May 2013
2 posts
8 tags
nat & zach
I’m Nat. That’s Zach. We’re madly in love. Sometimes it’s more maddening than lovely.
Nat: Pours her heart out about Zach ending his paternity leave, worried about being alone with newborn daughter, conflicted about being a working or stay-at-home mom.
Zach: Consoles her. Then, without skipping a beat… “I can’t believe my rice exploded the other night in the...
5 tags
Portrait of a Not-So-Perfect Pregnancy: Part One
My sister was the ideal pregnant woman. Twice. She planned her pregnancies, entered into them in the healthiest way possible, relished being with child, had no problem gaining weight, ate whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted (and it stayed down!), and breezed through it all with a patience and positivity that is now reflective of her parenting style.
I’ve had a slightly different...
March 2013
2 posts
7 tags
nat & zach
I’m Nat. That’s Zach. We’re madly in love. Sometimes it’s more maddening than lovely.
At the airport…
Zach: Give me your purse; I’ll carry it. (Looks down at himself.) I’m now carrying 4 bags. What are you bringing to the table?
Nat (8.5 months pregnant): I’m carrying a HUMAN.
19 tags
I'm Pregnant... and Freaked Out
I’m pregnant… and freaked out.
While being a mother has been on my life list for as long as I can remember, I did some serious soul-searching before I decided to embark on this journey. I even went so far as to tell my mother and sister it was off the table completely — partly to push their buttons, but also prepare them for the possibility that...
February 2013
2 posts
4 tags
nat & zach
I’m Nat. That’s Zach. We’re madly in love—sometimes it’s more maddening than lovely.
Nat to Zach: “I want nachos.”
Zach: “The cheese is bad and the chips are stale.”
Nat: “I want nachos.”
Zach: “I’ll go to the store.”
Nat: “Drive safely.”
Zach: “You were supposed to say, ‘Don’t worry about...
7 tags
Goodbye, Hello, Goodbye...
I said I was done with New York.
Over the weather, the small spaces, the hard living.
Said I didn’t want to have children there.
So, after 10 years of nomadic Manhattan living, my husband and I picked up and moved to Los Angeles. And, after a tough transition, I fell in love with the sunshine, reveled in the quality of life, discovered a challenging, fulfilling and fun new career, made...
December 2012
2 posts
4 tags
nat & zach
I’m Nat. That’s Zach. We’re madly in love—sometimes it’s more maddening than lovely.
For the Homeland fans out there…
Zach to Nat: “You’re my Abu Nazir.”
6 tags
The Padlock That Broke the Camel's Back
I met “Jane” day one, freshmen year of college. All blonde and bows, she bounded down the hall like a Labrador puppy. At first, I didn’t know what to do with her endless energy, but she caught my attention and made me laugh. Once we figured out how to negotiate our differences, our friendship quickly grew and, soon, we were inseparable. We shared everything: clothes, late night...
August 2012
7 posts
4 tags
nat & zach
I’m Nat. That’s Zach. We’re madly in love—sometimes it’s more maddening than lovely.
An oldie but a goodie.
April 2009. A month away from our wedding.
Nat (to server): “I’ll have the vegetable soup.”
Zach (to server): “I’ll have lasagna.”
Nat to Zach: “I hate you.”
23 tags
Favorite Things
It took me years to start my own blog. I was pro, then anti. I had no interest, then I fought the sudden urge. Ultimately, I felt like I had nothing to say. And who would care anyway? Then I wore a pair of shoes. And the rest is history. I woke up bright and early the next morning flooded with thoughts about the experience and felt compelled to write. And I haven’t stopped. HuffPost came...
11 tags
Escaping a Toxic Environment
We’ve all been in them. Situations so dire we lose hope, becoming the very person we pitied, dreaded, swore we’d never become. We talk of an exit like a dream scenario: a child running away with the circus, an adult winning the lotto and immediately quitting their job (not to mention the detailed disbursement of riches: 10 percent to charity, 10 to parents, 10 to splurge, 20 for...
7 tags
Attention Employers: Please Look Past the Pedigree
Up until several months ago, I could count on two hands the number of interviews I’ve had in my life. Every few years, there’d be something: college visits, a new job but, thankfully, I usually passed the proverbial test the first round to avoid additional probing. That all changed when I recently left my job of seven years.
