Wedding Invitations|Cheap Wedding Invitations|Wedding Invitation

Clients are the lifeblood of any business and in a perfect world, they are pleasant, kind and respectful people but in the real world, some are often "challenging", a euphemistic word for the acronym PITA ("Pain in the A$$")!!

A very good friend of mine, also an event planner, bought me a gift to set on my desk, a little pottery jar that said "Ashes of Problem Clients". In less than ten seconds after receiving it, the ashes of several clients came to mind and I became inspired to write about my experience as an event planner.

I have been in the hospitality business for thirty-nine years; twenty-five of which have been in event planning. After I planned my first event, I was hooked. I loved the creative aspect of planning a function, the excitement of meeting people from all over the world, working without outside vendors and entertainers, and arranging corporate dinners, receptions, themed productions and social functions.

Obviously the ultimate goal of an event planner is to exceed, or at the very least, meet the client's expectations by helping them to create a successful event and a memorable experience, and in addition to client satisfaction, you hope for repeat business or a referral for future business.

When clients act controlling and try to micro-manage the situation, I honestly do try to see their point of view no matter how unreasonable the demand or how irrational the request. I like to give the benefit of the doubt while trying to convince myself some clients have no idea how complicated they are making things but I also take into consideration that perhaps they are nervous or fearful because this is the first event they have tried to plan, although not many clients will admit that, or maybe their boss is pressuring them to make the event spectacular while threatening them with losing their job, time off, a bonus or a raise.

As an event planner, we've all experienced client horror stories and dealing with difficult and demanding clients comes with the territory but often times so does a migraine and an upset stomach; loss of sleep, non-productive stress and large quantities of aspirin and antacids, and for me, a few glasses of wine or a couple shots of Patron, after the event of course!

During the planning stages of an event, some clients will ask you what you think and then interrupt you as you start to answer, some try to involve you in a plethora of plots and plans and undermining schemes, and some expect you to be able to make your room or the venue bigger or smaller depending upon their requirements. After the details have been finalized and the contract has been signed, many times clients still try to make last minute changes. Some arrive shortly before the doors are to open and expect you to be able to rearrange the set up or add items to the menu, and some don't understand that if more guests show than what was originally contracted for, why they have to pay for them. I had a client who guaranteed 200 people for a reception but in fact over 300 showed. My client was confused as to why she had to pay the overage since "there was plenty of food and plenty of booze on the bar".

An event planner wears many hats. Depending on the client, some expect you to be a psychologist, a referee, a babysitter or a negotiator while others have little respect for your expertise or what works best in your venue even though you've produced thousands of events. They are critical of everything, and think we as event planners are being unreasonable and uncompromising if they don't get what they want. They snub your ideas and suggestions yet when they get complimented from the boss or one of their guests, of course it was totally their idea.

Don't misunderstand, I have had some wonderful clients over the years but I actually believe I have learned more from the challenging personality types such as the perfectionists, the nit-pickers, and the egotists to name a few.

High-Maintenance Clients
I have a client whom I have been working with for years. I should be used to her selective hearing, her frequent outbursts and her drama queen antics but when she calls and texts me after hours or on the weekends several months before her event to ask something like, "Do you think the sun is going to be an issue in May before 5:00 PM, it gets exhausting. She e-mails me incessantly with "Urgent!!!" in the subject line. She schedules appointments, then cancels, reschedules or shows up late. During the meeting, a good portion of it is spent talking or texting her assistant, her mother or her dog groomer. She comes up with ideas, finalizes them and then changes her mind. She must have the tiniest bladder on the planet because she's always sprinting to the bathroom or outside for "a little air" or a cigarette or three. No wonder she has to go to the bathroom every ten minutes; she needs her coffee or tea or water continually replenished, and sometimes even a "turkey club on whole wheat with light mayo" or a "grilled chicken Caesar salad with fat-free dressing on the side". She loves the little pampering we "provide"; we are so "accommodating". This client owns her own company and it is quite successful. She likes to host a client appreciation party each year yet she never has "much" in her budget and she expects little extras to be included at no additional charge. Once she asked if I would "throw in" the bar, not hard liquor, just beer and wine as if the cost of beer and wine was no big deal. I gave her the following analogy that I thought she could relate to, "Let's say I'm in Bloomingdales and I see a beautiful dress that I simply must have. I ask the sales person if she could 'throw in' some shoes to match". She processed that for a few seconds and said, "Ohhhh, I see your point" but I wonder if she did because later she asked me to "throw in" the dessert. The only thing I wanted to "throw" was her, right out the window.

