.)

"According to the Wedding Report, a research firm that compiles stats on the wedding industry, the average cost of an American wedding rose to $28,732 in 2007, as the festivities have grown increasingly elaborate and personalized. But for the first time in almost a decade, that number is forecast to drop slightly this year, to $28,704."

Anyway...it occurred to me while reading the article that wedding planners have been using these exact same spending cuts to save couples money on their weddings even before the economic downturn began. We're trained to take our clients vision and turn it into a dream wedding...no matter the cost.

Plus, many brides have latched onto the "Do-It-Yourself" craze which allows more creativity and personalization as well as cost savings. I think this is a better indicator of the reasons for the drop in the average cost of a wedding.

What do YOU think? We would LOVE to know!

What If I've Hired The Wrong Planner?

One of Arizona's favorite wedding planners...and someone who has really helped me to become a better planner, has written a VERY informative post that deals with the dilemma of hiring the WRONG wedding planner. Doing your homework and interviewing several planners before deciding to hire one is essential to having a fun and supportive wedding planning experience.

Liene gives some sound advice to a bride who isn't happy with her planner's lack of enthusiasim and apparent inexperience. Click here for all the details!

What's A Kickback?

{Reminder: What's Your Wedding Style contest ends at midnight on May 16th. Pass the word and don't forget to vote for your favorite wedding style!}

Check out this GREAT post from a new photographer friend of mine...Patrick Lockwood out of San Diego. He has given me permission to reproduce it here on my blog and to encourage others to read it. It's long and directed mainly at photographers, but worth the read. He makes a good case and I learned some things I didn't know. Sit back, grab a cup of tea and educate yourself. Then leave me a comment and tell me what you think.





To My Fellow Photographers, A Word On Kickbacks In Our Industry

This is a message to my fellow photographers, but brides and grooms might want to know this information, too, so I am posting it on my blog:

* * * * * * * *

So you are a photographer, and you are faced with a wedding planner, or some vendor who is asking you for a commission if he or she is to refer you business.

Now, first off, the vast majority of planners do not do this, but, occasionally, there is one who might.

So, what is wrong with this arrangement, you ask? What is the harm in it, you ask? Is it any different than a salesman who earns a commission on a sale?

Well, that depends.

When the bride or groom goes to a booking agent (say, for example, they want to hire a musician), they know that he or she is an agent, which is to say, any referrals they are given from such a person it is understood that the agent is working on commission, and by virtue of the title, it is obviously the norm for a booking agent to receive a commission. With this information known up front, the bride and groom can properly judge the value of the referral. Let me state that more accurately, we (in the wedding industry) have given the bride and groom the proper information, and the bride and groom are not being deceived as to the truthful relationship between the booking agent and those the agent refers to the bride and groom.

If you were to ask a doctor, whose specialty was diseases of the foot, if the doctor knew of a good eye doctor, you’d expect that the referral was based on pure merit, and that type of referral will be weighed quite differently than the referral given by someone you know upfront who is a broker for others, who gets a commission.

There is nothing wrong with either set up, as long as the bride and grooms know, up front, what is going on, so the whole idea is honesty in the relationship.

Enter the wedding planner who asks for a commission on weddings from the photographer she gives the referral to.

Often the photographer will raise the wedding fee by the amount of the commission so as to be left with the same amount that the photographer would have charged had the photographer not paid a commission to the planner.

This is a kickback. This is definitely NOT a commission. This is a unethical act committed on the bride and groom.

How so?

Two unethical acts have been committed on the bride and groom in this circumstance.

The bride and groom believed the referral to be on merit, since there is nothing about the wedding planner’s title, nor is it a particularly generally accepted practice for a wedding planner to act as a broker. Thus, if the wedding planner refers a photographer, the bride and groom have every reason to believe it was based on merit.

Therefore a deception is taking place.

Some wedding planners might argue that, although they are accepting a commission, they wouldn’t work with any photographer who doesn’t meet a reasonable standard.

It doesn’t matter if the argument is true or not, the wedding planner is depriving the bride and groom of the opportunity to make a more informed decision. Surely, a bride and groom would weigh a referral based on pure merit differently than one that was fee-based; the bride and groom would be more cautious towards the fee-based referral. Let the bride and groom make this determination, not the wedding planner, about the quality of the referral, and let all facts pertaining to the referral be known. It’s in the bride and groom’s best interest.

