Thank you Deidre!!!

Enjoy!
 

Your 2015 Goal: Setting Up An Estate Plan

Of all the New Year’s resolutions to keep, setting up an estate plan is far and away one of the most valuable things you can do for you and your family this year. This is particularly true for same-sex couples who in many states, including California, can now legally marry and be afforded equal treatment by the federal government for most estate purposes.
 

 

Estate Planning Isn’t Just for the Wealthy

It is a common misconception that only the wealthy need to establish estate planning mechanisms like Wills and Trusts, but nothing could be further from the truth in California. Without a Will and Trust in place, any estate valued over $150,000 – i.e., anyone who owns a home in California – will automatically be subject to long, complicated and expensive proceedings the Probate Court. Once there, the value of your assets not set off by debt -meaning your home appraised at $1,000,000 , cheap by San Francisco standards – will be valued at $1,000,000 regardless of any mortgage. The fees and costs assessed by the probate laws and the Court on a $1,000,000 estate will average $50,000 and must be paid before probate can be closed. Alternately, if the assets had been put into a Trust during your lifetime, Probate Court could be avoided completely.

Without a Will in place, your assets will be distributed pursuant to the probate laws rather than to whom you wish.  If a person dies and leaves a spouse and two children, the estate will be distributed ⅓ to the spouse and ⅔ to the children; hardly an appropriate outcome. If there is not a surviving parent of minor children, the Court will determine matters of guardianship in the absence of direction by a Will.
 

 

Leave a Thoughtful Plan for Your Family

By taking control of your estate plan, you have a chance to establish a thoughtful, enforceable plan for your family in the event of your disability or death rather than leaving the future in the hands of the Courts.  This opportunity is particularly important for same-sex spouses who only very recently have been permitted to plan for their families in the same considered and pro-active ways.
 

 

Ask for Help from a Professional

There are many more benefits to planning an estate, including the structuring of tax advantages, gift giving and  philanthropy. Contact your legal and tax advisors to discuss just how valuable estate planning can be for you.
 

About the Author With over 17 years of experience in the areas of business organization, transactions, real estate and estate planning matters, Deidre is prepared to not only offer the highest caliber of legal counsel, but to provide a team of professionals to guide and manage your affairs.  By establishing a network of attorneys in a variety of practice areas and working alongside advisors in the financial, taxation, insurance, real estate and personal care arenas, Von Rock Law is equipped to offer global resources for your organizational and personal needs. Deidre graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Political Science in 1993 and earned her Juris Doctorate from New England Law: Boston in 1996.  A West Coast native, Deidre has resided in San Francisco since 1996.  She is an active member of the St. Brendan parish and school communities and has contributed her talents to several charitable organizations. To learn more about Von Rock Law, visit www.vonrocklaw.com.

A well-dressed wedding party means memorable photos of your family and friends looking their very best.  Every shirt, jacket, and pair of trousers crafted by J. Hilburn begins with fabrics from world-renowned Italian mills. My goal is the make the groom(s) and his groomsmen look (and feel) like sharp dressed men.

One of my favorite wedding blogs A Practical Wedding recently wrote a a post about a similar topic : Dear Photographers: Grooms are not Props and I think that is fitting since this is all about making sure the Groom or Grooms look smashing on their big day too!

Now let me introduce you to J. Hillburn stylist Aimee Williams.

Not all men are created equal

Most men do not fit in a shirt they find off the rack – the sleeves are too short, the shirt is too long or the shoulders are too narrow or too wide. J. Hilburn is about customized fit, which is why we come to you, wherever you are, for your fitting.

To ensure that your groomsmen look as sharp in their wedding photos as the bridesmaids, the most important detail you need to pay attention to is the fit of the shirt. A custom fitting is essential! With a custom fitting, I make sure that arm holes are the right size, sleeves hit at the right part of the wrist, and there’s no bulk when tucking a shirt into trousers. Not only will you have someone to make sure your shirt fits, but you also have a personal stylist to help you pick out fabric, color, neckties, and accessories that are the right combo for both Mr. Right and his entourage.

What does the twenty-first century suit look like?

Keep it simple, yet elegant. While large window pane is back, and double breasted suits are giving it another go, you’ll get more mileage out of a navy or pebble grey suit with a simple double button front. And its all about the fit. Most men buy jackets that are too big, for example a size 42 rather than a size 40. Try on one size smaller and if it makes  you stand up tall, then its a better fit. Even a cheap suit can look better than an expensive one if it has been tailored an inch or two on the sides – this creates a broader shoulder.

Q&A from the Expert

What are some examples of contrasting fabric? Colors? etc.