The Attention-Seeking Client
I have an attention-seeker client who works for a party planning company. Whenever he has an audience, he likes to take the opportunity to berate the staff with his rants and barrage of expletives. For this particular event, he wanted floor length tablecloths but unfortunately my linen vendor only had two sizes of linens; one that was too short and one that was too long. My mangers and I opted for the shorter cloth because the longer cloths had so much extra fabric that we anticipated them becoming a liability with guests tripping and falling into each other. When my client walked into the room for the final walk-through, two hours late mind you, and saw the short cloths, he said, "I am coming unglued". He ripped one cloth off a table as the staff stood paralyzed with their eyes and mouths wide open while everything they had just set on the table tumbled to the floor. He turned to me with blazing eyes and I swear I saw little pitchforks in the center. He raised his voice so high it could have broken glass as he screamed, "This is your fault Madame! If you were going to change to a shorter cloth, you should have called me for my permission". I did and he would have known that had he answered his phone or bothered to check his voice mail. Any seasoned event planner knows that the key is to try and diffuse a hostile situation before it spirals out of control. I tried explaining my thought process hoping he would agree but he put up his hand in a dismissive manner and waived it at me and yelled, "Silence". I assured him that I could have the linen changed out and the tables reset in less than thirty minutes. "I don't have time for this", he said even though we had five hours until the event. He plopped down into the nearest chair and yelled, "Someone bring me a bottled water, a glass of ice and lime on the side".

It's times like this when I wish I owned the place so I could finally say those two little words that I so often think inside my head. No, not those two words but these two words: "Get out!" Obviously you cannot change someone else's behavior but I did make it clear to him that while I would do everything within my power to make him happy, what I would not do was allow him to continue to speak to me, or the staff, in a rude and disrespectful manner. After the event, my client informed me that his client was thrilled, "Darling, you did a fabulous job and I'm so sorry I was a bit testy! Please forgive me. Your staff must think I'm a pain in the neck". Not the body part I was thinking of!

The Know-It-All Client
Know-it all clients are often arrogant, opinionated and believe they know it all simply because they have either planned their sister's bridal shower, their parent's 50th anniversary or their child's first birthday party. They become self-proclaimed experts. I had a bride who scheduled an appointment with me to discuss having her wedding reception at the restaurant. She arrived with her maid-of-honor, who incidentally planned her own wedding after she watched "The Wedding Planner" so "JLo" did all the talking and of course she knew absolutely everything. She knew where she could get a "bigger, more delicious cake" for the same price I quoted, "cheaper flowers" and a "less expensive" Deejay. She talked over me, interrupted me and treated me as if this was the first wedding I had ever planned. The icing on the proverbial wedding cake so to speak was when she assumed they could bring in their own food and beverages. She was shocked when I explained that if they wanted the reception at the restaurant, we would be providing all the food and beverages. I often think about that bride and wonder how her reception turned out. The maid-of-honor thought either her backyard or the church hall was much more "suitable, not to mention cheaper" since they could bring in their own "food and stuff"!

Client-Come-Lately
I have a travel agent/event planner who booked a group from Europe for a sit down dinner from 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM. The first two hours was scheduled for the dinner and the last hour a variety of entertainers were to perform various singing, dancing and magic acts. At 8:45 PM, the client and her guests were nowhere to be found. I called her hotel, her cell and the bus company who was transporting them from the hotel to the restaurant. My client did not answer the phone in her room or her cell and the bus company told me they brought the group back from their tour "hours ago". Even though my Chef and Manager on Duty were panicking, believing they might not show, I knew at some point the group would make their way to the restaurant because we had been paid in full and the entertainment company had received a hefty deposit. Shortly after 10:00 PM, the guests arrived. When I asked my client about the delay, she said she tried phoning me around 5:00 PM but she "just couldn't get through". Apparently her clients did not want to eat at 8:00 PM as she contracted; they were used to eating later. I explained to my client that she would be charged for three extra hours of labor since she was two hours late and the party would need to be extended until 1:00 AM. The entertainment director told her he too would have additional charges. She became hysterical. She had not budgeted for extra labor charges and it wasn't her fault if she couldn't get through to me, it was her mobile phone. I explained that even if she had been able to get through, changing the start time three hours prior to the contractual start of the party was not acceptable and if she wanted the dinner and the show to go on, she would have to agree to the additional labor charges. I also reminded her that these types of situations were outlined in the Conditions of the Contract but some clients do not read the fine print before they sign on the dotted line. Even though she has since booked three more events with me, during her tantrum, she vowed never to book at my venue again due to my "unwillingness to compromise".

