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Perfectly Planned by Val (and why you need a wedding coordinator!)

3/28/2016

Wedding season is upon us!
Dresses! Cake tasting! Bridal shows! Flowers! Love! Stress! Stress?!!
Yupp, lots of stress!
If you are planning a wedding and have not hired a wedding planner, or at least day-of coordinator, let me ask you, "Why not?!!"
Your wedding should be absolutely wonderful; you will marry the love of your life, you will be surrounded by friends family, lots of food, dancing and fun! You will laugh, you will cry, you will experience so many raw and unfiltered emotions!
Why ruin all of that with stress?!

For my wedding I did not hire a wedding planner. Because, one thing I am good at, is being a crazy organized freak! I'm talking an entire binder that I made, filled with seven separate categories, receipt files, budgets, spending logs, to do lists for every month leading up to the wedding, an entire cork board (see above) filled with reminders, coupons, receipts, and more charts and lists than you will ever see in a sane person's home!
Anyways! I'm saying all that to say all this; Towards the end, I even got stressed out! Me! The person who's favorite activities include list making and budgeting!
Everything turned out fine, because I planned everything out, but the last-minute stuff is definitely stressful! If you are the kind of person who likes to procrastinate things, doesn't like planning, list making, or budgeting, I would definitely recommend that you hire a wedding planner! This will be worth it in the amount of stress it saves you in the year+ leading up to your wedding!

I didn't hire a wedding planner, because planning is my specialty, but I did have enough common sense to hire a day of coordinator!
A day of coordinator is a must, no matter how organized and cool-headed you are! Because let's face it, you can't be two places at once, you won't be able to organize things when you're in the middle of getting your pictures taken, and you don't want to be yelling at people on your special day!
That's Val above, always coordinating, even on her own day!

Val, who is a wedding planner and coordinator from Perfectly Planned by Val, was the person I hired to be my day of coordinator. She saved me so much stress and headaches, I will never be able to thank her enough!
Let's start with the fact that right before the reception started, the taps that I had for the kegs, didn't work! Not only did she make sure that no one told me (because she knew that I would freak out, and that is something you should not be doing on your wedding day!!!), but she took charge (which is what she's best at!), and fixed the problem! We had beer at my wedding reception because of her!!! That was just one of the many things she did! Some more of the life-saving things she did on my wedding day were;
Bossed people around that needed bossing around, made sure that everyone was in their places and went down the aisle when they were supposed to, helped with the wedding rehearsal, set up everything at the reception hall the day of that we couldn't do the night before, brought out the cake and coffee when it was time, helped the bridal party and my family clean up at the end of the night, and a million other things that I can't even remember, because she made sure everything went so smooth!
Above, at the reception hall she lit all the candles, and broke all the glowsticks that are in the vases. Resulting in exactly what I wanted!

One of the biggest reasons you need a day of coordinator, and one of my favorite things about Val, was that she was my middle man! The middle man between you, and everyone's questions, comments, and concerns! Val made sure that on my wedding day, no one bothered me! I made sure that everyone knew that if they had any questions, comments, or concerns, to please direct them to Val! And they did! And it was marvelous!
The reason I know that I needed a middle man, was because the day before my wedding when we were setting up the hall, I didn't have Val there, so every 2 minutes (I'm not even joking!), someone was asking me a question! Every time I heard my name being called, I cringed! It was the closest to losing my mind I have ever been!!! Above, me literally running around about to lose my mind, setting up the hall the day before my wedding.
So because of her, that did not happen on my wedding day!!!

So if you or someone you know is planning a wedding, I highly recommend getting ahold of Val, through one of the various means below, and see what she can do to help!

Website: www.perfectlyplannedbyval.com

Wedding Wire

Phone: (330) 760-4789

Facebook

Wedding Packages

Testimonials

Contact Form

So how about you? Any experiences with a wedding planner? Any experiences without a wedding planner where you wish you would have had one? Let me know in the comments below!

Peace Love and Perfectly Planned by Val
Jess <3

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Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo

3/20/2016

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Thank you so much everyone for all the Birthday wishes, good thoughts, and for the terrific response on my last post, "29 Reasons why I'm 29 and don't have a Baby!" I guess it resonated with a lot of you! I'll be responding to your comments within the next couple of days! But for now....

I am so in love with this recipe that I created! I have eaten it twice already this week. It takes less than 15 minutes to make, and unlike a lot of vegan fettuccine recipes, uses very basic and inexpensive ingredients (for example, you can buy a box of cornstarch for $2, place it in your cupboard, and it will stay there for months!). I can't have dairy, like so many others, and have been having a blast finding recipe replacements. I was having trouble finding the perfect dairy-free fettuccine alfredo recipe, so I just made up my own! This completely dairy-free and vegan recipe is the creamiest, most satisfying fettuccine alfredo I have ever had, and I can't wait to share it with you!
Enjoy!