Make a slate grey shirt pop by adding a two toned silver interior collar and placket; then top this off with smoke colored buttons and maroon stitching. Or take a plain herringbone white business shirt and add a navy stitch in the button holes, now you can use this for your business or social wardrobe without buying two shirts

How do you know if the shirt fits?

There are several things a man should know about the best fitting shirt.  Here are two of those things: The one finger rule – Make sure you can comfortably fit one finger between the collar and your neck. More than one finger means the collar is too big. Always ask for a “slim” fit shirt.  Most men’s shirts are available in this fit whether going custom or off the rack. A classic fit is usually too billowy and can make a man look less svelte

Get to it!

Because the fabrics we use are in high demand, our supply is sometimes limited, but contact me at aimee.williams@jhilburnpartner.com and I can discuss your timeline, our inventory, and the cost of your order.  In general, our custom shirts and made-to-measure suiting deliver in about 3 to 4 weeks after you place your order. We strive for 100% satisfaction from our clients so if you are not happy with the fit or performance of your purchase, you can return it for a complete refund.

Don’t forget to accessorize! J. Hilburn has a wide range of accessories to choose from whether you need a new every day leather belt, a special occasion tie, or a warm scarf for the Winter. Find them here.

Weddings are an exciting endeavor for me.  I hope I can contribute to the experience of your wedding and make it a truly unforgettable event.  I love to travel, but I do limit my services to the greater Bay Area.  If you are outside my travel zone, please email me and I will connect you with one of my colleagues.

$25 Off for Chloe Jackman Photography Blog Readers

Please visit my website and contact me by email at aimee.williams@jhilburnpartner.com. Be sure to mention that you found me from the Chloe Jackman Photography Blog and you can receive $25 off your purchase of $125 or more!

Looking for a great gift to get your fellow groomsmen?  Wouldn’t a custom shirt be perfect???  Get the guys together, enjoy a cocktail or two and have Aimee come get all you’re boys fitted for their handsome new shirts!!!

Prices: Shirts from $99; Suits from $620, Tuxedos from $900

I don’t know about you, but there are few things I like better than a well dressed man…

What is a PopUp Wedding?

PopUp Weddings is not your mother’s wedding planner. We specialize in unique and stress free weddings with a special twist. The concept behind our company is to plan an event in which the couple’s guests are invited to a “decoy” party such as an engagement or birthday party, to later have the couple reveal that it is their wedding! Fun, right?!

Why choose a PopUp Wedding?

Leaving your family and guests out of planning your special day leads to less opinions, confusion, and objectives. A PopUp Wedding is for the couple looking to have a stress free planning process with smooth execution. Instead of worrying about making everyone else happy, the bride and groom get to lead their guests to a surprising and entertaining evening that they can fully enjoy!

The beauty behind a PopUp Wedding is the focus on the love between the couple. When you get rid of the drama of the planning and pleasing of your family and friends, you can focus on the love between you and your partner. We want you to concentrate on your marriage and we will take care of the rest.

Another unique twist to a PopUp Wedding is the location. We are able to host your wedding in an iconic California location, such as Golden Gate Park, the Santa Monica Pier, the Palace of Fine Arts and many others. If you have a favorite wedding spot in the city of LA or San Francisco, we will do our best to make it happen. If you’re looking for a more traditional venue, the good news is, we can plan that too! Whatever you want, we try our best to make it happen.

Who is a perfect fit for a PopUp Wedding?

Those who would be interested in a PopUp Wedding are spontaneous and adventurous. A PopUp Wedding is perfect for the couple that is looking to have an intimate elopement, an original wedding, vow renewal, or even for their second marriage. PopUp Weddings are for the modern and non traditional couple who want something different.

How to start planning your PopUp Wedding?

Our  team needs at least two months ahead of time to plan your wedding at an iconic location. The more time ahead we have to plan your special day, the better, but we can certainly work on the fly as well!

Have certain vendors in mind you would like to work with? No problem! We can work with anyone. We also have a list of preferred vendors we like to work with in each city that we recommend to look through. From Club House Caravan, the new and improved bar that can roll up to any wedding, to Flashtag Photo that can include your hashtag in all pictures, we have a large list of unique and fun options for you to choose from!

Now that you know…

We would love to speak with you about your upcoming event and how we can help!
To learn more about Popup Weddings, you can check out their website for more details, a look at their past weddings, and contact information. Don’t forget to follow them on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram to be a part of their online community and keep in touch!

*hint hint*

“Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in.” ~A.L.

Who Is Michael Rehker?