Another client booked a small two-hour reception. I created a menu, sent her a contract it, she signed it and paid a deposit. On the day of the event, my floor manager told me the function was going to be a "piece of cake" and insisted I take the night off. An hour after the reception was supposed to start, that same manger called me at home to say my client was a "no call/no show". He pulled the contract and my client signed for that date and time. He was not able to reach him on his cell but left a message. I too called and left a message. Three hours later my client called and said, "Please don't tell me I booked the party for tonight?" He actually wanted it for the next day. I was able to accommodate him since we had no other functions booked however, when I explained that he would have to pay for the labor that had been scheduled and the food that had already been prepped for the wrong night, he became indignant. He said since it was his mistake, the extra charges would have to come out of his pocket, that he was going to be "in a whole lot of trouble" and he didn't "appreciate the fact that I was imposing these charges on him since it was an honest mistake". I told him that while I sympathized with his predicament, if I didn't get compensation, I was going to be "in a whole lot of trouble". Even though I agreed to split the difference, he still was not happy and refused to speak to me the next night at his event.

The Narcissist
The only thing worse than a rude and obnoxious client is another rude and obnoxious client! There is a certain breed of clients who think they are your only clients. They have little or no respect for your time. They think you are supposed to be available 24/7 and that you have unlimited resources at your disposal. A client set up a site inspection with me at 8:00 AM on a Monday. She confirmed the date and time twice after setting it up, the last of which was on my first Sunday off in one month. Fifteen minutes before she was due to arrive, she called and said, "Hi, I'm in a taxi driving right by your place. I'm switching plans". Apparently she broke a nail and the manicurist at the salon in the hotel she was staying at was not in on Mondays so she was headed to another salon at another hotel for the repair. "So I can't get to you until 2:00 PM because I have other places to site, and then a lunch so I'm moving you to 3:00 PM". I apologized and explained that I had a site inspection with another client at that time and asked if she could wait until 4:00 PM. She told me that I was causing her a "real inconvenience", that if I could not accommodate her at 4:00 PM, she would be forced to book elsewhere since she couldn't possibly book with me sight unseen. She called me the following year asking if I remembered her. Really? She requested a site inspection and proceeded to tell me how displeased she was with her last party and how difficult the catering manager had been. She asked that I check availability but unfortunately and sadly and hip-hip hooray, I was already booked on the day that she needed. As she slammed the phone down, I heard her say, "Whatever"! I never like to turn down a piece of business but I am certain that if she calls me again, "third time's a charm" will not be the case for her!

The Egotist
I have had many memorable clients by one of my 'favorites" was the client of a local party planner her scheduled a final walk-through two days prior to the event. Even though I had met with this client twice before, she could not seem to remember my name. She said, "You must think me terrible but I have forgotten your name", and this was our second meeting and we had been talking for nearly thirty minutes. Hello?! It's not like my name is Scheherazade. It's Kate, a very short, one-syllable 4-letter word. But knowing my name didn't make a difference, she still insisted on directing her questions and her little underhanded comments to the party planner, referring to me as "her" and "she"; that is, when she bothered to acknowledge that I was actually in the room. "I hate to be a pest", she said, "But do you think she can remove those extra ropes and stanchions if we don't need them? And why are there so many extra tables and chairs in the room, this isn't how I want the room set". I reminded her that her event was not for two days and the room was set for an event that evening.

After she changed the start time, the color of the linens, the placement for her speaker and the buffet, for the third time, she got up with a jolt, ran to the middle of the room and stood there with her eyes closed, one hand on her head and the other on her stomach as if she were channeling Frank Lloyd Wright. After a few seconds, she exclaimed, "No, no, no this room is all wrong, this is not what I envisioned". Apparently she just wasn't "feeling the room". In fact, what she was feeling was "frustrated" and "claustrophobic". She swung around and opened her eyes wide and glared into mine and said, "What about you 'Kathy', aren't you feeling frustrated and claustrophobic?" Yes, I thought, but not from the room! In a matter of seconds we went from the original set up of round tables to rectangle tables because after all, "rectangle tables are much more conducive to a dining atmosphere" whereas the rounds seemed "banquety" to her and that's not what she "envisioned". Her "vision" and her "goal" were to have the room "feel comfortable, relaxed and spread out" and oh how she wished the room was bigger but she "supposed there was nothing that could be done about that". Mean while the room seats 250 people and her guarantee was for 100. I sat quietly taking deep breaths and wishing my life away, wishing for it to be two days later at 10:00 PM which would mark the end of her event. As she got up to leave, she put her hand on my arm and baby-talked, "I hope you don't think I am too much of an ass pain" and giggled and snorted uncontrollably. Oh, I thought to myself, that's not what I'm thinking at all! Then she said to the party planner, "Can you tell Ka-Ka-Ka Katie to make sure the carpet is vacuumed".

