Rachel Ray Saves the Day

With the holidays upon us and everything going on in the news, we're a tad behind on a really nice thing that happened on daytime television. A couple of weeks ago, The Rachel Show helped couples who had their weddings ruined by Hurricane Ike earlier this year by staging a massive Wedding Rescue. It truly looked like a very uplifting event. Read more about it at RachelRayShow.com

The Obamas: Essence & Ebony

The inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama isn't until next month, but the celebration of the nation's first African-American Commander-In-Chief has already begun... in print!

Take a look at the January 2009 covers from our friends at Essence and Ebony magazines.

At Last: Kangol Kid and Roxanne

If you're under 30, hang in here with us for a minute while we gossip about a couple of hip-hop legends. But it looks like Roxanne Roxanne and Kangol Kid of UTFO may finally be a couple! She may not have "met him at the beach 25 years ago, but Word on the Street Magazine is reporting that the two were snapped while making out at a show in New York City. They reportedly did not speak to each other for more than a decade at one point. We'll keep our eyes open to find out where this new development leads.
And, by the way, we're talking about The Real Roxanne. Not Roxanne Shante, Roxanne's Sister, Roxanne's A Man or anyone else spawned from the hundreds of answer records that came out after the original UTFO cut, Roxanne Roxanne.

Naomi Campbell: Is she or isn't she?

Getting married, that is. Our friends at Essence.com are advancing the story we told you about last month with some new details. First the leggy-one was spotted sporting a massive emerald and diamond ring at a gala last month. Now, sources-close-to-the-sources say supermodel Naomi Campbell has told them to save a specific date close to Christmas before the end of the year. Could that saving-of-dates mean she is tying the knot with her Russian tycoon, Vladimir Doronin? Apparently, those who really know won't say because Campbell has reportedly sworn her family and friends to secrecy. Time will tell! Ah... a winter wedding.

Wedding Day Emergency Kit

Speaking of doing-it-yourself, one of the many things a bride-to-be can put together on her own is the ever-popular wedding day emergency kit. The kit can be carried in your little bridal purse or you can have one of your attendants carry it. The key is to keep it as small as possible. Think "kit" not "knapsack".

Mints
Lipstick
Tiny Mirror
Small Brush/comb
Extra Panty Hose
Hair Spray
Handkerchief
Sample or Travel Size Perfume
Handkerchief
Tiny Emery Board (Very optional)

Many lists around the internet suggest a cell phone for the bride's emergency kit. Oh, how we disagree. We can't think of a single reason for a woman trying to enjoy her own wedding to have a cell phone. Even if the Maid of Honor carries it for her. Even if floral or culinary disaster strike. Someone else should be handling it. We also made the emery board VERY optional since no one can recall a bride needing one during a wedding or reception in the post-dragon-nails era.

But what do YOU think? Are we spot on? Or off the mark? Let us know by clicking on comments!

Would You Have an iPod Reception?

Just for the sake of argument, could you conceivably use your little ole iPod as a stand-in DJ??? Just hand it over to a friend who knows when to "hit it"? Guess what? You could.

While some couples pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for reception entertainment, others are loading their iPods (or digital Walkmans or other MP3 players) with their favorite songs, patching it into a stereo sound system and letting it rip.

Of course, as with all things DIY, the key to pulling this off is organization. If this is something you might want to do, be sure to have clearly programmed playlists for each section of the reception. Also, be sure that you have the attachments you need to make your iPod work with the sound system and make sure you have enough speakers. That's it!

Do you know anyone who has done their own reception music? Whether with an iPod or mix CDs? Tell us what you think!