Beautiful couple...beautiful wedding at Hotel 1000 Seattle

They say that if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. Having had the great pleasure to help plan Robin & Brian's recent wedding proves that saying to be true. They had a gorgeous, intimate wedding with family and friends at the beautiful Hotel 1000 in downtown Seattle.

Thanks, as always, to the amazing photographer - Jack Young - for sharing his work, and to our other fabulous vendors for their time and incredible talent. They always make us shine and we are forever grateful.

This was a beautiful day and one that we'll always treasure.

Happy Graduation, Taylor!

One of my best friends in the world (Murphy) has two gorgeous daughters. The youngest one, Taylor Sawyer, is graduating this week from high school and is off to college with a soccer scholarship.


Time always kind of hits you when you see rites of passage like this - especially when you've known the honored guest for many years. As I look at what a gorgeous young woman she's become, I'm filled with laughter and fond memories over our times together these past 12 years. (Yes, Murphy. It's been twelve glorious years of friendship. ha ha).


So, Taylor, my love and wishes are with you as you turn the pages to begin the next chapter in the story of your life. May all of your dreams come true. Godspeed. xooxox - Jody

I leave you with this oldie but goodie from Mary Schmich. Enjoy!

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

A beautiful, intimate wedding....

Photos by Jack Young Photography

Once in a great while, there are no words that can accurately describe the amazing weddings and events we are honored to be a part of. The gorgeous wedding that we were blessed to be a part of last weekend was one of those 'amazing' ones.

The bride was beyond gorgeous - a Southern Belle with class and grace that came so naturally it was breathtaking. The groom - a handsome, self-described 'type A' executive with a heart of gold and the same amazing taste as his lovely bride. Talk about a match made in heaven.

It was our joy to work with them and their family to make their long-dreamed of fairy-tale wedding come true. We are chalking them up to 'our favorites' and look forward to hearing more about their honeymoon and life beyond.

Lucky us. Congrats, Robin & Brian. Thanks for letting us be a part of this amazing day.

Love always,

The Good Taste Gals

Up and coming wedding planners!

Lots of DIY fun happened at our Edmonds studio this past Tuesday evening. Maude May and I ("the Good Taste Gals") are teaching a wedding planning class through The Wedding Planning Institute at the Everett Community College. Tuesday night Maude took the students on a fun and educational 'field trip' and had an invite and favor extravaganza at our Good Taste DIY studio. The students are now walking 'invite encyclopedias' - they learned everything from informal to formal wording and what should and should not (where the couple is registered for wedding gifts!!!!) go into a wedding invitation package.

The girls created lovely favors (full of chocolates, of course), in our DIYTM studio. Here they are with their pretty creations.

Happy Mothers Day!

My beautiful daughter, Kelsey.
(1988 - 1996)

My beautiful step-daughter, Heather.

I am truly Blessed.

Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, comrades and friends - but only one mother in the whole world.
~Kate Douglas Wiggin

Give me Moore!!!! Amazing jewelry & accessories by Heather Moore

Last night I stopped in one of my favorite local boutiques in our local town of Edmonds called C'est la vie. They always have unique, high quality, and fun items in stock. Even if I'm not in a buying mood, their store is so bright and happy that you feel good just browsing!

When I was there, the lovely owners showed me one of their latest lines that they're carrying and I fell in love. Heather Moore is the artist and her jewelry is out of this world. Completely personalized with gold or silver tokens with quotes, dates, name and real gems make each piece a work of art.

Take a look at her work when you need the perfect gift for that very special someone. She also has 'add on' bracelets and necklaces so you can start with a basic charm and add to it over birthdays and anniversary dates.

How fun to provide a groom with cuff links with his wedding date, your Mom with names of all her children, or girlfriends with some inspirational quotes?

Mammograms save lives

I am one of the millions of women who have survived breast cancer - the leading cause of cancer death among women ages 35 to 50. Tomorrow I will go in for my twice-annual mammogram and pray that I am still cancer free.

Today I am sending a reminder to all of the women out there who need to schedule their mammograms. Taking care of yourself to live a long and healthy life is truly one of the greatest gifts you can give to your family and friends.

My cancer was only detected through a mammogram. I had no other symptoms. That mammogram led to a mastectomy which ultimately, I believe, saved my life.

So today's message is please schedule your mammograms. Someone who loves you will be glad that you did!

Breast Cancer Statistics

• 1 out of every 8 American women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life
• Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women ages 35 to 50
• 250,000 US women living with the disease are under the age of 40
• 8 out of 9 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease
• 70% of women who develop breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors

Happy Birthday, Kelsey & Noah!

Happy Birthday to my precious daughter, Kelsey Miles!
April 16, 1988 - February 14, 1996
She would be turning 21 years old this year...

AND

Happy Birthday to my ultra-awesome, amazingly cool nephew, Noah!
April 16, 1998
(He was born ten years to the day after Kelsey!)
Noah is turning 11 years old today!!

I'm very Blessed.

Balloons as decor? Who knew?

I saw this beautiful and intriguing photograph by TiaMaria and was immediately struck by its simplicity and elegance. I have never been one to use balloons in much event decor (although I have seen a few amazing balloon structures and works), but after seeing this I may have to change my mind.

How lovely could this be for an outside ceremony or reception? The colors are perfect against the background. To me they seem like a fun (and inexpensive) alternative to twinkle lights or lanterns. Even if the wind decides to steal one or two, they can easily be replaced.

We'll share our photos as soon as we have an opportunity to try this new look.

Hippity Hoppity ... Easter's on the way!

Has Easter ever looked sweeter? It's such a special time of year and for my money, there are no more adorable and delicious goodies than these from Williams-Sonoma. Perfect to put in Easter baskets, at each place settings at your Easter table or to put in a pretty bag with a special note to drop off to a friend or neighbor, they are almost too pretty to eat!

Order early as they go quickly.

Enjoy this very Blessed time of the year.