Ingredients

-8 ounces of pasta
-3 tbs margarine
-1 packet of yeast
-1 cup almond milk
-Salt and Pepper to Taste
-2 tsp Corn Starch

Cook and drain the pasta.
While pasta is cooking, melt the margarine on low heat in a large pan.
Once margarine is melted, add the packet of yeast. Simmer for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the almond milk.
Simmer for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add 1 tsp corn starch.
Simmer for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Pour in salt and pepper (I like to use a LOT of pepper).
Stir in the pasta.
Leave simmer for 2 minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Stir in 1 more tsp of corn starch.
Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally so it hardens, but doesn't stick to the pan.

Now you can add some more salt and pepper, throw on some sauteed tofu and broccoli, and serve it! Yum!!!
You can also make an extra batch of the sauce, to pour over top the noodles after they're on your plate if you want it super creamy!

Enjoy!

Start Selling Online in Minutes!

Peace Love and Vegan Alfredo
Jess <3

More Vegan Recipes You Might Like;

P.S. Don't forget to share it around!

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29 Reasons Why...I'm 29 and don't have a Baby!

3/12/2016

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Happy Birthday to me!!!!
Today I am 29 years old (Holy Moly!), and instead of reminiscing on birthdays past (ok I might do that a little bit), or reviewing my life's adventures and/or purpose (after all, I do that almost constantly!), I decided to write a piece about why I do not have children! Because, let's face it, once you get married, and/or start creeping towards that thirty year mark, people start to wonder! Whether out loud or to themselves, "When are you going to have a baby?!"

*Caution! If you do have babies, do not get offended! This is for me, and for all those ladies (and men) out there who feel baby pressure coming at them!*

My 21st Birthday!

Ok so let's get right into it! Yes, I am 29 years old. Yes, I am married. Yes, I do plan on having a baby or two eventually. But not now. Whyyyyyyy you might ask (as do so many others!)?

I have heard people say that having kids was the best thing they every did/the only thing they ever did right/the best thing that ever happened to them/the only thing they're proud of/their only reason for living. That's fine and dandy for them, but I personally would like to have a life I'm proud of that does not include children. Once I have them, of course I would like to be good at it, and be proud of it, but resting your entire life's purpose/reason for living on the head of a baby is a dangerous thing.
So here I have for you, my 29 reasons why I'm 29 and don't have a baby!

#1. I wanted to wait until I was married to have a baby. I just got married last year at the age of 28, and #2. I did not want to rush into baby making right after tying the knot! Getting married and moving in together was a huge enough change, throw in a living breathing dependent, and that would be just too much to handle! And #3. I wanted me and the brand new husband to have time together, just us, to enjoy each other, soak in the wedded bliss, and get comfortable with each other! Think about it, if you have a baby right after you get married, then you have at least 18 years until you can be completely alone with your significant other again! Crazy!

My 22nd Birthday!

#4. I enjoy sleeping, #5. taking baths, #6. drinking wine, #7. blogging, #8. reading, #9. watching Netflix for long periods of time, #10. listening to loud music, #11. doing yoga, #12. having money, #13. going out with friends, #14. going on dates with my man, and #15. being on my own time schedule waaaaaaaaaay too much to give all that up for a baby! Is that selfish of me? Absolutely not! Why give up making myself happy (which is a very important thing!) to do something that is not a necessity? Yes, if I were to accidentally have a baby right now, I would do the responsible and un-selfish thing of giving up a lot of things to take care of it! But! Since I have the option, why not enjoy my life a little first?!

My 23rd Birthday!

#16. I like to always have my hair done, #17. do my makeup, #18. and put together my ridiculously crazy outfits! #19. I am a neat freak and want my house clean at all times! Enough said! #20. I am not worried about being too old, thank you very much to all of you rude people out there who so uncouthly stare at me with mouths agape, astonished at my plans to have children after I'm 30! "But! You'll be too old!" They shout! Well, if you must know, my mom had me when she was 31, followed by two boys, and then the last healthy baby at 38 years of age! Plus, #21. I have no desire or urge to pop out a whole herd of children, a couple will do! So that eliminates a lot of the time factor. Plus plus! #22. Me and Nick plan to adopt. We know that there are millions of children worldwide who are already born (so how selfish is it to only want a child that you have to make from scratch, when there are already ones born that need families!), and who need someone to come along and save them, give them a chance to feel loved, safe, and happy. We want to be prepared for that responsibility.

