Perfection

We all have our vices. Some drink. Some smoke. Me? I’m a perfectionist.

I was first self-diagnosed with perfectionism even as far back as elementary school, and from there, it only got worse as I made my way through high school and college. This is in part because, growing up in a blue collar family, with neither parent having gone to college and one not graduating from high school, I always knew that success – in my eyes, perfection – was my ticket to living the American dream.

And so I’ve always worked hard to excel at everything I put my mind to. Getting a 4.0 so that I could land scholarships to pay for college? Done. Getting a job on Capitol Hill, where some turned up their noses at, gasp, a public university graduate? Done. Getting into grad school and pursuing my dream jobs in the wedding world? Done and done.



But the truth is that although I work hard in everything I do, and for everything I have, no matter what successes I might achieve, I always feel that I should be doing more, accomplishing more. In short, I always feel that my achievements just aren’t “perfect” or good enough. Got a B on a tough exam? I should have worked even harder to get an A. Flaked out on exercise class to relax with a magazine? Not the habit of someone successful.

But in the midst of all the combined elation and stress I’ve been going through lately, I've finally realized that I am so much harder on myself than I would ever be on anyone else. Try as I might, I am simply not superwoman, and it’s time to stop this vicious cycle once and for all. Because perfection is unattainable and ultimately leads to perpetual dissatisfaction. Excellence, on the other hand, is something I can strive for and take pride in every day, allowing myself to fully appreciate what I do well, while forgiving myself and learning from my mistakes when I fail.

Life is short, and it shouldn’t be viewed as a constant struggle toward unattainable standards, especially when it’s yourself you’re struggling with. So, if you’re like me, a perfectionist, or even just too hard on yourself at times, I encourage you to stop what you’re doing every now and then, and as cheesy as it sounds, just take a moment to be proud. Proud of who you are, and proud of what you’ve done, no matter how imperfect or insignificant it may at times seem. Do it today, and do it often.

From now on, I promise that I will, too.

(Photo Credit: Personal Library)

DeAnna Pappas Reveals Her Wedding Vision!

As promised, celebrity bride DeAnna Pappas of Bachelorette fame is featured on the Weddzilla Blog today, sharing her unique wedding vision, stress-relieving planning secrets and gorgeous inspiration board. Check out the post by visiting the link above, and share your thoughts about her wedding details!

A Clean Home Is An Expensive Home…

…but worth every penny, in my opinion.

Last fall, after I started grad school and saw my schedule really start to go from hectic to crazy, Stephen and I decided that we just didn’t want to spend what little time we still have together on things like house cleaning and chores. So, we started to research cleaning services, considering a couple different companies before settling on Green Maid Works, which we got for $69 a month through a deal on Living Social. (If you aren’t signed up for this service or Groupon, you are totally missing out on some great deals!)

Things went well for the first couple months, with Green Maid coming in every fourth Thursday to vacuum, dust, mop, and clean the kitchen and bathrooms. Though we of course had to do some general cleaning and maintenance throughout the month, this service quickly became a real stress reliever, freeing us from having to do the biggest things on a regular basis.

But then, after I left my previous job following the elections last fall, we had a hard time deciding whether or not this was something that was worth the added expense, especially since these are things we of course can and have done for ourselves. Plus, Green Maid started to irritate us in some ways, such as not using the key we’d given them, confusing whether or not we’d be home, and refusing to reschedule when we had a guest staying with us.

In the end, however, we decided that if it saves us time and stress overall, allowing us more time to either spend together or in taking care of our other responsibilities, it’s well worth the extra cost, especially while we’re getting such a good deal. Whether we’ll continue after the deal expires is TBD, but for now, it’s a real load off my mind to have one less thing to worry about.

What about you? Is there anything you splurge on simply because it gives you peace of mind and allows you to stress less? How do you handle chores around the house?

Celebrity Encounters

Five years ago, if someone had told me I’d today be married to the love of my life, working in the wedding industry as a blog editor, and feeling so happy and hopeful about my future, I would have called them crazy. The truth is, though I have a journalism background and have always considered writing and editing my true passions, I came to D.C. to be a congressional aide and policy guru. Why? I guess I got a little sidetracked on the way to finding my niche and ultimate passion.

And I do feel that I have found it within the wedding world, where I’m able to find just the right balance of creativity and organizational logic in all that I do, whether managing a team of bloggers, writing a piece, or helping a bride plan her day. Of course, one of the most fun and exciting parts of all is the chance to interact with celebrities and other big names in the industry!

Since I started blogging, I’ve been able to connect and network with some truly fabulous people, including former Get Married CEO Stacie Francombe, Bridal Guide Editor Diane Forden, and respected wedding author Sharon Naylor. And now, this week, I had the amazing opportunity to interview celebrity bride DeAnna Pappas, of Bachelorette fame, who will be joining our Weddzilla team of bloggers every other Friday!



I’m so excited about welcoming her to Weddzilla, and can’t wait to share her story with our readers as she preps for her wedding this October. Visit the link above to check out the interview, and stay tuned for her first post!

Have you ever met or connected with celebrities or big names in your field?

Eco-Chic or Just Eco-Shabby?

As a newlywed and now blog editor, I’ve been to my fair share of bridal expos throughout the past couple years. Some are more inspiring than others, but in general, they can be crowded, loud and generic. Well, this past Sunday, I attended the Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase in Maryland, and let me just say, I’ve never before been to a more fun and unique bridal show!

This week, Stephen and I are recapping the show’s eco-friendly wedding highlights on Weddzilla, complete with quick tips for planning a green wedding, eco-friendly fashion inspiration, and my husband’s personal favorite, “the mancave.” Feel free to check out those posts, and in the meantime, let me know what you think about the following topic.



I don’t know about you, but going to eco-friendly events always leaves me feeling in many ways inspired, yet guilty and even overwhelmed at the same time. Though I’d like to believe I do what I can for the environment, including simple things like recycling, turning off the heat or air when I leave the house, and using energy-efficient light bulbs, I also feel there’s so much I don’t do, mostly because I just don’t make the time.

Yes, even though I know it’s important, the selfish and busy part of me feels that my schedule is already packed enough, and I’m embarrassed to admit that most of the time, I just don’t want to put in the energy, or some cases, the money, to go the extra mile to be green in all areas of my life. Composting? Seems like a lot of work for an apartment dweller. Buying local? I can hardly find time to get to the grocery store for five minutes as it is, let alone scrutinizing my every purchase. Looking back on our wedding, I’m sure it was probably not the most eco-friendly of affairs, either. And this makes me feel bad.

What about you? Are you doing all you can to live eco-chic, or do you struggle with being eco-shabby, the way I do? Those of you who are living green, what tips to you have for a busy, time-crunched gal like me?

(Photo Credit: Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase)