How do you know the diamond you are eyeing is worth the asking price? Consult Truth About Diamonds.

Founder Ira Weissman wants you and your groom to buy a diamond like an expert diamond dealer. That means not getting ripped off.

“It always bothered me that I was a part of this business that teaches people to spend well beyond their means to buy what amounts to a useless little polished rock,” he says.

Ira has been knee deep in the diamond industry for more than a decade. As a former salesman for Leo Schachter,  Ira has endured what he describes as a “rigorous” training process to learn everything there is to know about diamonds.

“It generally lasted about a year.  In the beginning, we sat in the factory and learned the basics of diamond cutting … After that, we generally sat in the sorting room for many months.  This time was critical.  You see, anybody can learn what “reads nice” on diamond certificates, but only a trained expert can take a pile of diamonds and sort them from least valuable to most valuable in the shortest amount of time possible,” he explains. 

In 2008, Ira decided it was time to share his extensive knowledge of diamonds with the world, so he created the website Truth About Diamonds. His knowledge even landed him a spot on Anderson Cooper.

If you and your groom are shopping for a ring, be a savvy shopper and head on over to TruthAboutDiamonds.com.

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When I was a teenager I aspired to become a famous poet. One whose presence would be in demand at nationwide book signings and glamorous cocktail parties with celebrity poets like Leonard Cohen and Margaret Atwood.  Never mind that I was deathly afraid of reciting my poetry or that my fear of rejection prevented me from submitting poems to contests or literary publications.  Somehow, I would be discovered – probably in a smoky bar. He would be tall, dark and chiseled – and he would be a literary agent.

My delusional adolescent haze lifted during first year university. (What a drag!) Who in the hell makes a living writing poetry? Famous poets are dead. Or tortured. I’d probably have to drink a 40 ouncer every night to summon the muse; my liver was already pickled enough without having to add that to the mix.  I put away my scribblers and went on to chase different dreams.

But not everyone abandons poetry. Some people go on to make a living at it. Like Silvi Alcivar.

Silvi, who owns The Poetry Store, writes poetry on demand. You can even hire her for your wedding. This couple did.

I interviewed Silvi, who lives in California, about The Poetry Store Wedding Booth. Perhaps it will inspire you to nix the photo booth, and hire a poet instead. And for all of you poets and writers out there struggling to make a living – maybe it’s time to think outside the scribbler – and  inside the booth!

Tell me how the process works.

Guests find me at my charming vintage desk and typewriter, they choose a piece of paper that matches the wedding’s themes and colors, then I ask them a couple of questions. In 3 minutes or less, I give your guest a completely original, typed-on-the-spot poem! Yep, in about the same time it takes a group of people to squeeze into a photo booth, take some pictures, and have the photos printed, I compose a unique keepsake made especially for your guest.

Because I try to make guests feel like they don’t have to rush or wait in line to get a poem, I’ve found it best to set up The Poetry Store Wedding Booth beginning with cocktail hour and continuing through dinner and then dancing. Of course, every wedding’s different, but I generally set-up for 4-5 hours, making sure I can write as many poems as possible while I’m there.

 One poem per guest?

 In general, there’s a sort of unspoken rule of one poem per guest, but it really depends on the wedding. I’ve written poems at weddings as big as 1500 and as small as 47. On average I’m able to write 15-20 poems in an hour. People often get poems as a couple or as a group of friends, so that means that, in an hour, I’m often writing for more than 15 or 20 people. The goal, of course, is to make sure that everyone who wants a poem gets one, which is why I offer this guarantee: If any guest at the wedding does not get a poem, they can place an order with me, in the 2 weeks after the event, free of charge.  

 How are the poems presented?

 All poems are presented in a hand stamped envelope. For an additional fee, you can give your guests poems in a bottle or in a frame. One of my favorite weddings used the frames first as each person’s seat marker and then as the frames for their poem. So fun!

 How much do you charge?

Rates always vary a little depending on the size, scope, and location of events. But it’s less than or equal to what most photo booths charge (and way more unique, if I do say so myself) 😉

Are there other poets that you know of doing this?