So it's the day of the event and standing outside the door is "Cruella Deville" in all her glory. I cannot put into writing the thoughts and fantasies that started running rampant through my mind; it just wouldn't be lady-like. I looked at the banquet captain and said, "It's show time. Your worst nightmare is about to walk through the door. If you need me, I'll be at the bar"!

Of all the household bills I have to pay each month the various forms of insurance premiums are the ones I like the least. Much as I don't like paying for my electricity and telephone charges I can at least see where the money has gone. With insurance it's not so simple; the monthly premiums just go into a black hole never to be seen again. Obviously you are paying someone else to take a financial risk on your behalf and they aren't going to do it for nothing. It is only when disaster strikes that you realise how insurance can actually be a good idea. So what about wedding insurance - is this a good idea, after all what can possibly go wrong?

Well, if you're not planning to get married then you certainly don't need it - that's for certain. However, if you are currently planning your big day then you already know how expensive weddings can be. Mentions of wedding insurance at this stage usually illicit a lukewarm response - when you are writing out cheques for thousands of pounds the last thing you want to think about is yet another expense?

However, what if one of your suppliers goes out of business the week before the wedding; will you be able to organise a replacement and, more importantly, will you get your deposit back? What if the groom breaks his leg playing football and has to spend the wedding weekend in hospital?

OK, a bit extreme but you would be surprised how often these kind of things happen. Once you start to think about the things that could potentially go wrong a small one-off premium doesn't seem too much to ask after all.

How Much Does it Cost
Wedding insurance premiums are based upon a scale of maximum claims and priced accordingly. Basic cover can be arranged for less than £30 and rises in relation to the sums covered. A comprehensive policy covering the costs of an average wedding will usually cost less than around £50. So arranging suitable cover may not be as expensive as you thought?

What's Covered?
Details will vary from policy to policy, but as a guide: most premiums will provide a sum to cover the cost of rearranging the wedding if the need arises, an amount to cover potential damage or loss of your dress and/or the groom's outfit; cover for loss or damage to wedding rings, loss or damage to wedding gifts, failure of suppliers and personal liability insurance should you be held liable for an accident or injury during the event. Additional cover can also be arranged for items such as ceremonial swords and marquees.

As with all insurances there are exclusions and, again, these will vary from provider to provider and you should check these carefully before paying any premiums. Generally speaking you will not be covered for a change of heart, or if you simply didn't have a great time - there are some risks in life that no one can cover after all!

Should I take-out wedding insurance?
At the end of the day it's not compulsory, if you want to take a small risk then it is your choice. Minor things are certain to go wrong but total disasters are rare events. However, in the current economic climate and bearing in mind how economical basic cover can be, it's certainly something you should think about.

Whether a couple is budget conscious or simply wanting to be prepared for their cake consultation, understanding how much a wedding cake costs is important if you want to get what you paid for. Nothing is worse than going through the whole process of selecting tiers, shapes, flavors and cake decorations only to be started by the final price. Getting an idea of how much does a wedding cake cost can be a frustrating thing to determine but is definitely necessary before heading in to the bakery.

Ordering From Cake Menus

Cake ordering can be very similar to ordering at a restaurant. While you could easily order an appetizer, soup or salad, main course, dessert and a drink or two, if budget is an issue you'd likely just stick to the main course. Cakes are much the same way with the size or number of tiers, cake stands needed, cake construction, shape, flavors and decorations all comprising the cost. If your budget is tight, there are certainly some areas to trim corners for your cake. For example, a unique cake shape such as ovals, or hearts may not be quite so interesting if it added another 15% to your cake bill.

Pricing of Cakes

Some bakers charge by the piece, ranging just about between $1.00-$5.00 a slice based on the number of guests you have attending your reception. It could also be important to inquire if your reception location will charge a fee per piece for cutting and serving costs. If a baker is using flat fees for how much a wedding cake costs, you can expect to spend approximately $400-500 for a 3 tiered cake for 100 people. Likely this cake has minimal décor involved and a simple stand. For another $300-$500, tiers can be added or extras such as fountains and detailing in the fondant or icing.

