Your Wedding Ceremony can Make a Difference

The moment has come for the world to accept changes. Why should we go on living in old traditions? The world is fast changing and since we are no longer in the world that we farm with hoes and cutlasses, we should all accept that we can no longer envisage what will happen next. As the bride, what if you don’t get along well with your female counterparts and your best friend is a man whom you can trust with the responsibility of being your Maid of Honor? Why the need of asking him or her to be your best person when you know deep down in your heart that there is no true closeness between you? I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t choose that lady as your best man or that man as your Maid of Honor.

Though it is not bad for the best personality to be an opposite sex but one has to be very cautious in terms of what people may possibly say or what may end up happening. People will definitely raise inquiring eyes seeing the opposite sex as your best person and you may also end up getting married to your best person because of the little quality time spent together during the process of planning the ceremony. The unsurpassed thing to do is to choose your best person from your family which will answer people’s unasked question of “is she getting married to the Maid of Honor as well?” or any other question they may be pondering in their minds, it will prevent any unusual jealousy from your husband or wife to be and it will also curb any unexpected mistake like getting married to your best man or woman.

An issue may arise if it’s only one of the couple that wants to try the concept of having an opposite sex as the best person. If you are the bride and you don’t like the idea of having two Maids of honor as you may see it if your groom’s best man is a lady. Why don’t you also join in the fun and make a man your Maid of honor thereby having two opposite sex as your best person. It will be so amazing; your wedding will be worthwhile and will also be the talk of the year. This will also make people who are still living in the old way of life see reasons why they should modify their views.

But remember you can only relax and enjoy your wedding ceremony if both best persons are family members so that you won’t keep looking at the best man if she is actually giving your husband an eye contact or rather getting too much of his attentions. I wish you a happy wedding ceremony. Cheers

Your Special Dress – No

Would you wear a pre-owned wedding gown? Why would anyone? From a woman’s point of view, getting married is partly about wearing that one special dress. Actually it is probably all about wearing that one special dress. Be it puffy and long, mermaid tailed or short and skimpy, it is yours and a big part of your day. It is what makes your day. You suddenly transform into this beautiful princess for the day, in your own right. Could you imagine when someone asks where you got it from, saying that it was actually someone else’s? It kind of takes away the whole special feel about it, the magic.

The one thing I would spend a fortune on is my dress. The thought that somebody else had worn it would kill the effect. I would then be thinking things like: Do I look as good in it? and How did her marriage turn out?

I know that really a dress can not be the turning point of a marriage, but if the previous person’s marriage went down hill, then wearing the dress could curse me. Also she may have been more glamorous than me and I’ll be thinking over in my head that when he tells me how amazing I look, he would have been even more amazed by her.

I can understand that in times of hardship, some people may not have a choice and maybe if I got married right now I could not afford the most beautiful dress that I see, but I could still afford a dress that was truly mine. I would rather cut down in other areas, like the size of the reception or skipping the honeymoon for a few years. I mean the whole point of the honeymoon was that it’s the first time a couple sleep together, but nowadays, myself included, couples sleep together within days of meeting sometimes so the honeymoon does not have the same meaning in my eyes. Whereas the dress will always have that special meaning to every lady and probably something that you will treasure for the rest of your life. I myself could not sell my dress or lend it to anyone – it will always be mine.

If I am the only one who has owned it there is no one to compare to there is no history attached to it, it is purely mine and when I look at those photos I can imagine that I really do look the best and most amazing bride.

Your most Meaningful Family Traditions

It’s a funny little tradition born from simply running short of time, but it has become meaningful and we now share it with several friends and family of choice each year, and sometimes whether we want to or not!

One Christmas eve, we were hungry and decided to eat out, but all we could find open was a Mexican restaurant. To my surprise, the next year the kids asked to do this again, and we have been doing this now for more than 20 years. The restaurants have changed but not the kind of food. Since there are at least 760 Mexican restaurants here, it’s a pretty wide open selection.

Many friends now join us, and when parts of the family cannot be there, they eat Mexican food wherever they are so we are together in spirit. Sometimes the tradition has sustained itself despite us, like the year some old friends wanted very much to eat at a fancy hamburger place. We made the reservations and in a Christmas miracle, it started to snow in Houston that night! We had decided that we could get buy with salsa and avocados on a burger to be somewhat traditional and set out through huge fluffy flakes.

