Real Wedding: River Vale, NJ

My friends Laura & Josh tied the knot earlier this month in River Vale, New Jersey at The Estate at Florentine Gardens for a beautiful outdoor ceremony and indoor reception.

I was really impressed with how the couple brought in the latest technology & social media to add to their celebration and to better connect everyone.

Guests were given the custom hashtag #ChasingLaura (the groom's last name is Chaise, so how cute is that?) for any photos uploaded to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. We were also given a code to use a free wedding app called WedPics, which allowed everyone to post their mobile pics directly to a group album to view, share and download instantly.

The Knot recently listed the Top 10 Trends in Weddings for 2015 and among which was embracing tech like selfie sticks. Remember years ago, people would put those disposable cameras on the table? Now, brides and grooms should consider adding a Selfie Stick to encourage  candid pics that a wedding photographer wouldn't take. I thought I'd test this idea out and brought with me a Selfie Stick from The Click Stick, which allowed for some fun dance floor pics and large group shots. Sure, I looked a little weird having it around, but I had a blast. The cool thing about this selfie stick is that no batteries nor a Bluetooth connection are needed. It also has a button on the stick itself to snap the final photo. Since I'm petite, it also gave me additional height to snap the perfect pic. I also made this fun video using video that I captured via the stick.

Here are some other real wedding touches that the couple used:

Gotta love a LOVE ice sculpture 

 Peonies make such a bold and fragrant bouquet addition, perfect for a spring wedding 

You can't leave out matching flowers on the cake either

Or colorful rose petals strewn along both sides of the aisle during the ceremony 

 I thought their chuppah was romantic and unique too 

Bold centerpieces  

Oh, and the mint ruffle dress that I wore, I found via this pin on Pinterest! 

As if the beautiful cake wasn't enough, this dessert trio was provided as well and yes, that is an edible chocolate spoon!

Read More »

INSIDE OUT Sneak Peek #DisneySMMC

At the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, we had the awesome opportunity to see an advanced screening of Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out, well at least the first 3/4 of it. Even without seeing the whole thing though, I already fell in love with it. Yes, all of Pixar's films are magical, but this had the charm and sweet sentiment of Up. It was simply adorable, go see it and you'll know what I mean!

The film delves into the little voices inside people's heads, in particular, an 11-year-old girl named Riley. When Riley's family relocates to a scary new city, the Emotions are on the job, eager to help guide her through the difficult transition. But when Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept into the far reaches of Riley’s mind—taking some of her core memories with them—Fear, Anger and Disgust are left reluctantly in charge of the teenager's emotions.

During the conference, we also had the privilege of hearing from the film's producer Jonas Rivera, who said the story "is a parents love letter to their kids."

Rivera also shared the backstory on the film with inspiration coming from director Pete Docter watching his own daughter go through this turbulent part of growing up. He explained how she was always so happy when visiting their offices, but then when she became a teenager, the happy child all of a sudden was sullen and had her headphones on. Her father then remarked, 'I wonder what is going on in her head' and that's where the idea for the film came to be. However, what they then imagined is just brilliant. I mean, only the folks at Pixar could come up with such a lovely idea.

Inside Out producer Jonas Rivera at #DisneySMMC Photo by Disney - Preston Mack

Plus, the five characters/emotions are so perfectly casted with comedian Lewis Black voicing the role of Anger; Amy Poehler as the infectiously optimistic Joy; Bill Hader is funny as the paranoid Fear; Mindy Kaling is supreme as Disgust; and my favorite, Phyllis Smith as Sadness (not my favorite emotion in myself, but my fave of the characters. She's like a lovable Eeyore).

Meanwhile, the opening animated short Lava was also incredible. It actually made me cry. My husband keeps playing the abbreviated version of the ukulele song featured in the short on YouTube. I can't wait until we can buy the whole song.

Disney•Pixar's Inside Out and Lava opens in U.S. theaters on Friday, June 19, 2015.

Read More »

On the set of TV's Graceland

I love going on set visits and seeing how the magic happens.

Last month, I was once again on the set of Graceland, USA Network's action-thriller, to interview the cast regarding what's to come this upcoming season. Since they film over in Fort Lauderdale, it was an easy trip.

Season 3 meanwhile, premiers Thursday, June 25, but if you haven't watched this addictive show yet, you can now binge watch on Netflix streaming!

A couple of reporters and I did round-table interviews with the cast in an office space near the sound-stages and after which we did some group shots with the cast.

Here we are with Brooklyn actress, Vanessa Ferlito (CSI: NY, 24, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps).

Photo by: Jeff Daly/USA Network

With Brandon Jay McLaren who you might also recognize from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and She's the Man.

Photo by: Jeff Daly/USA Network

Posing with Serinda Swan (Chicago Fire & Tron: Legacy) and the gorgeous Daniel Sunjata (Grey's Anatomy, Rescue Me and Ranger in One for the Money)

We also went on a tour of the set, which is based on a real house in Malibu, California. It's amazing how much it looks and feels like a real house when you're inside it. Even the fake water backdrops seem real when looking out the windows.

I especially loved the artwork in the home, like this beach girl painting and wooden surfboard:

More pics from our set visit can be found in my Google+ photo album and be sure and read my complete Season 3 Sneak Peek with light spoilers now live on The Huffington Post.

Also, check out photos from last year's set visit experience, which included a visit to the props trailer and a tour from actor Manny Montana. 

Oh, and my cute dress was a selection from a recent StitchFix delivery! :)

Read More »