It’s the first day of spring, and what better day to spring a proposal? David’s Bridal sent me an update on wedding etiquette — social-media style. Here’s the unveiling (get it un-veiling):

• Skype a seat  49 percent of all respondents would consider “skype-ing” their wedding.
• Hold the phone! 56 percent of newlywed women think it’s important to have social media rules at the wedding.
• 61 percent forbid their bridesmaids from uploading pics of the bride donning her dress before the ceremony
• 52 percent say the bride and groom must be the first to post a picture of their wedding to a social media site.
• 3-year-old Pinterest is the ultimate tool for brides-to-be. 46 percent wouldn’t use an idea they found on a friend’s Pinterest board!
• Phone it in – 68 percent of brides text fitting pictures to family and post videos on a social media site.
• Cover it live – Last month, TheKnot.com held a live-streamed, crowd sourced wedding, and Brides magazine plans a live-streamed Facebook wedding. Companies like I Do Stream and Marry Me Live even offer webcasting services.

Thanks to Stacey Tropeano, senior account executive at Coyne Public Relations in New Jersey for the latest news on social media.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.

Fashion statements are red this month — and today’s Valentine’s Day mantra might be “buy something red.” Take a look at the red dresses rocking the runway during The Heart Truth Red Dress Collection Fashion Show 2013 right here. The New York Daily News covers it in style with 27 fabulous fashion ideas modeled by everyone from Gold-medal Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas – pictured above — to Kelly Osbourne.

Today is the perfect day to buy a little red dress. Here’s a link to the terrific selection at Macy’s – for teens to women in styles for career, casual and glamorous evening wear.

Here’s a link to JCPenney’s red dresses – one adorable peplum number from Bisou Bisou is only $35 — how can we choose just one?

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.

Remember, today is Wear Red Day — the American Heart Association reminds women to get checked for heart disease. UPMC Hamot has a full slate of events — click here. At Goredforwomen.org, learn more. 

And, here’s a thought to protect that pedicure! According to the website, Bootie Pies are cozy boots with a collapsible front flap that exposes the toes while getting a pedicure. Bootie Pies look like fashionable UGGs and are made from high quality suede and leather s like coconut crème, chocolate and blackberry. www.bootiepies.com. The shorter boots (more like shoes) are $68, and the taller boots (at left) are about $88. Wear them with your gloves that flip down for a manicure and make a statement!

Back to our hearts — heart disease kills more women 25 and older than all cancers combined. Signs of a heart attack in women are often different than men, according to the American Heart Association. Sweating, pressure, nausea and jaw pain could be signs in addition to pressure in the chest, pain or discomfort in one or both arms, shortness of breath and lightheadedness. Don’t ignore pain in the back, neck or stomach.

Signs of a stroke from American Heart Association include: numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, blurred vision in one or both eyes, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or sudden severe headache.Take care, and get a checkup!

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.  

Plan now for your Feb. 1 wardrobe. It’s Wear Red Day — a day that promotes awareness of heart disease in men and women. The first Friday in February, established as Wear Red Day in 2003, added a special focus on women because heart disease still kills more women every year than all cancers combined.

In Erie, thanks to UPMC Hamot for the reminder to wear red. Check right here for all the events at UPMC Hamot for Feb. 1. From 9:30 to 2, you can get free screenings and $10 cholesterol and blood sugar testing. For more information, see the schedule of events here.

At Goredforwomen.org, you can learn more. For example, signs of a heart attack in women are often different than men, according to the American Heart Association. Sweating, pressure, nausea and jaw pain could be signs in addition to pressure in the chest, pain or discomfort in one or both arms, shortness of breath and lightheadedness. Don’t ignore pain in the back, neck or stomach.

Signs of a stroke from American Heart Association include: numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, blurred vision in one or both eyes. dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or sudden severe headache.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grand

mom to one.

Here’s great news for women-owned small businesses.

Julie Weeks, American Express OPEN research advisor, compiled a report on Census data. Here are the key findings:

It was a news moment that I want to share with everyone. Women gave me faith in government after weeks of fiscal cliff news.

Republicans and Democrats — 20 women senators admitted their frustration with how Congress works. See the video here of Diane Sawyer’s interviews with the inspiring women in government.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, pictured at left, says women can be independent lawmakers and still work together.”I think we’re problem solvers, and I think that’s what this country needs,” she said to Sawyer.

It’s an interesting few minutes of video that will give all of us hope. Here are more links to all the great news about these women.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.

The Wall Street Journal reports that in 1970, women accounted for 9.7% of the nation’s doctors and just 4.9% of its lawyers, according to Census data. What a difference a generation makes. Now it’s 32 percent and 33 percent.

Read the story here. It outlines the details of moms and single women making successful careers in the formerly male-dominated careers.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.

Tomorrow. Oct. 18, is World Menopause Day — who knew? Thanks to Marnie Mead for calling my attention to the holiday(?) Well break out the fans. On a serious note, there are some great resources in the Huffington Post article — read it here — that sends readers to the news at World Menopause Day.

The World Health Organization and the International Menopause Society marked the day to encourage education, awareness and more — because about 500 million of us, according to the stats at World Menopause Day, are hitting this change and that’s a lot of women.

At Her Times, Debbie DeAngelo wrote a great feature on how to deal with menopause symptoms – check it out here.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

More than 214,000 women serve our country, according to the Women’s Memorial website. Today in the July issue of Her Times, we honor local women who served and share their stories of how they got started.

When we began this story, I had heard from a lot of women in the military. We wish we could have interviewed everyone. One woman was a former high-school classmate. We reconnected by chance when she shared a few real estate stories with me. She also shared her exciting life in the military. She is a retired general — still teaching and helping out at the VA Medical Center.

Women — many of them moms — who serve are incredibly brave and lead lives that most of us can’t even imagine. Read the stories of three wonderful women here.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

Sassy Peacock at 843 Pittsburgh Ave., in Erie, is one of those consignment stores with flair. Apparently, the editors at Woman’s Day Magazine agreed because they interviewed Sassy Peacock owner Sabrina Fischer for an article in the January issue on what to do with the clutter in your home. Two words — sell it!

The entire article is accessible here. Great tips from Woman’s Day, and Sabrina, on the value of items we all have hanging around. My family makes fun of me because I am still using my mom’s blender and waffle iron. I recently got rid of Grandma’s waffle iron. Hey, if it works … See family, I am very chic!

On Fashion Friday this week, my blog will cover fashion fun finds in old holiday sweaters — another unknown value in our drawers and closets. Think Jimmy Kimmel.

Stay tuned later today — we have more Erie area women making international marks that make Erie proud!