For an ornate cake without the price tag, several options are available. The use of mock cakes that are often pre-made far ahead of time by using styrofoam as the cake medium is a cost efficient way to achieve your dream cake. The cake decorator coats the exterior with fondant and piped icing or other decorative techniques. This method saves the baker time by allowing them to create your cake ahead of time and more at their leisure. One tier is created with actual cake for you to cut in front of your guests while the cake actually intended for your guests is provided with far more inexpensive sheet cakes that are taken to the reception site's kitchen and out of the view of your guests.

Asking the question how much does a wedding cake cost can help to plan a budget as well as get a handle on what is important in the design of your cake. Asking a decorator to itemize the decorating features may be the best way to understand where your money is being spent and where you can possibly cut out an unnecessary expense. One place you may not want to skimp which your guests will appreciate as well is of course, flavor.

When it comes to planning your wedding day, there are few things more important than the look of your wedding invitations. While so many people spend a lot of time choosing the wedding dress and the location, often times the invitations are one of the last things that are even considered.

However, scrimping on the wedding and RSVP invitations does not necessarily mean that they won't be of high quality. This is because there are many types of wedding invitation options available today. In fact, it is completely possible to create, design and produce your own invitations all by yourself.

There are several different ways to create invitations for your wedding. For instance, using offset printing is the way that you normally see wedding invitations displayed. This is where typical, everyday fonts are used.

There are also invitations done for weddings which use a method called thermography. This type of style is typically used for a more casual atmosphere at your wedding. The print has the illusion of being raised because ink is heated and resin is combined to make it appear as though the text is raised up.

Engraved wedding invitations are coveted among brides and grooms. They are normally used at more sophisticated and formal weddings. People who enjoy a traditional style will likely choose an engraved invitation to make their announcement. This kind of invitation does take longer to manufacture so you need to make sure to order them several weeks in advance.

One of the more expensive types of wedding invitations would be the embossed version. This uses a raised kind of print which is very expensive to create. But the most expensive kind of wedding invitation tends to be the ones that are customized such as calligraphy invitations. These are done by highly skilled and trained artists, so it takes time and money to purchase these kinds of invitations.

There are many wedding invitation ideas to choose from but it is most important to come up with your budget in advance so that you do not get carried away in the excitement of your upcoming wedding. It is very easy to get overwhelmed at the options and make a rash decision which could cost you a lot more than you had planned.

It is every woman's dream, to have a spectacular wedding event. All her relatives and closest friends gathered around, to see the blushing bride and her handsome groom on one of the most important days of their lives.

These days, a major wedding event can cost a significant amount of money and so much time and effort will go into the planning of the event. If anything goes wrong with the wedding event, you will want to be compensated.

Wedding insurance offers valuable protection against the unexpected

What would happen if you need to change the date of the wedding event at the last minute, due to unforeseen circumstances, such as a major illness? You would almost certainly incur cancellation fees for cancelling the wedding reception venue, catering etc. What if the wedding event gets rained out or the caterer does not show up? You will want to know that there is a backup plan for the most important day of your life. For your peace of mind, it makes sense to purchase wedding insurance or event insurance, to provide financial compensation, if your worst nightmare happens. Wedding insurance is designed to cover the unexpected when you know that you cannot afford the unexpected to happen.

In addition to wedding insurance, if there is a honeymoon planned and you are intending to travel abroad, you should also consider purchasing travel insurance.

When you return from honeymoon and move into your new home together, you will need to purchase home contents and building insurance. Depending on the value of your possessions, you may need to purchase a high value home insurance policy. You can never be too careful, because mistakes and mishaps can be costly.

High value home insurance for your valuable wedding presents

If you are lucky enough to have wealthy parents or relatives, you may have been given a number of expensive wedding presents. These may possibly include antiques or valuable works of art. You may also have purchased expensive wedding rings for each other. You should therefore consider purchasing a more specialist high value home insurance policy that is specifically designed to protect your most valuable and prized possessions in the event that they are stolen or damaged by fire or an accident.

If you are a relatively resourceful person, you possibly can design, create and print your very own wedding announcements. Realistically, with the amount of possible choices in internet wedding invitation templates you are able to download you do not need to be creative, just decisive. There are some things to take into consideration before you choose the do-it-yourself wedding invitations solution over buying and having them accomplished professionally. Before talking about the actual factors regarding Build-it-yourself invitations, you must understand the key benefits of choosing this method.

