Wedding Invitations|Cheap Wedding Invitations|Wedding Invitation

Thirteen years ago, in the year of 1996, Brook Harvey-Taylor and Billy Taylor agreed to start Pacifica Perfume. Even in those years, the fragrance market was highly competitive so instead of launching fragrances, they created candles blended with beautiful perfume of their own choice. All were made from natural essential oils. Sales were rocketing.

At Fall 2008, Pacifica launched their range of solid perfumes: Tibetan Mountain Temple, Spanish Amber, Mexican Cocoa, Madagascar Spice and the one I reviewed here Avalon Juniper. All are made from organic coconut and soya wax with natural and essential oils. In short, 100% vegan! Its tiny tin - only the size of bottle cap of Hemaviton Skin Nutrient - eases the wearer to toss it to bags. It also suited the theme of the season: eco & airport friendly cosmetics.

To be frank, I never knew what Juniper is apart from a flash of earthy pine scent. Additionally, my knowledge of where Avalon Island is quite low, beside that mythical story of King Arthur's Avalon Island. Thus, when finding the entry at Google.com, it was quite a surprise finding a real Avalon city at Catalina Island, California, along with its native plan junipers California.

IMHO, this Avalon Juniper is not extraordinary. In fact, I could mistaken it easily with traditional rubbing balm. Actually, when we sniffed the smell directly from its tin, a freshness from grapefruit and flowery heliotrope would come out. A dab on the skin would melt the solid wax, leaving a slightly greasy layer scented with cinnamon and green, earthy juniper. In the end, I felt like I was wearing balm oil. Well..

Apart from that, I admitted there were some times I needed a relaxing me-time, gazing outside the window with a cup of tea, unobtrusive scent made for myself and only to a person sitting next to me. Its spiciness brought warmth to the body and later, to the heart.

Avalon Juniper is sold for $9 per piece at Pacifica Perfume. Unfortunately, they have not send to Indonesia... yet. But, perhaps eBay and Amazon might list the items. Oh, I can not wait to buy Mediterranean Fig or Bali Lime Papaya (though, surely I would rather found papaya in Java. In Bali, orange-lime-coconut juice drink will be more suitable).

As long as there have been weddings, there have been myths and superstitions to accompany them. Of course, like most things the ideas of myths and superstitions have come from far and wide the world. Some myths are lighthearted and gay, while there are some superstitions that can appear to be quite harsh.

1. Concerning rain on the day of the wedding, some say that many tears will be shed in the marriage, while others are thrilled as the occurrence of rain on a wedding day is considered to bring good luck and blessings to the lucky couple. Some even place a statue of the Virgin Mary in the windowsill to ward away rain and bad luck, while others may hang a rosary from the window or clothes line to insure a rain free wedding day. A rainy wedding day also foretells of many children to be born to the wedding couple.

2. Concerning myths and superstitions of a shoe and the wedding, long ago, the father would pass one shoe of the bride's to the groom to signify him giving his daughter away in marriage. It is also considered good luck for the groom's mother to throw a shoe at the bride as the couple leaves their reception so that the bride and her mother-in-law would forever be the best of friends. It is also considered to be good luck if a house cat eats from the brides shoe the week of her wedding. In addition, the bride must have a penny in her shoe while being married for good luck and wealth.

3. The brides wedding dress has its own myths and superstitions of colors and wearing. Long ago, it was considered good luck to have a piece of the wedding gown, so then the dress was literally ripped to pieces with the bride still in it. No dress was to be more becoming or longer than the brides wedding dress as she should be the center of attention on her wedding day and it brought good luck. It is considered unlucky for a groom to see his bride in her wedding dress as well as for her to try on the wedding dress more than one time after alterations. It is also good luck for the bride to enter the church of her wedding on her right foot, while walking down the aisle after the wedding, it is customary to remove both wedding rings to ensure there is no trouble for the couple should she remove them at a later time. As well, the bride should have all the bridesmaids sign the bottom of her shoe, and the name that has not been walked off is the next female to marry.

4. The wedding ring is considered sacred and should not be lent to others to try on, this is sure to bring back luck and even the possibility of unfaithfulness. If ever the wedding rings are removed by a bride it must be the groom who returns them to her fingers to continue the good luck.

