Purely February

February was introduced on the Roman calendar when they extended the calender from ten months to twelve.  I was added with January.  It comes from the word 'februa' which means purification or cleansing.  It is no wonder that the birthstone for February is the Amethyst which comes from the Greek word 'amethystos' which means sober.  The amethyst is believed to bring peace and calm to you and during this month its powers are heightened.  Amethyst is the traditional stone for the sixth wedding anniversary.

Amethyst was once considered more valuable than diamonds.  Because at one time purple dye was rare and expensive, it was reserved for royalty and the color purple came to symbolize power and prestige.  That's why amethyst with its hue ranging from lilac to black purple, can be found in the British Crown Jewels.  Ancient Egyptians and Greeks, also, adorned themselves with the gemstone.  The Greeks associated the gemstone with the god of wine and believed if you wore the gemstone or drank from a amethyst cup, it would ward off intoxication and overindulgence. 

The Greeks, also believed that an amethyst would sober the effect on those "drunk" on lover's passion.  Maybe another reason it's so fittingly February's birthstone.

Alternately, the Mystical Birthstone for the month of February is the Bloodstone.  The bloodstone is believed to increase courage and strength, and enhance self-esteem and self-appreciation.  It was thought to have the power to stop bleeding just by touching the stone and was said to heal a broken heart. 

The ancient Egyptians used the bloodstone to increase their strength and defeat their enemies magically.  In India today, powdered bloodstone is used as an aphrodisiac and in traditional medicines.

Just as the amethyst under the pillow is said to induce sweet dreams, the bloodstone is said to revitalize and induce dreaming.

The Zodiac for January 21-February 18 Aquarius (Air)  February 19-March 20 Pisces (Water)

Aquarius are erratic, unpredictable, stubborn, self-reliant, and philanthropic.  They can be interesting to be around because of their adventurous and active nature, but they become quite serious and sulky.  Aquarius are also very sensitive by nature.

Pisces are caring, artistic, perceptive, sensible and good-natured.  They have great imaginations that are perfect for story-telling.  Their capacity for love and their depth of understanding come from their highly sensitive nature.  Pisces seem to have a dual personality and are extremely compassionate and helpful.

--Brides Made Consulting is where dreams live and brides are made.

Event(Full)

We know that planning any event can be time consuming and at times a little overwhelming.  That is the great thing about having an event coordinator doing it for you.  You tell the coordinator what you want and the coordinator DEMANDS it from your vendors. 

But there are times that you may not believe you need a coordinator like for birthday parties.  You may say "I'm just getting a moonwalk, hot dogs and treat bags."  That's an event and trying to get everything set up and make sure that the vendor is there on time is taxing. 

My kids decided that they wanted a carnival for their birthdays last year.  Do you know how hard it is to organize a carnival?  Did you know that you need special permits to do moonwalks or anything other than food at public parks?  These are the times when you can call an event coordinator to help iron out the red tape.

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and if you're thinking about asking that special someone a very special question, you may want to do it differently than taking them out to eat and dropping a ring in the dessert or champagne.  You may want to organize something unique and intimate.  That's where an event coordinator comes in and all you do is show up.  Whether it's decorating your home and have a chef come in to prepare a favorite meal or if it's finding the perfect restaurant to have a couples evening, a coordinator is always nearby to make sure the dream you have is the reality before you.


Valentine's Day Tip #1:
If going out for the evening, be sure to make reservations at least three weeks in advance because this is one of the busiest nights for restaurants and seating may be limited or the wait extended.

--Brides Made Consulting is where dreams live and brides are made.

Meet the Jack Family

Brides Made Consultanting is family owned and operated by myself and my husband.  My name is Z. Cherron and my husband is Joseph.  We are the Jacks.  We have over ten years of experience planning fundraisers and special events. We have worked with wonderful organizations such as Houston Community College Northeast, UNICEF, and the Houston Food Bank. 

One of the greatest events we had the pleasure of planning was our own wedding in 2011.  We are looking forward to planning your next great event or just helping you get started.  I will blog about relationships, make-up tips, and the small things you should keep in mind when planning an event.  I'll even let you in on the good, the bad, and the insanity that went into planning our own wedding. 

My very first tip to you is NEVER BE YOUR OWN COORDINATOR for your wedding.  With all the things going on the day of the event, you will miss the most important parts... the laughs, the hugs, and the kisses.


--Brides Made Consulting is where dreams live and brides are made.