When we all began to arrive at the restaurant, we were horrified to find that despite our reservations they had closed early because they had no customers. In semitropical Houston, even a tiny amount of snow scares the natives away from driving, despite it not even being below freezing. Several in our party did not have cell phones and were on their way and we were not sure what to do.

As luck would have it, in the entertainment complex only a few feet from our erstwhile restaurant was one that did stay open, and it just happened to serve nothing but Mexican food. We took turns waiting outside the other place and gathering in our strays, and had wonderful food watching the unusual and beautiful snow fall steadily all evening.

It seems the universe now conspires to help us keep our tradition, and for us, holly and mistletoe will always go along with tortillas and salsa and fajitas. Ordinary Mexican cuisine has become part of the glue that connects our family.

Your Childs having a Birthday Party

Get ideas from your child when you plan their party. First and foremost, you want to get the message to her that you understand it is her her birthday, and the rest of the family is only helping her make her day what she wants it to be. It cannot, however, wreck the budget. The party must be within the family’s means and about the same price as what the siblings get. No favoritism.

Therefore, ingenuity and careful planning and her involvement will save the day for her and will allow her to feel special. In other words, the sky’s the limit for her birthday party as long as it will not cost other family members an arm or a leg. All pitch in and try to help but on occasion you will sense something is wrong.

Her dad and her older brother try to convince her to have her party in the park at one of the local picnic shelters. They are more sports minded but you object to their suggestions because of the heat. What if the temperature gets to be around 90 degrees. At least at the pool it would be more comfortable.

What does Becky say? After all it is her birthday party and so far the rest of the family seems to have forgotten this. Had she been three or four years old, or even in the first grade, maybe she would have needed others to plan her birthday party for her. But third graders are developing a sense of their own life and will resent others taking over important decisions for them.

What mom and dad should do is to ask her what she would like to do on her special day and then plan from there. It is possible she does not want to have all her classmates at a party. She may opt for a sleepover for three or four real good friends. Or she may want to take them to a movie and stop by a fast food place afterwords.

Her decision on how she will celebrate her birthday will depend on her personality, how comfortable she is with others and what, in her mind, means a good time. It does not often coincide with what the rest of the family has in mind for her; yet, often she will go along not wanting to hurt their feelings.

At least once a year a child should have this one day where they are made to feel special and to be respected for the the unique individual that they are. Well meaning family members may be eagerly waiting to show her how much they love her; but she may be too young to understand what they really want is her to just be herself.

It is important to get this message to her. She would like nothing better than to be alone with her friends with her family helping out for transportation, money for movies and food, and whatever else she cannot do for herself, but doing it quietly and out of the way of her friends.

While this may be a tall order, her family will have to spend time with her in helping her plan her party. Whatever is decided, she will need to know that they understand her need to have a say in planning her party. However,after the birthday party, she may realize she made a mistake and would have preferred something else, but decision making is part of the learning process.

If her birthday Party was a failure in her eyes, her family can console her by telling her next year it will be better and more to her liking. At least that will give her hope. What else is the future built on? Birthday parties, like every other experience is nothing more than another learning experience; for the whole family.

Your Buying Options for Thanksgiving Party Decorations

Decorations are very important in a party budget, whether it’s Thanksgiving parties, Christmas parties, birthday parties or any other parties, decorations must be included in your budget to be completed. So, if you are planning to host a Thanksgiving party this year, you may be in need of Thanksgiving party decorations.

There are a number of important factors to consider before you start buying your party decorations. These factors will likely make it easier, to purchase decorations for your next Thanksgiving party.

The first step in buying decorations for your Thanksgiving party is deciding what you want to buy and where to buy it. It may be a good idea to make a list ahead of time to avoid going beyond budget or forgetting some stuff, and even save time, even though you can still modify it at the store. A list is important to help you ensuring that you remember everything that you needed for your party decorations. When your list is complete, you are ready to start shopping for your thanksgiving party decorations.

One of the best options when you are looking to purchase Thanksgiving party decorations is your local party supply store. Party supply stores are great places to purchase your Thanksgiving party decorations. They have a larger product selection, when compared to most traditional retail stores. The cost of shopping at a party supply store may be a little bit higher than most other retail stores; you should easily be able to find exactly what you are looking for and even more! As previously mentioned, party supply stores tend to charge a little bit more money for their products.