My 24th Birthday!

#23. I like my body too much! Ok, this one isn't as selfish as it sounds, I promise! You see, I just signed with a modeling agency, and it would be quite the bummer to have that dream dashed by a baby bump! #24. And I also just am not ready for stretch marks, gaining weight, veins, and all the other unsightly things that happen to the female body when she has a child. #25. My husband and I have great ambitions for ourselves. We want to be successful, wealthy, and have a handful of businesses that we can call ours. In order to achieve these ambitions, we need time, money, and focus. All things that, I would imagine, are in short supply when a baby is involved. I had a well meaning person tell me not too long ago, "You can't wait until everything's perfect to have a baby, or else it will never happen!" Well, as a matter of fact, I can! I'm not saying I want to wait until everything's perfect, but maybe close to perfect! I am very ambitious, smart, and determined! I have no doubt in myself, my abilities, or my dreams! So don't tell me to give all that up for something that you in your own mind perceive as necessity.

My 25th Birthday!

#26. I donate a lot of my time to the organizations P.A.T.H.S, and Eden, both dedicated to helping the victims of human trafficking. The position I filled at P.A.T.H.S was vacant because it's pretty time consuming, and the person running it had to step down because she needed to take care of her children. I enjoy, and wish to continue working with these world-changing organizations (Added bonus! If people are bugging you saying that you need to have babies to make you feel useful, or to give you purpose, then instead, join a non-profit, or volunteer somewhere!)! #27. Honestly, I feel like having a baby will age me! I still feel incredibly young, being on the cuff of 30 and all, but I think that having a baby will make me feel my age! And I'm just not quite ready for that! #28. Anyone can procreate! It's not like it's this huge feat that's never been done before! I was put on this earth to do great things! So I will do them! and lastly, #29. I was born to travel. It is my destiny, and my love. I am meant to throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in my sails. Explore. Dream. And Discover [Mark Twain]. Having a baby would seriously affect that.

My 26th Birthday!

So for now, me and Nick will continue our lives of dreaming, wandering, loving each other, helping others, and being ridiculously happy!

*So next time someone tries to make you feel like the odd man out for your non child-bearing decision, show them this list, or better yet, make your own!*

Peace Love and 29 with no Babies
Jess <3

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Guest Post; Outfits for this Winter

3/7/2016

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Today My Peace Love Life is honored to have our very first ever guest blogger! Today we have Nikki Vergakes from Dollar Store Diva here to write about "Looking cute this winter!"
And! If you pop on over to her blog, you can see the post that I wrote on the same subject!

"In the Northeast, this winter is hitting us hard. It's also been hitting us soft. It's been a winter of ups and downs weather wise. It may be typical New England weather. It may be global warming. It may be a combination of both. That just means you have to be versatile! Versatility is just an expected characteristics of a New Englander. In the name of versatility, I've designed three winter-proof outfits for different occasions. One is business casual and for a conference, one is for a relaxing day doing errands/around campus, and one is for a day in the office. These are all things that I've had to do in my life recently and what I've worn to them. All of these outfits have layers that can be taken off and on in case it gets warmers and colder. The two professional outfits also have a day to night part of them.

This outfit can also be worn with leggings instead of tights if its especially cold that day. It was indeed very cold that day, so I ended up going with the leggings. The sweater adds the warmth and texture of winter. High boots are key. Dress: Forever 21 Necklace: Forever 21 Sweater: BDG Boots: Qupid (thrifted)

Here's my around campus look. You know those people that say leggings aren't pants? I'm not one of them. A pair of jeans has to be really really special for me to wear them. Clearly, I haven't found any lately Headband - Forever 21 Leggings - Athletic Socks - Target Boots - Primark Shirt - Land's End (thrifted)

This is my business casual night to day look. It was a beautiful, unseasonal day in Boston. 60 degrees had me sweating in my blazer. I went to a concert at night, so once I took my blazer off, I was ready to go. Blazer - Marshalls Necklace - The Icing Dress - Francescas Socks - Forever 21 Boots - Urban Outfitters"

Nikki Vergakes is a Massachusetts native and undergrad Communications student at Salem State University minoring in Interactive Design and Health. At Salem State University, she manages the Student Involvement Office social media, 91.7 WMWM Salem PR, and is the VP of the Public Relations Student Society of America. She is interning in the Public Relations Department of Peabody Essex Museum this semester. She started Dollar Store Diva in 2012 as a personal style blog and since then it has flourished into a lifestyle/ health blog as well. More of her writing can be found on ssuactivities.wordpress.com.