Creativity - Making your own personal announcements are often rewarding. It may very well be just a little time-consuming, however it also means that you can personalize your invitations as you see fit. Providing you allow for your self the required time, this absolutely should not be a problem.

Templates - If you are not keen on designing invitations on your own, you are able to pick from a number of different wedding invitation templates online. These can easily become saved and also modified however, you desire them using word processing or maybe image editing software.

Cost - Carrying out this yourself could possibly be most cost-effective solution, especially when you happen to be having a small to moderate size wedding and reception with under five-hundred guests. Even if you plan to have 500 or higher attendees you'll be able to nonetheless design and style or perhaps work with a downloaded design to print out an example and look around for bulk printing prices to save your dollars for your honeymoon. Price is most significant issues to consider, especially where your budget is concerned.

Software - There are various forms of software programs you can find which might be compatible with downloaded wedding invitation templates. MSOffice, Picasa, OpenOffice and also other software programs that will be readily obtainable can aid in the modifying and making of the wedding announcements. Some of these applications are free to utilize, while some come with a price.

Some of the considerations for printing your own wedding announcements include the following:

Stationary and Envelopes - your essential alternatives here include things like different kinds of plain printing paper, including parchment or perhaps wedding-related letterhead or cards using pre-printed patterns. It will depend on what you really are trying to achieve along with your invitations. The easiest and best method of doing your personal invitations is to locate kits that include all that you should make your wedding announcements.

Addressing - Make sure you hand write the address on your invitations as it is more personal. It is now more acceptable in most arenas to use handwritten font styles for printing envelopes, but handwriting them is still more personal.

If you obtain a kit for printing your wedding invitation templates remember to place the tissue paper in the invitation, add the RSVP card and wedding celebration invitation (if relevant) and utilize the inside as well as outer envelopes for etiquette's sake.

Lost a ring? Engagement, Wedding, Anniversary or Sentimental ring? Thinking about trying to use a metal detector to find it?

I lost my wedding ring and rented a metal detector to help me find it. Several months later, after hearing the story of my success finding the ring, my uncle asked me to come over and look for his wedding ring. It had been lost 10 or so years ago during the construction of a small retaining wall under a deck at his home.

After my initial 4 day ordeal looking for my own ring I was a little apprehensive about the prospect of finding his ring, but at least it wasn't under water like mine had been, plus he had a pretty good idea of where it should be. So, he rented a metal detector, coincidentally the same one I had used to find mine, and on a nice Sunday morning I went over to start digging. We broke out the shovels, a wheel barrel, a bucket and coffee.

He showed me the area, about 20 square feet, and we considered that it could be at a depth of up to a foot or two near the front. I took off my own ring and placed it on the ground to get a feel for what a good strong hit should sound like on the metal detectors speaker and then I started working the area.

In less than 5 minutes I got a good strong hit and sure enough, there was his ring! We spent more time pulling out the tools than we actually spent looking for the ring. After 10 years in the dirt his ring was back on his finger and I was now 2 for 2 finding lost wedding rings.

So, with all that in mind, here are my beginner's tips for finding a lost ring with a metal detector.

TOOLS -

• One good metal detector. Nothing super-fancy, but it should have the discriminator settings to set for rings and not coins. Set for rings, they are much more sensitive to heavier metals like gold.
  


• A good plastic trowel (small shovel). Plastic ones are better for this job since they won't interfere with the metal detector.
  


• A decent plastic bucket, without a metal handle. Again, no metal to interfere with the detector.
  


• A gold ring and a few coins. - I know this may sound silly, but when you read my techniques section it will make more sense.
  


• Shoes WITHOUT steel toes or steel shanks. If you wear steel toed work shoes or boots, they will interfere with the metal detector.
  

TECHNIQUES -

• First, make sure that you can search the area. If it is a park you are usually allowed to do it if you don't damage the grass. That means that just like on the golf course, you need to put your divots (bits of grass you pull up) back. If the location is on private property, make sure that you have the owner's permission to enter and search.
  


• If this is your first time using a metal detector, ask for some assistance from the shop where you rent or buy it and/or read the manual. If you are looking for a ring, make sure that you set the 'discriminator' to the 'ring' setting. This will help you avoid getting lots of false signals from small bits of metal like old gum wrappers.
  