I’ve been out of the mix for a while...
11 tags
Writing in the Digital Age: Beware of Bullies
I started blogging for HuffPost three months ago. My first post was about shoes. I knew they were slightly controversial at the wedding I went to but when it comes to writing, I’m always surprised if anyone besides my mom reads my stuff. A few days later, AOL picked it up and put it on their home page. In between major news stories like the death of Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch and the...
9 tags
Making Friends Part 2: Is It Easier Come...
Last week I wrote a piece about the challenges of making friends post-twenty-something that sparked quite the dialogue. I received more comments and followers than with most blogs thus far. (I also received many a friend request.) And, unlike the others, almost all of the comments not only agreed with me, they were positive and kind. (I must say I’m not used to that!) It turns out, you...
15 tags
Making Friends Post 20-Something Is Harder Than...
I moved out to Los Angeles a little over a year ago, knowing I would take a hit in the friend department. It was my choice to move. I dreamed about it for years. I wanted to experience West Coast living, trade my winter coat for a wetsuit, pick up my tennis game, spend the whole year outdoors and take long weekends exploring the great state of California in my (obligatory) convertible. The only...
July 2012
4 posts
10 tags
Do Not Forget Who the Real Victims Are
I didn’t go to Penn State. But I know many who did. I’m from Pennsylvania and plenty of my friends and some of my family spent four years or more in State College. Growing up, I knew who “JoePa” was before I could read and, in my teens, sported frayed and faded Nittany Lions boxers to bed. I know the fans, I know their loyalty and I know their spirit. And I...
17 tags
Attention Ladies: Prince Charming Doesn't Exist--...
The other night, I stumbled upon a bad reality dating show. Not far in, an attractive girl sobbed, “I wanna be with someone that I know is my Prince Charming.”
The following day, Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl” came blasting through my car speakers. “Hey, good girl… You want a white wedding and a hand you can hold… Want a fairy tale ending,...
17 tags
The Night Tom Cruise Put a Spell on Me
When the news of the Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split broke, I was saddened for all involved, especially their daughter, but certainly not shocked. I immediately thought back to the infamous W magazine article on Katie from August 2005 (http://www.wmagazine.com/celebrities/archive/katie_holmes), soon after they started dating, where a seemingly smart, articulate girl, was suddenly...
11 tags
When is the Right Time to Have Children?
I’m sick of myself. I am. I talked a big game about waiting to have children in order to live my life. And I have. I’ve checked numerous items off the bucket list, climbed the proverbial corporate ladder, traveled extensively and indulged (a.k.a. partied) enough for a lifetime or two and I enjoyed every minute of it. But enough is enough. I’ve finally gotten to the point where,...
June 2012
3 posts
26 tags
Letter to My 18-Year-Old Self
I recently returned from a ten-day trip back east to spend quality time with some quality people.
As is ritual now, my mom and I cleaned out yet another part of the house together. My parents, nearing retirement, are in “downsize mode,” causing my mother to purge, well, everything. I imagine on my next trip, I’ll find my bed gone and a sleeping bag in its...
22 tags
Why Amanda de Cadenet is the New Oprah
May 25, 2011 was a sad day. The Oprah Winfrey Showwent off the air after twenty-five years. At 32 years old, it was on for the better part of my life. As a young girl, I remember my grandmother and mother watching Oprah. As a teenager, it was my turn to tune in and I continued to do so until that late day in May last year. Over the quarter century, there were moments that I missed but...
The Best Laid (Wedding) Plans
Calligraphy, shoes, pillows, linens, note cards, makeup, processional timing, seating chart, songs…
Those were just some of the elements of my wedding that went awry. The ones I remember, at least. The one I recall that went right? We had fun. And, after all, that’s really what matters.
My recently engaged friend called to catch up the other day. When...
May 2012
7 posts
14 tags
Fifty Shades of Frustration: My Grievances With...
I’m a little late to the game. I was going to opt out altogether but at dinner with my friend the other night, I revealed that my husband was going on a weeklong business trip, which culminated with many of my friends also out of town and, as a result, all the free time I had. “I know what you should do,” she said, “read Fifty Shades of...
14 tags
Are You a Rachael or a Martha?
“I’m a better baker than cook.” That was my go-to party line while dating when asked about my kitchen prowess. I imagined myself a Martha: all cakes and confections. Talk about delusions of grandeur!