That’s the first unethical act perpetrated on the bride and groom.

The second unethical act has two components: in the case of the photographer who raises the fee to compensate for the wedding planner’s commission, what is essentially happening is selective pricing, which is to say the photographer is not applying the same fee structures to all brides and grooms across the board (thus treating his non referred clients differently than his referred clients who are charged more), but more importantly, the bride and groom are being charged twice by the wedding planner: Once by the wedding planner’s fee, twice by the photographer’s raised fee (the raised portion of which is the planner’s kickback), a cost which is passed on solely to the bride and groom (and not other photographer’s brides and grooms). What is unethical is that this fact is not revealed to the bride and groom. How would you (the photographer reading this) feel if you were the bride and groom and this was done to you?

Ultimately, if the agency relationship between the planner and the bride and groom is not on the up and up, it is a kickback, and as such, it can only be bad for our industry, and I urge all ethical photographers and wedding vendors to do their best to EXPOSE any planner, any vendor, as well as photographers who are willing to go along with the scheme, who do not publicly announce to the bride and groom that commissions for referrals are being paid and being charged to the bride and groom.

* * * * * * * *

If you are a bride who is asking a vendor or wedding planner for a referral (could be a venue, who sometimes charge vendors for access to the “preferred” list), make sure you ask that vendor whether or not he or she is being paid a “commission” on the referral by the photographer or other vendor. Expose them, and let’s stamp out this practice, it is not good for the bride and groom, nor is it good for the wedding industry on the whole because it is a deceptive practice, and it tends to promote selective pricing to brides and grooms, and double billing, as well.

{Written by Patrick Lockwood of Patrick Lockwood Photography. Reproduced by permission}

When Things Go Wrong On Your Wedding Day

Let's face facts...There are things that are bound to go wrong on your wedding day. No one is perfect and wires get crossed because of how people interpret OR don't interpret things. We are all unique creatures and we don't always see things the same way that others do.

But...

You CAN avoid blips in your wedding day festivities if you follow a few simple steps. Of course hiring a wedding planner like me, ensures that you won't be dealing with those mishaps. I'm not suggesting that things will go wrong if you don't hire a wedding planner; I'm simply saying that having one allows you to enjoy your celebration without dealing with the photographer that didn't show up or the wedding cake that's falling over like the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

That said, here is some advice, courtesy of the folks over at WeddingChannel.com, on how to "Avoid" and "Cope" with disasters that may happen on your wedding day.

How To Deal With Wedding Disasters

Don’t worry – those nightmares you’re having about your wedding going wrong are perfectly normal. While it’s impossible to predict everything that might go awry on your wedding day, you can take steps to prevent some of the most-common major upsets ahead of time. So, check out our tips on avoiding wedding disasters, and dealing with them head-on if they can’t be avoided... and start sleeping better at night.

DISASTER: Somebody spills something on your wedding gown before the ceremony.
AVOID IT: Ban anything colorful like juice, wine, or dark lipstick from any room you’ll be in while wearing the dress.
COPE WITH IT: White out the stain as much as you can with chalk, and remind yourself all eyes will be on you, not your gown.

DISASTER: It’s raining and your ceremony will take place outdoors.
AVOID IT: Have a back-up plan already in place.
COPE WITH IT: If the venue doesn’t have an indoor space available, get your wedding party to start calling tent companies in case a vendor can accommodate you at the last minute. If this doesn’t work, send your groomsmen out to buy dozens of umbrellas (preferably in white).

DISASTER: Your ring bearer or flower girl refuses to march down the aisle.
AVOID IT: Do several walk-throughs at the rehearsal until they’re comfortable with the routine.
COPE WITH IT: Have the child’s mother stand discreetly at the end of the aisle – preferably with candy -- and tell him or her all he has to do is walk straight to her.

DISASTER: The best man forgot the rings.
AVOID IT: Bring the rings yourself and hand them over to him before the ceremony starts.
COPE WITH IT: Do the ring exchange with your parents’ rings; you can have your permanent rings blessed by the officiant later if that’s important to you.