I am a Metalsmith and Jewelry Designer, proud father to three amazing beautiful children and a very blessed husband to an incredible, supportive wife! In my spare time I enjoy farming, rock climbing, yoga, cooking, eating chips & salsa but above all else, spending time with my amazing family and playing with my kids! They are my true inspiration and the force behind all that I do in life.

A self taught metalsmithing artisan

I have a huge fascination for creating things from various metals like silver, copper, steel, aluminum, bronze, brass and other recycled metals. My passion for the unique and inspiring has led me here. I love hand forging and designing one-of-a-kind jewelry and keepsakes. I am the sole designer and maker for the items you see in my shop. And I’m very grateful my hands put into form what my mind sees.

What is Hammerhead Designs?

Hammerhead Designs is Modern, Tribal, Rustic, Boho, Gypsy, Contemporary, Traditional, Southwestern, Folksy, Hippie, Wanderlust, Steampunk, Medieval and everything in between, handcrafted jewelry & accessories for men and women!

Gypsy, Tribal, & Bohemian soul merged with Victorian and Dark Romance combined with a dash of Fantasy and Steampunk splashed around, and a bit of Modern and Contemporary style added in – can all be found in my shop!

Creating the items you see in my Etsy shop is a way for me to express my imagination and use my hands…in a metal artist sort of way…a form of inspiration takes over when I begin working with the metal. I take pride in my work and enjoy the stories behind each of the pieces that I create. My inspiration comes from nature mostly. I love things that are earthy, rustic, organic and eco-friendly, anything that encompasses the mountains, bodies of water, fire or terra firma, leaves, trees, flowers and rocks.

I love working with metal and designing jewelry so much that I decided to create Hammerhead Designs. My ambition is to develop a business that is self supporting and allows me to express my artistic visions.

Our Favorite: The Tie Bar Clip

Each tie bar clip is created out of very strong, yet lightweight aluminum sheet metal. I chose aluminum because of its similarity in color and finish to sterling silver but without the high cost. And it resists tarnishing and discoloring fabrics so it’s perfect to wear against a dress shirt. Once I receive the order, I take the aluminum tie bar clip blank and place it on a large steel block. I keep a notepad on my stamping table that lists the initials and words that the customer wants stamped onto the tie bar. Then, one at a time, each letter is stamped onto the metal. I use a two pound brass hammer that gives the right amount of force to properly imprint the character onto the tie bar. Once I have finished stamping the characters, it is then time to finish the piece. The most popular option is the brushed satin natural finish. The letters are not darkened, but left natural so they look classy without being too bold or distracting. A small steel wire brush is used to apply the brushed satin finish. Once that is complete, I then take a special set of pliers and make the two bends need to complete the final shape of the tie bar. Finally, the tie bar is given a quick wipe with a polishing cloth to remove any smudges and it’s then placed into its own organza gift bag and is ready to be packed and shipped.

The custom hand stamped tie bar clips are one of my most popular items. They are very trendy right now and people love the way that each one is custom made for the recipient for a special occasion.  The tie bar clips are very popular as groomsmen gifts for wedding parties as well as a popular choice for Father’s Day, Christmas and Valentine’s Day.

Check out the shop and get some gifts for your groomsmen!

I am an estimator by profession, but my real passion lies in creating the items you see in my shop.

The ability to customize items like the tie bar clip and gift it with a personal touch is what makes this such a great and affordable gift.

I love working on custom orders and am happy to take on any special requests you may have in mind to create an original one-of-a-kind piece for you. Please email me directly at hammerheaddesigns@gmail.com to discuss.

To shop for Hammerhead Designs tie clips, jewelry, and more, visit their Etsy site by clicking here.

Follow Hammerhead Designs on Facebook for updates on new designs, specials, promotions, giveaways and news of Michael’s adventures.

Follow Hammerhead Designs on Instagram for sneak peaks into new and upcoming pieces, as well as promotions, contests and giveaways!

Hey new moms! I know many of you are bending over backwards to find time-saving meals that will benefit both you and your baby. Not to worry. The Chloe Jackman Photography blog has brought in an expert to lend a hand and help you become the savvy food mom you’ve admired from afar!

A Purified Life helps women and busy professionals feel good, have more energy, and reach their health goals without sacrificing time.

Foods to Eat After Giving Birth to Save Time & Stay Nourished

By Giovanna Garcia

Your body goes through major physical and hormonal changes during pregnancy and when giving birth. These changes make it essential for new moms to stay well nourished and hydrated after labor to help the body balance, especially if breastfeeding.

Symptoms such as postpartum depression, indigestion (bloating/gas), fatigue, and mood swings are simply signs that there is an imbalance in the body. Don’t worry! These are common and almost all of them can be addressed by focusing on supporting and healing the gut (digestive tract). It’s also important to know that the body usually becomes immune compromised after birth. This is because about 70% of our immune system lives in our gut.

