I had fun planning my wedding in 2000. We had a small ceremony on the intercoastal waterway, just steps from the Gulf of Mexico. A small jazz combo played the reception and we all kicked off our shoes and just enjoyed the salty sea air. I’m not happy that my marriage ended, but every now and then I think about the fact that one day I might choose to marry again and that would mean I would be able to enjoy planning yet another wedding for myself. That’s a fun prospect.

In the meantime, I spend a LOT of time helping various friends plan weddings. I have become the go-to woman in my social circle for such things. I have the time, the connections and the know-how. I can throw a pretty good party, if I do say so myself. I’m helping no less than three of my friends plan wedding s as I speak. I enjoy the vicarious thrill.

My friend Sarah is planning a simple ceremony around sterling roses, so I’ve been hunting for a very simple invitation that would reflect the feel. I think I’ve found just the thing. It’s a purple folder style invitation with a sheer ribbon. It’s simple, elegant, and just about the same color as sterling roses. I am ordering a sample to make sure. I found the cards at 1st Class Wedding Invitations. They’ve got tons to choose from and I spent quite a while looking through the options until I came to this design. I think it is perfect.

From 1st Class Wedding Invitations

Every year I enter the Home and Garden Television’s Dream House Sweepstakes at least once. I just went over and spent some time looking at this year’s house and I entered. I might go back and enter some more. I know the odds are not in my favor, but it sure would be nice to win a house that is right here in Florida.

This year the HGTV Dream House is in the Florida Keys, not quite halfway down and closer to the top and Key Largo. It’s on Key Islamorada. It’s lovely, though the décor is beachy and not really my style. Nonetheless, it is cozy and stylish. The layout is not ideal for a family with children, but I’m sure you could make do. Of course, the biggest concern would be having the money to pay for taxes and insurance, not to mention general upkeep. I would, were I to win. Have to find a larger source of income than I currently have.

Still, it’s fun to go through the virtual walk-through on the website and dream a little bit. Winning a fully decorated home, and a car, in a lovely location is something nobody could pass up when it comes down to it. Would you have to sell? Would you be able to maintain it and live in it? You would have to cross that bridge when you come to it, I suppose.

I’ve written before about how I love niche social networking sites. There are social networking sites for crafters, horse lovers, college students, religious groups and just about anything else you can think of. It seems to me a more interesting way to go than just joining a catch-all social networking site.

Well pet lovers, there is a site for you, too!

Take a look at AnAmigo.com. It’s a community where you can actually make a custom profile for their pet and connect with other pet enthusiasts in the United States. Membership is free and signing up is quick and easy. I did it in about a minute and then the system sent me a confirmation e-mail. At that point I was able to go in and complete a profile. I was prompted to choose a profile style for myself, a dog, a cat, or a horse. I made a profile for my Maltese, Echo. Bless her little heart. When I have more time I will put up a profile for Chloe, the cat queen of the house.

You can add pictures, swap stories, comment, keep a blog, trade tips, and sit back and have fun connecting with other animal lovers. The site is super easy to use and family friendly. The folks at AnAmigo had a launch party at the Sundance Film Festival and celebs like Jack Black and Felicity Huffman stopped by. Cool.

AnAmigo, get it? Animal Amigo – Animal Friend.