The difference is not extreme, but it may be enough to make you want to shop elsewhere, especially if you are planning a Thanksgiving party on a budget. If the cost of your Thanksgiving party decorations is a concern, you may want to consider shopping at one of your local discount stores or dollar stores. With dollar stores, everything is one dollar or less. With discount stores, you tend to get access to a large number of low-cost products, many of which cost around a dollar or two. Almost all discount stores and dollars stores, in the United States, get a fairly large selection of Thanksgiving decorations around the holidays.

You could decorate your home or your Thanksgiving party without having to go broke if you shop at these stores. Additionally you should also be able to purchase your Thanksgiving party supplies from one of your local department stores. Department stores are retail stores that are not always as cheap as discount stores and dollar stores, but are cheaper than party supplies stores. What is nice about department stores is that some carry a fairly large selection of foods.

This means beside of getting decorations for your Thanksgiving party, you could also get your food, drinks, and snacks, all in one trip and that could save you a lot of time too. If you are looking for something unique, you may want to purchase your Thanksgiving party supplies online. With a standard internet search, you should easily be able to find a number of online retailers that specialize in selling Thanksgiving party decorations. With a little bit of luck, you may also be able to find individuals or companies that specialize in selling beautiful, handcraft Thanksgiving decorations.

Young Mens Fashion Gifts

It’s still about brand, but the brands are changing.

Remember a year or two ago, when the popularity of a brand was almost a direct reflection of price? To the relief of both parents and working teens, the most expensive brands are now bumped to the rear by  brands associated with sports, hard work, and retro values.

The hottest look in jeans for young men is now Bullhead, a tough-looking, moderately priced line. The newest cuts are skinny cuts, but don’t confuse skinny and tight. This look is a bit slouchy and wrinkled with narrow bottoms. Finishes tend to the dark: black and the deep indigo of the old school jeans of mining camps and waterfront loading docks. Besides Bullhead, Levi’s, Carharrt, Dickies, and Wrangler all enjoy revitalized popularity.

Plaid flannel remains at the top of most young men’s list of preferred shirt styles. Blues, grays and other subtle colors are favored. If you’d like a little more flavor, consider one of the western-influenced styles that are hot now, with pointed collars, pockets sewn on the bias, and pearl snap buttons. Look for the makers Volcom, Enjoi, and Zoo York.

T shirts are as indispensible as ever. Stick to black or white for the most fashionable statement, with graphics a little more subdued than in recent seasons. Scrolls and skulls have given way to edgy modern logos. Current top sellers are by Billabong, Hurley, Rcva, Volcom, O’Neill, and DC Shoes, all youth-oriented companies that got started in specialized sporting goods like skate boarding and rock climbing equipment.

T’s are commonly worn in layers: short sleeve over long, under a Henley or button down, even several shirts worn together with a jacket or hoodie. Hoodies retain their utilitarian appeal but now appear in a variety of stripes and styles. Pouches, full-zip and new button front looks are all popular. Horizontal stripes can be thick, thin or of variegated size, in dark or bright tones on light or neutral grounds. Look for sports company brands like Volcom, Patagonia, Columbia, LRG and Adidas.

Hats are the key accessory and while the flat-brimmed trucker hat remains top dog, lightly curved brims and slightly lower crowns are making a comeback. In each style fitted sizing is de rigueur. Black, dark gray and black-on-black are the most stylish colors. Graphics to look for are the embroidered logos of Hurley, Quiksilver, DC Shoes, WESC, and Burton, along with other desirable labels. Worn in any weather, beanies retain their appeal in either dark muted tones or variegated horizontal stripes. Beanies with narrow visors are making waves too.

Retro style is perhaps most obvious in footwear choices. The continued huge popularity of the Converse All-Star is indicative of young peoples’ lasting identification with (to them) long-gone generations and dead causes. PF Flyers have made a big comeback, the Adidas Gazelle and Superstar are still hot, and plain old sneakers (aka deck shoes) are very big. Clarks once ubiquitous desert tan chukka is again struttin’ the streets. Heavy boots with sturdy laces are an alternative, especially Timberland and Frye brands. In warm weather simple slides or thongs by Reef, Nike, or Adidas are especially hot.