There are many foods that support digestion:

- Liquid foods – smoothie (My favorite place in SF is Sidewalk Juice), soup, pudding, bone broth, and herbal tea (in particular ginger, fennel, nettle, chamomile, mint, rosemary, and lavender)

- Warm foods – soup, stew, porridge, cooked vegetables

- Spices – ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, turmeric, vanilla

- Fermented foods – sauerkraut, coconut kefir, coconut water kefir, kimchi, fermented/pickled vegetables. These can easily be added to any meal for flavor and gut healing benefits.

- Aloe Vera – juice or gel from plant. Heals the digestive tract lining. Use in smoothies or drink a shot of it first thing in the morning.

Other ways to support and heal digestion:

- Eat small meals throughout the day – although it’s easy to forget to eat during these busy times, skipping meals will lead to mood swings, fatigue, and bloating.

- Eat mindfully – eat slowly, take time to chew food (even if it’s a liquid meal), take breaths in between bites, and avoid eating in front of a TV or other electronic device.

Besides supporting digestion, there are also specific nutrients that are essential for dealing with fatigue and depression:

Omega-3 fats

Enhance brain function and provide energy. Good sources are: wild salmon, flax seeds, chia seeds, eggs, and walnuts.

Note: Avoid canned fish if nursing.

Protein

Having small amounts of protein throughout the day will keep blood sugar stable and keep mood swings at bay. Good sources are: fish, organic eggs, seeds, nuts, quinoa, and legumes.

Eat your vegetables!

Eating a variety of vegetables will ensure that you are getting a full spectrum of nutrients everyday and reduce cravings. Great choices are: kale, collard greens, chard, spinach, zucchini, broccoli, cucumber, celery, parsley, cilantro, mint, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, carrots, radish, tomatoes, and asparagus. My favorite place to get the best seasonal and less costly produce is at any local farmers market.

Hydration

Hydration is very important for nursing moms especially. Dehydration often can be confused with hunger and lead to low energy, fogginess, and cravings. Filtered water, lemon water, and herbal tea are great ways to hydrate. If you don’t like the taste of water, you can add fresh fruit or fresh mint to add flavor. Adding chia seeds to water will also help hydration and stabilize blood sugar. Limit caffeine and alcohol intake as these can induce fatigue and mood swings.

Ways to save time while staying nourished:

- Prepare big batches of soup, stew, porridge, and cooked vegetables ahead of time and freeze.

- Have a blended meal – One of the best ways and fastest ways to get tons of nutrients in for one meal is to blend everything up. Whether it’s a blended soup or a simple green smoothie with berries, spinach or kale, celery, chia seeds, and almond milk. You may even make a big batch of smoothie and enjoy leftovers the next day.

- Plan ahead – Set out some time to plan your meals for the week ahead and prepare something that can easily be reheated for a few days. No need to overwhelm yourself with tons of different dishes, stick to 1-2 dishes for the week.

- Prepare one-pot meals such as stew, soup, stir-fry, sauté, and porridge.

- Have your groceries delivered to you – Good eggs is a great online grocery store that offers produce and products from the best local farms and food providers, and they deliver for free! This is a great place to buy your fish and eggs.

- Always have healthy snacks on hand – fresh fruit, raw nuts and seeds, fresh vegetables, hummus, dates, hard-boiled eggs, nut butters, tahini, seed crackers, and water.

- Hire a personal chef – I have created a special personal chef bundle for you to be free of stress after giving birth.

New Mom Special for Chloe Jackman Photography Blog Readers!

4 or 8 weeks of personal chef services, 1 home visit per week.

Each home visit is 3-4 hours and includes 3 dishes with 4 servings each, which is a total of 12 meals per week.

I plan the menu, grocery shop, cook, store food, and clean up for you – No stress!

Health investment:

§  4-week package = $1,600 (normal price is $1,800 – you save $200)

§  8-week package = $3,200 (normal price is $3,600 – you save $400)

§  Only Chloe Jackman Photography blog readers can access these discounted packages.

Contact me to learn more at 415-379-0508 or via email at giovanna@apurifiedlife.com

Now you that you know a bit more about your postpartum nutrition, here’s a recipe I recommend to get you started!

Brown Rice Coconut Porridge with Coconut Milk, Spices, and Dates

This dish is perfect for breakfast or a comforting meal in the afternoon. The blend of spices will keep the body warm and aid digestion.