Curtains

Windows are like the eyes on a house, and gorgeous curtains will set them off beautifully, adding an important element of the d矇cor to every room. Curtains not only frame a window but also offer privacy, warmth and shield the room and furnishings from too much sunlight. Before you even start to decide on a fabric choice, there is much to consider about your curtains first.

Lining

If it is a child's bedroom, you will need to consider using a blackout lining - this makes it much easier to get children to sleep on sunny summer evenings and it may even keep them asleep after 6 am on summer mornings too.

Interlining (which is a fleecy lining sewn between a normal lining and the curtain fabric) will add weight to curtains and make them look heavier and more luxurious. It will also exclude draughts and prevent the fabric becoming faded by the sun.

Headings

French/Pinch Pleat headings are the most popular type of curtain headings, providing a classical and contemporary look, especially if created with a 6 inch buckram. These look best with a simple chunky wooden pole.

The Goblet Pleat heading is more formal and classical than the other headings and more suited to sitting rooms or master bedrooms. They look best with very high windows and full length curtains. The round pleat is normally filled with dacron or wool so it keeps its shape. Elegant swags and tails or valences are also very formal and dramatic.

Eyelet Curtains are ideal for a modern contemporary look. One can choose from a variety of different colours for the eyelets. They offer a durable curtain finish. The curtain pole simply travels through the eyelets and the curtain pleats stack back neatly. Lovely in children's bedroom curtains too.

Length of curtains

In my opinion, full length curtains look much more elegant. However, if the radiator is positioned under the window can mean that the heat from the radiator goes up behind the curtain rather than into the room. If it is a large window, the only option then may be to have a shorter curtain (to just below the window sill) that can be drawn and have elegant full length dress curtains framing the window. Shorter curtains (to just below the sill) will look fine in children's bedrooms or a bathroom.

Pooling (or puddling) whereby the curtain is about 18 - 24 inches too long and pools on the floor creates a relaxed yet sophisticated look. However, they are not child-friendly!

Hang loose or Tie them back?

I would always suggest using tiebacks to tie back the curtains. Tiebacks not only give curtains a defined and elegant shape but they can also act as an embellishment to the curtains - think of them as the crowning glory hat and shoes to a lovely wedding outfit! There is a huge choice of colours, shapes and styles to choose from - to suit any fabric or style or curtain.

Some Types of Fabric

Appliqu矇: Fabric on which a pattern in another fabric has been applied with hand stitching. There are some fabulous children's ranges using this effect.

Crewelwork: Indian cotton with an embroidered chain stitch pattern in wool. Gorgeous.

Damask: Damask fabrics are usually silk, linen or cotton and a design woven into them. Tend to be quite large traditional designs so more suitable for formal rooms

Gingham: lightweight checked fabric, usually cotton. Lovely for a country kitchen look.

Linen: Hard-wearing made from spun fibres of flax. A natural material and can crease easily.

Organza: A lightweight, semi-transparent material, usually made from silk or cotton.

Silk: A natural, luxurious fibre produced by the silk worm and found in many different weights and weaves. Silk can fade when exposed to sunlight and so when using silk in curtains they must always be interlined.

Taffeta: A synthetic man made fibre that gives a silk look. It is found in many different weights and weaves but is no comparison to the real thing. It does not drape as well but from a distance can be a good copy.

Velvet: A cotton or silk fabric with a deep, luxurious pile. Ideal for formal rooms.

Voile: A light, semi-transparent fabric with a high yarn count, made from cotton, silk or rayon.

Add fuel to your style with Diesel watches. The luxury watch line take you beyond convention, setting new trends. Available in a range of retro and futuristic designs, these watches break the clutter with edgy urban styling. With Diesel watches on your wrist you are a style icon.

Popular men's watches are the analog-DZ1279 or Diesel Stealth. This has an extra wide genuine leather strap and a unique rectangular case. The precise movement is maintained by 3- hand quartz. Available in options of brown or black dial and cuff this water resistant timepiece is sure to get you compliments. If you're looking for something really cool and trendy go for the digital- DZ7123, a digital dial, brown leather strap watch for men. To enhance your style quotient this watch has a unique perforated case design with exposed screws. Its two-tone case is attached to a sturdy leather strap and is water resistant. This watch is perfect if you want to carry the smart and casual look.