Nope.

How long have you been doing this?

I’ve been writing on-demand poems at events of all kinds for the last 4 years. It’s been so much fun and such an honor to write thousands of poems for thousands of people.

 How is this received by guests?

People love poems! When I ask, “Would you like a poem?” The response is almost always an enthusiastic, “Yes!” What I do delights and entertains people, giving them a personalized (and often very personal) experience they literally take away in their hands. Quite often one person in the room gets a poem and then they run around showing other people what just happened, encouraging other people to get a poem of their own. This often means friends and strangers alike are gushing to each other, striking up conversation that might not have happened. I don’t often have people who are shy, though some people need to be asked questions while others give me all the juicy details without my having to ask. My favorite part about writing poems at weddings is how grateful guests are toward the wedding couple for giving them such a unique, experiential, and memorable gift. Guests don’t just get poems, but something unexpected—“a poem? from a typewriter? for me?”—and they love it because it’s a gift that makes them feel loved.

How’s business?

I am pretty busy, yes! And so grateful to be busy. I always encourage potential clients to book as soon as they know because my calendar fills up fast. In fact, I already have a few events booked for 2013! …  Though weddings are my favorite events, I write poems at events of all kinds: birthdays, showers, corporate parties, art openings, you name it!

 Anything else you’d like to tell us?

Because I also make art and jewelry, it’s possible to have The Poetry Store at your wedding without actually having me on site! You can give the people in your wedding party poems in bottles, necklaces, or cuff links as gifts. I also make poetry art centerpieces and décor. Any thing I make, I’d be happy to incorporate into your special day.

Watch Silvi in action:

Photo One: Meg Perotti; Photo Two: Rachel Thurston

You don’t need a fancy schmancy mold to make garden stepping stones; all you need is a non-stick cake pan! And you won’t even ruin the pan!

I stumbled on a new – and EASIER way to make mosaic stepping stones; it’s called the indirect method and it involves contact paper. I think these would make awesome favors or gifts for a garden wedding. Just get your maids together on a Saturday afternoon and have a stepping stone party. They’re inexpensive to make – and they don’t require much skill.

You will need:

• Round non-stick cake pan (You could also use a heart-shaped pan)
• Vaseline
• Contact paper
• Old plates or saucers that you don’t need (I got mine at the thrift store)
• Glass gems
• sea glass (optional)
• concrete
• marine varnish
• Mosaic Glass Cutter (Optional. I did not use of of these, but if you want more precise cuts, this is the way to go.)
• chicken wire or other type of wire mesh
• safety glasses
• rubber gloves
• dust mask
• hammer
• bucket
• trowel
• water
  Continue Reading How to Make Stepping Stones – with a Cake Pan…

Got your groom’s outfit picked out yet? What about the guys in the wedding party? Choosing an ensemble just got a whole lot easier, thanks to the Tuxedo Builder App from Jim’s Formal Wear.

In fact, you don’t have to leave your couch to create the perfect outfit. Just load the free app onto your iPad or iPhone and you’re good to go.

The Tuxedo Builder App from Jim’s Formal Wear lets you browse oodles of styles and color combinations to create your own ensemble. Want to match the groomsmen with the bridesmaids? Jim’s Formal Wear has 175 vest options that coordinate with any dress color.  Use the Color Selector on the app to find your perfect shade.

The groom or any of the guys in the wedding party can upload a photo of themselves, attach it to the tuxedo ensemble and post the image to Facebook, Twitter or email it to friends and family for instant feedback.

Once the perfect outfit has been created, simply email it to your local Jim’s Formal Wear retailer (the app’s Store Locator allows you to find a retailer near you and offers money-saving coupons) to set up an appointment and speed up the ordering process.

Want it? Get the free Tuxedo Builder App.

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Peonies are my favorite flower. I love their voluminous shape and the multitude of gorgeous colors they come in. Peonies look great by themselves in bud vases or grouped together in bouquets. They are also a great way to add flare to a cake.

These cakes are beautiful on their own, but they are made more unique, and special, by the additions of the peonies.