Ingredients:

1 cup short-grain brown rice, soaked overnight

2 cups coconut milk (I recommend homemade or canned by  ‘Native Forest’ – organic and BPA-free)

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or cinnamon stick

1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger or ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground cardamom

¼ teaspoon sea salt

Toppings:

½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted

½ cup hemp seeds

½ cup fresh strawberries, chopped

¼ cup fresh medjool dates, chopped

Extra coconut milk if desired

1 Tablespoons raw maca powder (optional, but will provide great hormonal balancing benefits), you can mix this in before adding the toppings

Procedure:

1. Soak rice overnight or for at least 4 hours. Drain and rinse. Place in medium size pot with coconut milk, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, and sea salt.

2. Bring to a boil, lower heat, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, until rice is cooked and it reaches a porridge consistency. Add water or more coconut milk if porridge becomes too thick.

3. Serve and stir in maca powder if using. Garnish with toasted coconut, hemp seeds, chopped strawberries, and chopped dates.

Serves 4

Because you can’t have a happy healthy baby without happy healthy parents

So the way I understand it, some girls plan their wedding from the time they’re five until they walk down the aisle, others have never even thought about it, and some of us fallsomewhere in the middle. Me? I’ve thought about it to some degree: I know I want it out of the country, I know I want awesome music all night long, and I know it will probably be really colorful. But beyond that, I don’t know much, including what style dress is most flattering to my body type.

In fact, until now I really only knew one or two of the traditional styles and shapes of wedding dresses.

I’ve schooled myself in wedding dresses and styles, so today I’m going to share what I’ve learned with you lovely ladies…

Body shapes and suggested dress shapes

Hour Glass:

Curvy in all the right places, bust and booty

Sheath, A-line, ball gown, dropped waistline, mermaid

One shoulder, strapless, scoop necklines

Apple:

Smaller shoulders and hips

Empire or ball gown dresses

Strapless or sweetheart necklines

Pear:

Hips are larger than the bust and the waist gradually slopes out to the hips

Empire, A-line, ball gown

Strapless, halter, circular necklines

Rectangle:

Just a tiny bit of curve at the hips, mostly straight torso, shoulders that align with hips

Sheath, empire, mermaid, A-line, ball gown

Portrait or strapless neckline.

Inverted Triangle:

Athletic and strong, wider shoulders and bust with tighter torso and hips

Sheath, empire, ball gown, A-line

Halter, strapless, one shoulder necklines

So this is in no way, the end all be all solution for every women out there, but it’s a decent place to start…so get out there, invite your girlfriends to join you and start trying on dresses!!! Here are some beauties that I’ve had the honor capturing that I wanted to share as inspiration…

xo

Feel free to let know how it goes and Happy 2014!!!

xo,

TO GIVE EVERY WOMAN THE MEANS TO STYLE HER OWN LIFE.

So some of you might call this shameless self promotion…and you’d be right!  I’m so excited to share my new venture with you and with all the fabulous sparkle and shine we have to offer you should be excited too!

So what is Stella & Dot? Why is it fabulous and why should you check it out?

Stella & Dot began in 2003 in Jessica’s living as she worked nights and weekend to create a jewelry brand…I can totally relate to where she was.  Working tirelessly towards you dream, which clearly worked out quite well for her as she now owns a fortune 500 company.  By 2006 she had reached a million in sales.  By 2009 “despite a dreary economy, Stella & Dot shines – growing over 760% and launching over 5,000 flexible careers.” By 2012 the company spreads to a global scale and by 2013 I joined the world-wide team and have loved every second of it.

I believe in women, I believe in women based businesses, I believe in taking our lives in our own hands and as an entrepreneur I not only believe in the hard work that it takes to follow your passion I believe that everyone has the potential to do so.  With motivating opportunities like this in the world what’s stopping you?

So what does this mean?  It means that you should stop by my site http://www.stelladot.com/sites/chloesf and explore the sparkle, that you should think about the people you know that might need some sparkle too and then we should set up a party so you can get some fabulous free sparkle, get in some quality time with the ladies in your life and sip on a little champagne!

Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook!

One more thing that makes them great…aside from the life time guarantee and the patent on every piece so you never have to worry about seeing your sparkle in a department store!

“Stella & Dot’s Social Responsibility Program clearly communicates our expectations around responsible production and sourcing practices. We hold our partners to high standards not only on the quality and safety of our products but also the quality and safety of the work environment they provide. Our partners are proactive in finding ways to benchmark their compliance and track progress in areas such as human rights, health and safety and fair wages and we provide them with clear feedback and direction by benchmarking their performance against industry, country and global standards.”

I can’t wait to host a show with you either in your home or online!

Happy Holidays!