Thursday, February 18, 2010

DeShai Roberson on I Do Radio




DeShai Roberson of Oh So Chic Wedding & Event Planning has been planning & coordinating events in San Diego for 5 years. With a degree in Interior Design and a passion for color, DeShai loves to present her clients with new and fun ideas to make their event unique and "cleverly stylish".

DeShai has spent the past few years building and nurturing relationships with some of San Diego's most sought after vendors. Her warm personality and vibrant spirit is what makes couples entrust their most memorable day in her hands.

DeShai will be featured on I Do Radio, Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 10 am PT/1pm ET. Please join us as she shares her wedding planning advice.



Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Early Bird Special for Celebrate the Joy Workshop

Get 10% OFF "Celebrate The Joy - Black Marriage Day 2010" workshop.

Early Birds use promo code: IDo_InBlack for discount



Black Marriage Day in Long Beach, Ca


CELEBRATE THE JOY, is in support of Black Marriage Day, on March 28, 2010.

The stats on black marriage, in the words of the African American Healthy Marriage Initiative, are "crisis-level statistics." While 62 percent of adult whites and 60 percent of adult Hispanics are married, only 41 percent of adult African-Americans are.

There are 23 divorces per 1,000 black couples per year, compared to 19 for whites. The number of unmarried women having children is high for whites and Hispanics as well (25 percent and 42 percent, respectively), but astronomical for African-Americans: 69 percent.

Changing the mindset of African American couples towards marriage is very important. In order to build strong families, you need the proper tool - knowledge. Knowledge of self, your fiance and your expectations of your new life together. Not living up the statistics can be a reality when given the proper tools to do so.

We will touch on different subjects during this workshop. Lasting only 3 hours to give plenty of time for in-depth discussion on those issues that mean the most to you. Done in a Q & A format, there are no right or wrong answers.

- Relationships
- Finances
- Home
- Housekeeping

- Children & Parenting
- Social Activities
- Red Flag Warnings



WHAT'S THE SPECIAL OFFER?

Rev. Angela Butts-Chester of Blessings All Around will provide Officiant service for the "Just for Two" package free of charge. Total package is $350 ... you save $100!!


Events




Wednesday, February 10, 2010

What's Color Got To Do With It?


As the spring weddings dates slowly start to approach, you are seeing more and more color appearing in the wedding ads. I have always been one to love color - just in moderation. Nothing to bright and "loud", but nothing so soft that it gets washed out in your photos by the flash.

There is one website that I think can help brides when making her color selection. The Dressy Group has a section called Pantone Wedding. There you are able to make color selection with absolute color certainty.

Whether you are a lover of plum and green or black and white, this is a place to visit for the perfect color selection.

Here's to a beautiful wedding!



Friday, February 05, 2010

Why You Should Care About Marriage In America

Why You Should Care About Marriage In America

By Sheila Weber

- FOXNews.com

One of the best things we can do for our country is to strengthen and support marriage. National Marriage Week USA is a powerful new initiative that aims to do just that.

Some Americans see marriage as something they can go in and out of if it becomes unrewarding or difficult; some see it as unnecessary to their lives. But deep down, most people wish they could have a rewarding lifelong commitment with their spouse. Marriage, by its very nature, is intended to be a covenant relationship, not consumer relationship. In the midst of many external challenges, we forget how marriage can benefit our personal lives. We are losing our determination and the skills to keep our marriages healthy and strong.

This is a major reason for a new initiative called National Marriage Week USA. The initiative will runs this year from February 7 - 14. Surprisingly, several other countries, including the UK, Germany, the Czech Republic, Ireland and Australia all have had significant public awareness and activities for National Marriage Week for the last 20 years.

If you hadn’t heard about it, the week leading up to Valentine’s Day has had some U.S. attention since 2002 by those in the marriage education field. But a new initiative in 2010 seeks to build a broader collaboration and to elevate marriage to the national attention it deserves.

Marriage is in crisis. A new Marriage Index released in October, 2009 reports that in 1970 nearly 80 percent of all adult Americans were married; today that has dropped to 57 percent. The Marriage Index also reports that today 40 percent of all American children are born out of wedlock, with 70 percent of babies in African-American families born without a married mother and father.

Why should we care? Because marriage is the best way to overcome poverty, and it is proven as the best circumstance for raising children. Research overwhelmingly shows that lack of marriage or divorce impoverishes women and children. In addition, boys reared apart from their father are twice as more likely to spend time in prison by age 32 as those who were raised in a married home headed by their own mother and father. Teenage girls who are raised by their own father are much more likely to resist the advances of boys or young men who do not have their best interests at heart. In fact, 35 percent of adolescent girls whose father left before the age of six became pregnant, compared to just 5 percent of girls who were raised by their mother and father. Research also overwhelmingly makes the case that married folks live longer, enjoy better health, greater personal happiness, more well adjusted children, and greater financial stability. (All research references can be found at www.nationalmarriageweekUSA.org)

Americans must start to credit anew the personal, social and cultural value of marriage. In April 2008, economists reported that it costs U.S. taxpayers a whopping $112 billion a year for divorce and unwed childbearing. In these devastating economic times, Americans of all stripes and persuasions need to put on their activist boots and get to work to re-build a culture that values traditional marriage and learns again, as many from earlier generations did, how to become responsible and thriving married people.

It can be discouraging to hear this generation’s stories about failed politicians and formerly revered athletes like Tiger Woods. But there are many positive, untold stories from the heroic work done daily by scores of marriage educators about unions restored and families put back on track. It’s also true that folks need help, but they don’t always know where to get it.