Upon leaving my job and out of work for the first time in years, I was faced with the age-old question: What next? Should I throw myself back...
7 tags
The Offer
“You can invite as many people as you want as long as they stop at McDonald’s on the way.” That was my dad’s response to me when I begged him 12 years ago to include my friends at my older sister’s wedding. (The man had a point. Weddings are expensive. He couldn’t feed everyone.) He didn’t stop there. Years later, his...
16 tags
Who Are We Without Our Titles?
Exit. I should be used to that word by now. After all, life is a dizzying array of exits. We say goodbye to childhood pals when they move, mom and dad when we set off for college and beloved grandparents and devoted pets when they pass. We reluctantly leave comfort zones, old boyfriends and girlfriends, cities we love, friends we’ve...
10 tags
Why I took a Facebook Hiatus
I left my job around awards season. Just a year before I was attending the Globes and the Oscars in designer gowns and posing for photos (which I, of course, posted) holding the coveted golden statues. This time, I was at home perusing Facebook, feeling sorry for myself. The virtual shame spiral continued.
Easter also made me feel inadequate. Every post featured a kid in...
22 tags
Who Knew? The Chootraversy.
843 comments and half a million hits and counting… Wow. I must say, I did not see that coming. When I woke up the day after my friend’s wedding and jotted down some thoughts about the reaction that a pair of high heels I wore received, I certainly didn’t expect all this. Sure, I knew the shoes were slightly controversial at the wedding but when it comes to writing, I’m always surprised if anyone...
The Great Choo Divide
I went to a wedding last month. So did my Choos.
I always thought you could tell the difference between city and country by the clothes. I was wrong. True, one look at mom jeans and capri pants screams provincial, and my husband and I, in town (Paoli, Penn.) for the nuptials, got strange looks for our attire, me in my skinny jeans, him in his V-neck at the local Target. But...
May 2010
3 posts
The Wedding Workout Results...
I’m getting married in three days (eek!), which means a few things: 1. I’m bidding goodbye to my crazy single years. 2. I’m taking three weeks off from work- far more time than I ever have! 3. I have to do the dreaded weigh in…
Yes, that’s right. The time has come, my friends, to face the music, step on that scale, get measured and see if all of my hard work...
Well Suited
With my wedding a week away (gasp!), I still have honeymoons- mine in particular- on the brain. And since we’ve covered the cover-up, let’s focus on the suits. While I still appreciate a good bikini as much as the next girl, much like the romper, I’m loving the one piece swimsuit right now.
Celebs like Blake Lively and Miranda Kerr have rocked this look, exuding confidence and...
The Honeymoon Romper
Wedding gown? Check. Bridal shoes? Check. Rehearsal dinner dress? Check. We’ve got all the main bases covered now let’s tackle the honeymoon! Brides spend so much time on wedding wear that often honeymoon attire is overlooked. Well not by this bride! I’m here to liven up your post-wedding wardrobe. While I don’t recommend channeling J.Lo or Jessica Simpson with sky high...
April 2010
7 posts
The Power of a Group Workout
My friends and I are used to bonding over food (and drinks!). We grew up going for ice cream cone runs and baking cookies — or sometimes just eating the dough — at home. My sister and I would delight over honey buns for breakfast and the occasional pancakes and bacon for dinner. In college, our days were filled with late-night eating and greasy diner trips the following morning. Now,...
A Reason to Kick Up Your Heels
Let’s talk shoes, shall we? The Sex and the City previews have me feeling pretty inspired! For some brides, the shoes are almost as important as the dress. And just like bridal gowns, the options in footwear are endless. Gone are the days of sporting white satin shoes or having your heels dyed to match your dress. These days brides are taking it up a notch and wearing their accent color on...
How to Get Motivated to Hit the Gym
Six weeks… Six weeks is the amount of time I have left until I walk down the aisle. And while I’m worrying about a lot of things (the weather, my vows), my body is, finally, not one of them. I have never felt better! All of the hard work has paid off and I’m looking and feeling good. My energy level is higher, my skin’s clearer and my clothes are looser. Could I still lose...
One-Shoulder Dress: To Wear or Not to Wear?
