Page 1 of Maureen Thomson's writing

1. Cell Phone be gone! The topic of cell phones seems to keep appearing in my life of late, so here are a few thoughts. First of all, I don't seem to get cell phone coverage in my new home in Manzanita, Oregon. If I go out onto my front porch and it's not raining, I... (posted by Maureen 2 years 196 days ago.)

2. Want the Absolute Best Customer Service? Learn to be a Good Customer You've all heard it. Customer satisfaction is our #1 priority No one beats our Customer Service...NOBODY The customer is always right. While it's true that every business--regardless of its size--needs to make customer... (posted by Maureen 2 years 199 days ago.)

3. The Perks of Grandparent-hood My husband and I took granddaughter Kaydi to Disney World last month. We knew before we left that this would be an undertaking, neither of us being 30 (or anywhere close) anymore and not having firsthand experience at parenting a 3-year old for... (posted by Maureen 2 years 199 days ago.)

4. 10 Tips to Alleviate Wedding Day Stress In spite of all the planning that you put into your wedding day, when the day actually arrives, it can still be a whirlwind of pressure and last-minute decisions. Even the calmest of brides can become stressed under these circumstances. Here are... (posted by Maureen 2 years 199 days ago.)

5. Tips to Personalize your Wedding Ceremony Make your ceremony POP no matter what your budget. Here are some ideas: Choose a humorous reading. Sure, Kahlil Gibran and Corinthians are beautiful time-honored pieces, but for some zing, try Dr. Suess's Oh the Places You'll Go , or recite... (posted by Maureen 2 years 199 days ago.)

6. Why so Much Money for 20 Minutes? The Question of the Officiating Fee I was flabbergasted to receive an email the other day, chastising me for the price of our Classic Custom ceremony fee. According the writer's calculations, the fee for a "15 minute ceremony" resulted in us obtaining the astronomical hourly rate of... (posted by Maureen 2 years 199 days ago.)

7. How to Involve your Dog in your Wedding Ceremony I used to live in , and people there are nuts for their mutts! Leash-free dog parks and pooch-friendly businesses abound. has been voted one of the top pet-friendly cities in the country by Forbes Magazine. And this doggie-mania often extends to... (posted by Maureen 2 years 199 days ago.)

8. Have a Friend Officiate your Wedding Ceremony For a variety of reasons, many couples are turning away from church weddings in favor of nontraditional locations in which to hold their wedding ceremonies. Some couples site the desire to hold their wedding and reception in the same location.... (posted by Maureen 2 years 199 days ago.)

9. Are you being TOO Efficient in your Wedding Planning? Putting together a wedding--at least one of any significant size--is a lesson in organizing, attending to details and planning. The most organized of brides heft around a cumbersome binder, into which goes every receipt, timeline... (posted by Maureen 2 years 199 days ago.)

10. 10 ways to Involve Your Fiance in the Wedding Planning Process Let's face it, the wedding planning process is geared toward the female psyche. Why else would there be so much emphasis on the elements of colors, flowers, emotions, fashion and cake? (Okay, maybe the guys can embrace the cake idea, but forget... (posted by Maureen 2 years 199 days ago.)

11. Why it's so Great to have a Husband The author's personal (and highly subjective) list of why it's so great having husband Jeremy around. Hopefully, it will get all you brides to reflect on your own Top 10. And obvious ones like "he takes out the garbage" and "I'm always assured of... (posted by Maureen 2 years 199 days ago.)

12. 10 Affirmations for a Perfect Wedding We know the wedding planning process can be stressful and hope that these tongue-in-cheek affirmations will get you through with a song in your heart and a smile on your face. 1) Wearing white makes me look thin. 2) I interact with my... (posted by Maureen 2 years 199 days ago.)

13. Ways to Personalize your Wedding Ceremony, no matter what your Budget Make your wedding ceremony POP no matter what your budget. Here are some ideas: Choose a humorous reading. Sure, Kahlil Gibran and Corinthians are beautiful time-honored pieces, but for some zing, try Dr. Suess's Oh the Places You'll Go , or... (posted by Maureen 2 years 201 days ago.)

14. The Seven Deadly Sins of Brides to Be The Seven Deadly Sins as applied to brides-to-be! Lust You may be in love with the idea of being married, getting married, planning your wedding and being in love. You can't get enough of bridal magazines, wedding planning websites, cake... (posted by Maureen 2 years 201 days ago.)

15. Why You Shouldn't even THINK about a Courthouse Wedding Dum, dum, de dum, here comes the bride...all eyes turn toward you as you enter the room....looking radiant, serene....the picture of bliss. Oh but wait, before you take your walk down the (very short) aisle, you must pause in order to pass through... (posted by Maureen 2 years 201 days ago.)

16. Why Elope? Let's preface this article by saying that I am unashamedly biased in favor of eloping. That is not to say that we don't advocate (and love) larger gatherings. At Lyssabeth's we see the joy in celebrating all kinds of commitments of love, be they... (posted by Maureen 3 years 275 days ago.)

17. Things to Consider in Choosing Your Wedding Officiant Choosing a ceremony officiant for your big day can be a daunting task. If you are getting married in your church or synagogue, the decision is simple.--you take what they give you, usually. But maybe you don't belong to a church yet want a... (posted by Maureen 3 years 275 days ago.)

18. Don't be a Bridezilla! Whether you are well underway in your wedding planning, or taking a more laid-back (translated "procrastination") approach, you have many decisions to make in the upcoming months. Planning your wedding can be a challenging as well as... (posted by Maureen 3 years 275 days ago.)

19. Memorializing Deceased Family Members in Your Wedding Ceremony Your wedding day can be a bittersweet celebration if you've lost a parent or other close family member. While on the one hand, you're thrilled to be proclaiming your love and commitment before your family and friends, you can't help but be... (posted by Maureen 3 years 275 days ago.)

20. Go Ahead and Laugh Humor can get us through some very sticky moments. Picture the following scenario: The beautiful bride descending the staircase with her beaming father to the hushed awe of her guests. Such a poignant moment. She's so elegant, so poised, so... (posted by Maureen 3 years 278 days ago.)

21. Conduct Your Own Wedding Rehearsal One thing that can substantially raise the fee charged by your wedding officiant is the need to have him or her present at your rehearsal. This is a justifiable expense, for oftentimes the officiant is giving up the chance to perform another... (posted by Maureen 3 years 278 days ago.)

22. We're Not Religious But My Parents Are. Help! One of the stresses that many couples face in planning their wedding ceremony is when their religious beliefs (or lack thereof) conflict with those of their parents or grandparents. Gone are the days when the God-fearing children of God-fearing... (posted by Maureen 3 years 278 days ago.)

23. The Delicate Issue of Steps Consider yourself unusual if you and your spouse-to-be both have parents that are still married to each other (not your parents to your fianc's parents of course, cuz.well.that would be justwell.WRONG, but you know what I mean-both of your... (posted by Maureen 3 years 278 days ago.)

24. Make An Entrance! 10 Ways To Get You and Your Entourage Down the Aisle Groom waits up front with best man and groomsmen. Bridesmaids enter one by one, unescorted, followed by flower girl/ring-bearer, with Bride entering last. Note: This is the best choice if your numbers of men and women in your bridal party are not... (posted by Maureen 3 years 278 days ago.)

25. Plan Your Wedding in 30 Days So he's popped the question. Let the games begin! Most wedding advisors urge you to begin planning your wedding anywhere from 12 to 18 months before the big day. To quote one online source; "We know it sounds simple but the key to successful... (posted by Maureen 3 years 282 days ago.)