New to this generation is the headphone as accessory. Ear buds by Skull Candy or Nixon stand out in bright colors or plaids, but the gold star for ‘most craved’ goes to the retro studio headphone. WESC makes a very cool model in many bright and youthful colors and designs.

You trying to Poison us

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. The aroma that fills granny’s house, permeats my thoughts with hopes of juicy turkey with all of granny’s fixings. The special rolls that she bakes beckon to me and the family lines up to get one from a fresh batch. Thanksgiving in my family has never been ‘hellish’. It’s always about relaxation, eating great food, and sitting around the table afterwards for small talk. Though Thanksgiving with my family is great, strangely enough, I moved far away from home right out of high-school. I got a pretty good job where I was staying with my aunt in Tennessee, but when the holidays rolled around, I just wanted to get home. So, I joined my youngest sister, and youngest cousin at Granny’s house and we had a Thanksgiving feast! I was so happy to be home, and my sister was overjoyed to have me there, as was my then six year old cousin.

Upon my arrival, however, Bubba (my little cousin) got very sick. She had a terrible fever, was throwing up, sweating all over, and had a bad stomach ache. We could not figure out what was wrong with her, at first, but determined later that it must have been something that she ate. Since this was before Thanksgiving, we knew that it wasn’t our dinner that caused it. But the child was very sick, and weak. She eventually got better, but we were frightened at first by her symptoms and contemplated taking her to urgent care. After she felt better, we were finally able to let loose and enjoy our holiday as a family, which was something that I missed greatly having been away from home. I immediately began to ready myself for granny’s wonderful home made meal that I was accustomed to for my entire life.

Thanksgiving day rolled around without a hitch, and like usual, we had to wait until very late afternoon for our dinner to be done. See, granny has this problem with punctuality during the holidays, but we all love her for it. We sat down to eat our wonderful meal, and we had Thanksgiving dinner like usual. Afterwards, we sat around talking and laughing, while granny put all of the food away. My sister and I then decided to take Bubba with us and take a ride to visit my sisters then-boyfriend (now husband) at the Coast Guard station.

Things were going fine until my sister abruptly made me pull over so that she, herself could throw up. It seems that whatever illness our cousin had was catching. Everyone got sick, but a few of us. Apparently it wasdn’t something that Bubba ate after all, but we assumed that it was granny’s dinner that made everyone so violently ill. So, immediately after our scrumptious dinner, we decided to forego all leftovers because we thought that granny tried to kill us. Of course, she didn’t, and had no intention of our food being contaminated, and indeed we are still not sure that it ever was. But for two weeks there was illness running wild in my family. Now, each Thanksgiving we talk about the year that granny tried to poison us. It ended up being a story that cast a bond between my sister, cousin and I. We discuss it with humor and tease granny about her cooking skills (which are really very exceptional, by the way). That was one Thanksgiving that I hope to never encounter again.

Yellow Wedding Color

When deciding on your wedding color, consider using yellow! The light, cheerful tone is perfect for a spring or summer wedding, adding a bright touch to even the gloomiest of settings. Yellow looks beautiful with a white wedding dress or with a darker tone, even black, and makes a lovely color theme for a wedding. Here are some ideas for things you can incorporate into your yellow wedding!

Citrus centerpieces

Instead of floral centerpieces, use lemons! Lemons make a fragrant, unique decoration and are far less expensive than flowers. Simply set them in bowls with some greenery or use toothpicks to set them in a Styrofoam cone to make shaped pyramids.

Let the sun shine in

Simple decorations incorporating suns look great for a yellow wedding. Use a sun emblem on your programs or menus to add a warm, glowing touch. Of course, a yellow wedding really calls for an outdoor wedding, so really let the natural sun shine in during your festivities!

Yellow flowers

For your bouquets, use some of the cheerful yellow wildflowers that can be found easily, such as daisies and even dandelions. They will add a homespun touch to your floral arrangements and look so sweet. Another chic option is to have your bridesmaids carry a single sunflower. Of course, yellow roses are always a nice choice!

Tasty treats

Little bowls of yellow-colored snacks will add lots of charm to the decor at your wedding. Fill glass candy bowls with Lemon Heads, yellow M&Ms, yellow jelly beans, and yellow Skittles and set them throughout the reception area. For a healthier snack, use golden raspberries – they taste amazing and look beautiful in the bowl!