Last year during a particularly indulgent retail therapy session, I splurged on a few too many one-shoulder dresses, only to be told afterwards by my fashionista friend that they were going out of style. My heart sunk. Not only do I love the look, but I had spent the greater part of that month’s pay check on my new frocks, some of which I was unable to return. Well, my fellow brides, I am...
Celeb DJs Reveal Perfect Workout Playlist
The one thing that motivates me more than new gym clothes is new music. I can’t wait to get into the gym to listen to new tunes once I’ve downloaded them. (A little trick: I make myself wait to listen to the songs at the gym and not at home or just walking around the city — it works!). And there’s nothing more arresting than when you’ve exhausted your repertoire of...
Saying "I Do" to Braids
Okay, so sometimes even pictures aren’t enough. A few weeks ago, I went for a hair trial with my 8x10 glossies in hand. But, despite my visual representation and explanations of precisely how I want to look on my wedding day, I walked out of the salon sporting a hairstyle I can only imagine a five year old living in the eighties would request…on Easter Sunday! Pin curls and feathered locks...
Skinny Jeans!
Ladies (and gentlemen!) — it happened. I fit into my SKINNY JEANS! For those of you that don’t what I’m talking about, skinny jeans are those coveted pants in the back of your closet that you once — maybe for a minute, maybe a season — fit in to, but, as of late, have been way too snug to pass off. (The shrink-wrapped sausage look is not cute!) Whether you were...
March 2010
7 posts
Your Burning Workout Questions -- Answered!
If you’re like me, you’ve done your fair share of browsing through fitness magazines, pausing at infomercials and contemplating — and sometimes even succumbing to — the gimmicks over the years. And all of the conflicting information has left this girl confused! So this week I decided to ask Sue her expert opinion to help sort through all of the nonsense and get the facts....
All About the Dress...
I, too, had to start where most brides do — the pièce de résistance — the dress, of course! What girl doesn’t dream of her ideal wedding gown? But when it comes to actually selecting one, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. Cap sleeve or one shoulder?Princess or mermaid? Beading or pleating? The choices are endless. When it came time for me to go shopping, I did what I recommend all of you...
Eight Can't-Miss Diet Guidelines
The other night, I celebrated my friend’s birthday at a fun tapas restaurant in Manhattan. And while it was a special occasion, you would have thought it was my last supper! You name it, I had it. And lots of it. Bread, cheese, meats, fried… well, fried everything! And that’s just the food. Let’s not even talk about the wine! I woke up the next morning feeling bloated and...
Wedding Channel Blog
Hello fellow brides-to-be! I’m Natalie Thomas, the deputy news editor of Us Weekly magazine and I’m getting married on May 30th. For the past ten months, I’ve been planning my nuptials and pouring over every last detail. And, I don’t know about you, but while I’ve found the process mostly fun, it’s also been frenetic at times. These days there’s so much to consider and choose from that it can be...
A Sample Workout
Welcome back! As promised, this week we filmed one of my workouts for you. Take a look at the short video to get a visual of what the specific exercises look like and the proper form in which to do them. Plus, print out the step-by-step instructions below and take them with you to the gym! In the coming weeks, we’ll show you more moves to add in to your repertoire. Then you can mix and match...
Getting Your Target Heart Rate
I’m spelling this out for those of you who are mathematically challenged like me. The second I see numbers and equations, my eyes glaze over and I assume it’s too complicated for me. Trust me, it’s really easy. If I can do it, you can do it, too! No excuses!
Getting your heart rate up and in the “target zone” is important for optimal fitness results — it...
First Wedding Workout
Ouch! Everything is sore. And with each step, I am reminded of the pain. Washing my hair was even a struggle (raising my battered arms hurt!)! That’s right, I had my first workout with Ms. Buff herself, Sue Fleming, and she kicked my butt!
Some of you gave me flack for saying I need to lose some weight. And, I hear you. I do. At 5’6” tall, I’m 127 pounds. If I said I want...
February 2010
1 post
Wedding Day Fitness Plan
May 30th is quickly approaching and while I’ve been busy selecting the perfect flowers and deliberating over the menu, there’s one thing I’ve neglected: my body! All of the stress eating (and drinking!) has caught up to me and at the end of the day, I’m too tired to hit the gym. And, unfortunately for me, I didn’t choose a big ball gown I can hide under. No, I’m...