• Find a nice little practice area where you can move the detector around without getting a bunch of beeps. This may mean clearing some stuff away, or you may get lucky and find a clear spot right away. Just give yourself a few square feet that you can pass the detector over without finding anything.
  


• Train your ear. Take a gold ring and place it on the ground, then place a penny on the ground about 3 feet away from the ring. Pass the detector over both of them and listen to the difference in the beep. If the detector is properly set, you should hear a much stronger beep from the ring than you do from the penny. Do this for awhile. You really want to get a good feeling for the difference between a solid 'hit' and just a small beep.
  

Once you start actually searching, work in an orderly pattern. Pick out the area you want to search and work in a methodical way. There are many different patterns you could use. One method that seemed to work for me was to do the border first, all the way around and then work left to right, front to back. However, the exact pattern isn't as important as the fact that you use one. You need to know that when you've covered an area you have really covered it.

If you hit a beep and you feel it's worth digging, move the detector around side to side and front to back until you have a pretty good idea exactly where the target is. Digital detectors (which I haven't used) will have a little indicator screen that will help you narrow in on it. Once you've decided to dig, use your plastic trowel and bring up a small area. Put the dirt and grass into your bucket and then check the area again. This will help make sure that you got the item. Don't start sifting through the bucket until you're sure you have gotten the target out of the ground.

After you are sure that the target is out of the ground, use the detector on the bucket and see if the target shows up in there. If it does, then you know you got it and something is in there. Search the bucket until you find it and the bucket reads clean (no beeps) from the detector. If it wasn't what you were looking for, get it out of the way. Don't just throw that little piece of foil or penny back into your search area (I learned this the hard way when I spent 5 minutes to find the target I had just spent 5 minutes to find and then tossed in my search area).

After you have dealt with each individual target, you must put the dirt and sod back! Don't leave the park or yard looking like a mine field! It is up to you not to destroy or deface property.

Keep working the search area until you have covered the entire area. From time to time, set your test ring and a penny on the ground and re-tune your ear to hear the difference.

GOOD LUCK!!!

If you aren't successful, can't find a rental shop, or just don't want to deal with it, there are people who do this as a side job / hobby. Expect to pay $50 to $100 to have someone search for a couple of hours. They are skilled at this and may have a better chance of finding the object that a novice.

There has been much concern lately about the health of truck drivers, so much so that the government is considering creating a National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners that will determine whether drivers can keep driving. Below are some guidelines to tell you how to eat so you don't gain weight while driving.

Take it slow. If you're already overweight, don't try to lose it too quickly. You didn't gain the weight overnight, and you won't lose it overnight either. While it would be great to completely change your eating habits, trying to change too much at a time will lead to failure.

Small changes in your eating habits can result in major changes in your health. Here are some things you can do:

1. Don't wait, get started now! You have to want to lose weight and be healthier so you'll do your best to eat better. If becoming healthier for your loved ones isn't a good enough reason, think of the prospects of losing your job because of your weight. It is a distinct possibility if you can't get your weight under control.

2. Eat fresh. The closer you can eat foods to their natural state, the better off you will be. That means eating fresh fruits and vegetables, as many as possible with the skins still on. Eat a variety of these energy-packed foods to keep you from becoming bored with what you eat.

3. Drink water. Instead of drinking soft drinks, drink. Not only is water better for your body, it is 100% natural, doesn't have the extra sugar that adds on pounds.

4. Eat smaller portions. Most people don't eat recommended portion sizes. In fact, it's rare that a restaurant actually serves a recommended portion. If the portion sizes are too large, cut them in half and ask for a to-go box for the rest.

5. Eat often. Instead of eating one large meal each day, break your meals into three regular-sized meals and healthy snacks in between to keep your metabolism and blood sugar stabilized.

6. Stuff it, your refrigerator, that is. If you have a mini refrigerator, stock it with fruits, vegetables, yogurt, and water. You can also drink fruit juice, but make sure it's 100% fruit juice and not a sugary fruit drink.

7. Choose well. Truck stops offer healthy choices, be sure to choose what's healthy over what isn't. Remember that meat and carbohydrates should be a small portion of what you eat; fruits and vegetables should cover most of your plate. Rather than eating fried meats, choose broiled or baked instead.

8. Move it. Besides eating well, get exercise a day. Park your truck a little further away from the truck stop and walk. The Schneider Institute states walking 32 times around a truck is equal to a mile of walking.

Decide now to control your eating and exercise habits before the decision is made for you. It's amazing the simplicity of how to eat so you don't gain weight while driving is. Wise food choices, exercise, and motivation is what it takes. Now get out there and do it!