The cocktail hour

Yellow drinks are a must for a yellow wedding! The Lemon Drop cocktail is a particular favorite, and it doesn’t just have to be in the form of a shot anymore. Frost a cocktail glass with sugar and pour in a mixture of 1 part fresh lemon juice, 1 part citrus vodka, and 1/2 part sugar syrup for an easy and refreshing drink.

Gourmet lemonade

Lemonade does not just have to be plain – add some gourmet touches by infusing lemonade with fresh mint leaves, lavender, or other fresh fruit flavors like raspberry or blackberry. Vanilla sugar also makes a nice flavoring when used in place of plain sugar, as it adds a hint of softer flavor to take the edge off the sharp citrus. 

Yard Sale Gifts to Cash Gift Return Gift Exchange

There is nothing that compares to finding the gift that you want to receive under the Christmas tree.  However it is inevitable that you would find some gifts that you would consider duds. This does not mean though that you have no option to remedy the situation. Since we all do not need any more clutter clutter in our living and storage spaces here are some suggestions that you can use.

First return the gift to the store if at all possible. Then request a cash refund or at the very least store credit.  While credits are not as good as cash and can only be used at the issuing store it may save you real money in the future.

Second include the unwanted gifts in a yard sale.  This will not only get you some cash for your white elephant but also it will allow you to free up precious space in the house, closets and storage areas.

Third donate your items to a charity and make sure you get the receipt reflecting the value of your donation.  This may  allow you to receive a tax break and reduce your tax bill.  Consult your tax preparer or accountant as each person’s situation is different.

Fourth watch for things that can sell at premium prices like antiques and old electronics. Just because you have developed a dislike for the object does not mean that it is not valuable to someone else. That old dark painting may be a classic.  Some dollars in exchange for something you do not use is better than none.  I am not saying that you will find thousands of dollars in your old stuff.  There is a reason why some items are collectible  and expensive.  It is because they are rare and desired by collectors. Most of our household stuff are not like that.  Some of your old clothes and accessories may now be considered retro by some shops. Do not throw away garments without first checking out if it is worth some money. Every little bit helps.

Lastly websites like Craiglist, Amazon and E-bay are becoming more and more the shopping site for this generation. Your computer can be your outlet for these gifts that you do not like. This also allows you a wider market than just the people in your vicinity.

Hopefully you find ways to lose the unwanted stuff and gain useful and desired ones instead.  Happy hunting.

Yard Decorating Ideas for Easter

It is fun to celebrate Easter by decorating your yard. There are many different decorations that you can utilize to create a festive atmosphere for this important holiday.

Turn your yard into an Easter egg hunt

Children love to go on Easter egg hunts, and your yard can reflect this. You can purchase Easter eggs to put into your yard. Get brightly colored eggs or oversized ones to make a bold statement. They even sell some that look like golden eggs. There are available from many sources with an Easter selection including www.amazon.com and stores like Target.

Easter flags

A colorful flag that says “Happy Easter” can be an easy way to decorate your yard for Easter. You can purchase these from Oriental Trading Company. There are many different types of flags at different sizes. They have decorations that include images of the Easter bunny, pretty eggs and more. Some mount to a regular flag pole whereas others are smaller and come with their own stand for ease.

“Happy Easter” signs

There are a number of inexpensive signs to place outside. Oriental Trading Company sells some for the lawn that just stake down. You can also purchase paper cutouts, which you can affix to your front door, to porch railings and to other places around your yard.

Colorful garland and lights

You can decorate your yard much as you would for the winter holidays but instead of using red and green lights and garland, use colorful pastel colors like pink, lavender, aqua and green. For instance, you can wrap pink lights around the trees in your yard. You can buy brightly colored ribbon and put them through your bushes.

When decorating your yard, make sure that anything you use is rated for outdoor use. You do not want anything to get ruined or to be dangerous in the case that you are using something with electricity such as lights.

Flowers

Of course flowers are in the spirit of the season, and these can make great decorations for your yard for Easter. You can buy fake flowers that also have Easter eggs in them so that they are obviously decorations. “Easter bunnies” to go outside are available, too.

Decorating your lawn for Easter can be a lot of fun. Try a variety of different ideas to give a unique look to your home. Switch it around from year to year to create a new look for each season.