National Marriage Week USA seeks to strengthen individual marriages, reduce the divorce rate, and build a stronger marriage culture. If we can accomplish those goals we will also help reduce poverty and strength our children. Together we can make more impact than working alone. We want folks across the country to recommit to work on their own marriages, to mobilize their community to get on board and to work together to host special marriage conferences and events, launch a marriage class or home group, or stir create or news coverage on the local level.

Every other skill in this country has a school—literally a facility of bricks and mortar. But not marriage. Religious institutions are possibly the greatest avenue to become a natural “school” for marriage. Church leaders understand that marriages within the church may be hurting just as much as those outside of the church. But only 28 percent of churches in America offer even one marriage course, so local congregations can be a powerful first place to start a new concerted effort to strengthen marriage. Church leaders can get started by listening to a one-hour Webinar by leading pastors and social scientists to get practical advice on how to help at www.nationalmarriageweekUSA.org. Right now National Marriage Week USA is putting forth the call for a marriage ministry in every congregation in America.

There are stresses and challenges in the midst of raising children, maintaining jobs and paying the bills. But throughout my nearly 30 years of marriage, I’ve experienced something personally profound and have observed it countless times in others—when couples commit to work through their issues, learn about themselves and make changes to become more the person they need to be…then there is comfort, companionship, and greater financial stability on the other side of the conflict. There is no better way to go into old age than with the person with whom you have weathered life’s storms – the one who has been a witness to your life’s journey.

Americans need to stop thinking of marriage as a consumer relationship—if we don’t, we’ll always want a refund or an exchange because there is no perfect product. But when we view marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman unto death, not as a throwaway consumer relationship, the chances are enormously higher for personal growth, better health, greater happiness, a longer life, and greater well being for our children.

Sheila Weber is the executive director of National Marriage Week USA and the “Let’s Strengthen Marriage” campaign. To work on your own marriage, help others, or make a difference in your community— get information, research, and resources at www.nationalmarriageweekUSA.org. You can “Post an Event” and sort the list by state to find an event near your home. You can also click Join the Campaign and “Tell Us What You’re Doing,” and read creative examples of what others are doing around the nation.

Faith and Finances in the Christian Marriage

Last year when we witnessed first hand the economy decline, marriages were tested on new levels. Christian marriages were also tested and some ended in divorce because of the finances. How does a husband and wife hold on to their faith when it seems as if their finances are becoming less and less. They are praying, yet they do not see a change in their situation.

What is a husband or wife to do when one spouse is continuing to hold on to their faith, yet the other spouse’s faith has been shaken. Now not only is the marriage dealing with the financial issues but now they will be dealing with shaken faith which impacts the marriage on a different level. How does a couple hold on when it appears what they are doing is not working?

Join Dr. Taffy and Rev. Angela Chester on February 8, 2010 at 8pm EST as they discuss Faith and Finances for the beginning of the Money and Marriage Teleseminars during National Marriage Week.

Sign up here for the call in information: http://financesandfaith.eventbrite.com/


Event created by Dr. Taffy Wagner

National Marriage Week

Money and Marriage Teleseminars during National Marriage Week

February 7 – 14, 2010

Join us for a week of seminars to enhance and encourage Marriage within the Community.

Sunday, February 7, 2010 – Superbowl Sunday – No seminar this night but encouraging couples to get together with friends and watch the game.

Monday, February 8, 2010 – Faith and Finances with Rev. Angela Butts Chester

Desc: Christian Marriages often struggle in the area of finances which can lead to denial, division and divorce. Join us as we discuss steps to focus on your finances and establish a financial foundation that can encourage your faith and lead to financial success.

To reserve your space for this seminar – http://financesandfaith.eventbrite.com/

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 – Romance and Finances with Mary Chatman, CEO of Love Life Designs, LLC

Desc: Romance does not have to decline because finances are tight. Join Mary Chatman, CEO of Love Life Designs and learn ways to be romantic regardless of your financial status.

To reserve your space for this seminar – http://romanceandfinance.eventbrite.com/

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 – Black Marriage and Money Panel – Dr. Harold Arnold, Talayah Stovall and Christine Pembleton

Desc: Money is a “taboo” subject. Marriage is not popular within the black community. Join us tonight as we discuss how Black Marriage and Money can be successful and at the same time change the studies and have more couples prepared for Black Marriage and Money.

To reserve your space for this seminar – http://blackmarriageandmoney.eventbrite.com/

Thursday, February 11, 2010 – Money Management Skills for the Entrepreneur Wife with Teisha Houston

Desc: Wives that are entrepreneurs wear many hats. What does being an entrepreneur wife mean and how can it impact family finances? Join me as I interview Teisha Houston, CEO of The Business Coach for Moms about being an entrepreneur wife and what money means to her family and yours.

Register here: http://entrepeneurwifeandmoney.eventbrite.com/

Friday, February 12, 2010 – Money and Marriage is a Lifestyle with Dr. Taffy Wagner, Suzanne Mayo and Lavonia Perryman of Black America Saves

Desc: Recapping the week of seminars. We have had discussions about faith and finance, romance and finance, preparing for money and marriage, money management skills for the entrepreneur. Discussing how these different roles should equip married couples to leave a financial legacy for their families.

Register here: http://moneyandmarriagelifestyle.eventbrite.com/

Saturday, February 13, 2010 – Valentine’s Day Weekend

No seminar but encouraging married couples to celebrate their love not just today but everyday.


Dr. Taffy Wagner is the creator of this event.