You make a better door than a window. So is it with doors and Feng Shui. Doors and the entrance ways that accompany these passageways do more than just provide a passageway or thoroughfare for people to enter and leave your abode by. In addition doors serve as the conduit by which vital qi energy of Feng Shui can enter, leave, and dissipate and in the process mold and modify the Feng Shui conditions and the temper of your home, business or establishment.

First check to see that your front door is not blocked. Ensure that nothing obstructs its view. Next ensure that the line of sight of your front door does not line up directly with that of your back or "rear "door. If this is so then the essential force of qi can easily rush in and then directly flow and easily leave your home - all in a flash before you know it. Qi has to be cultured, refreshed, saved and stored.

Next in the steps of diagnosis of what to watch out for and correct is a situation where somehow in the planning process that three doors are either in a setup row or are aligned in position so that it appears that "three doors are in a row". It this is the case you can consider it poor and very bad in terms of the storage and movement of the qi forces.

If you find that this is so and the doors must remain in place as open entrance ways then take the time and effort to shield or even obstruct these doors and openings. What can be done? Curtains, door coverings, screens, tall or even a number of plants shorter in height or even beaded hanging or bamboo curtains can be employed to create barriers and restraints to the flow of qi. At the worst if these passageways must remain open then place wind chimes or a decorative crystal in the direct flow of the doors to slow down the escape of the most vital qi. If the door is at the end of corridor you may encounter a situation where the qi is held in an area and lingers to long becoming "stale" or wasted to the rest of the home. How can you redirect the qi back into your living or working areas? Simply hang a number of mirrors on the wall, walls or even the ceiling. By doing so you will be reflecting and redirecting the qi energies back to where they can do you , your family, co-workers or customers and clients some good.

Lastly never forget that the "back" or "rear" door to your home or building is the very entrance way by which many enter. It can be said of the good luck and fortune of many that many "enter the back door, but leave by the front". One grandmother's advice to her grandchild when faced by a daunting opportunity was "child this time you come in the back door, don't lose the chance or opportunity. Next time you will come in the front door." So is it with Feng Shui and your back door. Make sure that the rear door passageways are bright, focused and obstructed. Make the rear entrance ways as open and cheery as possible, Ensure that nothing is blocking their views or paths. You never who and what good fortune can come through either of your doorways - front, rear or back.

There is nothing more special than making home-made wedding cards that can double as souvenirs for your wedding. Creating your own wedding cards may be more tedious than simply having them made to order, but you cannot take the distinction out of something that is said to be 'hand-made.' It is also a good way to save money without having to sacrifice quality and style. Here are some tips and ideas on how to make hand-made wedding cards:

On selecting your materials:

1. First is to think up of a motif, a color and a design. It would be best if the color of you card is same or complementary to the wedding motif.


2. Second, you need to select the paper and the materials needed to put together your unique card. Paper products can be bought from your local book/stationery stores where buying bulk is cheaper. You can use can also use your computer and print out photographs or clip art. Purchased and/or home-made scrapbook and arts and crafts supplies may also be used.


3. When selecting the paper, choose one that is not too bold as to overpower the colored font of your invitation. The general size of an invitation is 81/2in by 11in, folded in half. But you can choose other shapes like squares, heart shapes, wedding bell shapes or even scroll form.


4. Always keep into mind your budget and go for home-made alternatives if you feel you are spending too much in store products.

Generally, wedding card invitations should contain the following:

1. The names of the groom and the bride.


2. The names of officiating priests or pastors or spiritual authority.


3. The names of the principal sponsors; these are the wedding god-parents and may be more than one pair, although only one pair will be signing the marriage contract.


4. The names of the secondary sponsors, which includes the groomsmen and junior groomsmen and the bridesmaids and junior bridesmaids.


5. The date, time and address and illustrated map of where the wedding is to be held.


6. The address, time and number of reserved seating for the wedding reception, which usually includes an earlier date when the guests are to confirm their attendance.

The wonderful thing about making wedding cards is that you can do it at home, you can choose your own design and it is easy to do:

1. You can choose a simple printed card using your computer and printing it on floral and wedding themed paper available in many bookstores. To add personality, you can add a photograph of the couple in one of the inserts of the invitation.


2. You can use different materials and motifs, such as ribbons, stencils, small charms or dried leaves. And even if you are not much of a creative, you can find instructions and creative examples online. All you need is a glue gun and some paper, simple materials, and you are set to go.