DISASTER: Your guests exceed the final guest count by about 10 people, so you’re short on food and space at the reception.
AVOID IT: Contact people via telephone who haven’t RSVP’d two weeks before the wedding (feel free to pawn this task off on members of the wedding party, your mom, etc.), and then pad your final guest count by five people.
COPE WITH IT: Tell your catering manager and/or venue manager about the problem and ask them to arrange seating either by squeezing extra chairs around existing tables, or slipping extra guests into a cocktail area where they can munch on appetizers (and vow to each other that they’ll never again neglect to RSVP).

DISASTER: Your band or DJ doesn’t show up.
AVOID IT: Confirm all dates and times the week before the wedding with every vendor you’ve hired, and have a list of contact numbers with you.
COPE WITH IT: Hook an iPod or MP3 player up to the stereo system, and let the dancing begin.

DISASTER: The wedding cake melts, falls to the floor, or never shows up.
AVOID IT: Confirm in advance there is a cool place to store a butter cream cake to avoid a meltdown, and go over transportation, set-up, and back-up plans with the cake designer.
COPE WITH IT: Call local bakeries to see if one will let you ‘borrow’ a wedding cake for photos, and then slice up a sheet cake behind closed doors to serve to guests. If you can’t swing that, send someone out for cupcakes, and act like that was the plan all along (cupcakes are nowadays very fashionable at weddings).

Whatever happens, keep in mind that even if the details may not go as planned, if you carry it off well, the guests often don’t know the difference. And above all else, remember what’s really important – if you are married at the end of the day, the wedding was a success!

When Will I Be Able to Relax?

I got a frantic call from one of my brides today about not being able to find a particular color ribbon to go with her DIY wedding invitations. I gave her the web address for a few online resources, told her that the ribbon didn't have to match EXACTLY in order for it to look nice and sent her on her way. She phoned back about an hour later and said she now has TOO many choices but that she feels better.

A day in the life of a bride and her wedding planner. It's an everyday occurrence, I know, and so worth it because once she walks down that aisle, it's pure bliss!



I love this picture! This is one of my favorite brides from 2007 and one of her best friends, just after the ceremony when the minister had the bride and groom and their witnesses sign the marriage license. She looks so happy and radiant!

The moments after "I Do" are when most brides finally relax and start to enjoy all the wonderful plans they've spent months organizing and stressing over. It's in these moments that all of the bickering over what colors to use for the ribbons on the invitations or the hurt feelings from your maid of honor over who you should or shouldn't invite to your bachelorette weekend don't really matter, do they?



What matters is the smile you see on her face and what she is about to experience. The wonderful reception they've planned with dancing and great food; hugs and kisses from family and friends; and a lifetime of love from a spouse they adore!

That's what it's ALL about! :)

Have You Purchased Your Wedding Emergency Kit Yet?

Things happen...they REALLY do! Things that make you got NUTS on your wedding day. (Unless of course, you've hired "ME" as your wedding planner!) If you don't have hem tape, Tylenol for that headache, or some bobby pins to "re-do" your do, what WILL you do?

With that in mind, I introduce you to Lisa Gehrke, President of With You In Mind. Lisa and I chatted a bit a few months ago and she is a doll! She was very easy to work with and I will definitely do business with her again.

With You In Mind is a company that has put together a set of wedding day essentials for women AND for men. "In the Bag" is a "Premier Wedding Emergency/Bridal Survival Kit" that I adore! I've used it during several of my client's weddings. It comes with a TON of product that outshines any other kit I've seen on the market today!

The biggest advantage? I don't have to shop in several different places for all the ingredients...I just order it online when my supply gets low. This way, I have more time to concentrate on all the other coordinating tasks on my list.

Like making sure you get down the aisle looking as FABULOUS as you are!

Willpower...Do you have it?

The New Year usually brings change. We all have good intentions about how we will change our lives for the better. And we DO give it the old college try!

But not surprisingly, many of us revert back to our olds ways within a short period of time. Why? I'm not sure...YET! This year I want to find out why I don't have the willpower to do what I need to do in some areas of my life.

So?? I've been reading LOTS of books and articles on the subject. Today I was reading one in the January 2008 issue of the Oprah Magazine called, "The Willpower Myth". A writer by the name of Stephanie Losee gives us a glimpse into a book by Alan Deutschman where he discusses the framework to successfully change yourself.

Read an excerpt of the book here.

You'll have to buy the magazine to read Stephanie's article...there's no online version of it. The article is a GREAT precursor to the book which I'm on my way to buy right now...

Toodles!