Here's another men's leather strap watch DZ1299 that fits your budget, suits your style. This analog watch with futuristic design has synchronized date and time display features, a stainless steel case and a light-colored dial that is enhanced by a stripe, a second hand and an oversized number at the 3-hour mark. The genuine leather strap is designed to fit perfectly to the case. It is available in brown and black colors.

Feeling blue? Pep up your mood with the men's revo lens black rubber strap watch. Casual looking but seriously functional this exclusive watch flaunts a cool black rubber strap holding an eye-catching blue glass dial with day and date window and sleek stainless steel case.

The brand's Ladies collection is also highly acclaimed. The in-demand ones being the silver tonneau dial white leather strap watch- DZ5165. In a stainless steel case it features a clean, numberless dial with silver-tone; perfect quartz movement and a date window are added functionality. A glossy looking white genuine leather strap accentuates the look of this water resistant watch. Oozing with elegance is the Diesel Ladies Gold Plated Brown Leather Strap Watch. In a stunning gold plated case, brown dial with gold plated markers, a handy day and date window it looks great on feminine wrists. Simple but never understated this watch can be your everyday companion.

With Diesel watches, you get 2 years international warranty plus authenticity, originality and quality for free. So arrive fashionably on time, grab a Diesel watch.

For every Indian, wedding is the event of a lifetime. All Indians look forward to be a part of the marriage functions, rituals and ceremonies. Exclusive, well designed and coordinated wedding cards can work wonders and set the right tone for this auspicious ceremony.

In the Sikh community, marriage is recognized as an event where two souls merge. And in the prelude to marriage life, it means merging of two families and friend circles. Sikh marriage ceremonies are well known for their spirit of extravagance in terms of food, clothes and dance. A Sikh marriage ceremony lasts for nearly a week celebrating joyous activities like Mehndi, Cocktails, Sangeet Night, and so on. Sikh wedding cards are unique and exquisitely alluring. These are available in a wide range from simple and elegant to flamboyantly styled ones. Some are even tailor made for adding gaiety and splendor to the occasion.

The Sikh wedding cards come in a wide variety of colors, studded with kundans. Some cards contain messages from their holy book, Adi Granth (also known as Guru Granth Sahib). Like normal Indian wedding cards, these also come in varied styles, colors and designs. The customs followed by the Sikhs are more or less similar to those followed by the Hindus. These marriage ceremonies are conducted in a traditional manner, keeping alive the old rituals and culture. For fulfilling the occasion and to end it happily, immense planning and preparations are needed to be done. Planning includes many things like- organizing the occasion, decoration of mandap, making wedding dresses, finalizing the menu list, inviting and taking care of the guests, and so on. Of these things what is of the most importance to a Sikh? Wedding invitations, of course!

The Sikh wedding invitations are not only some messages written on pieces of paper. Each style has attractive color, distinctive feature and unmatched finish. This form of invitation has become a signature of many weddings around the world. The cards are made from art sheet, handmade silk paper and other materials.

Indian ethnic jewelry is fast gaining popularity amongst the western and European countries leading to ample business scope for Indian Jewelry exporters. Not just on exports front, Indian jewelry market has enormous scope for imported jewelry as well. International market is filled with Indian jewelry importers, importing western design jewelry for local markets.

Jewelry is considered as one of the most vital component of a woman's desire. Especially in India, jewelry is not just considered as a piece of ornament, but it is rather an auspicious and valuable aspect of ornamenting. Talking about market trends a decade ago, it was very different. Back then, people had different choices. With changing times, preferences of people have also changed. They admire simple and sophisticated designs that are inspired from Western and European styles. Owing to the rising demand of western styles, jewelry importers of the country are importing lots of jewelry from different parts of the world. Now you can easily spot the elegantly styles designs on display window of the local shops. Besides this, you can also buy imported jewelry from various exhibitions held in different parts of the country. These exhibitions are usually conducted during festive and wedding seasons to utilize the need of the hour. As, most of the Indian families prefer to buy jewelry during festivals or for wedding purposes.

On the other hand, due to the effects of globalization, countries have come closer to each other. Despite having territorial boundaries, Indian culture and its ethnicity has traveled places. European people visit India to experience its culture and beauty that has a pristine appeal. In the western countries, Indian ethnic jewelry is in great demands. Indian Jewelry exporters are minting money by exporting good quality products from our country that are specifically styled for purpose of exports. Ornaments manufactured for the purpose of exports are specially designed keeping in mind the likes and preferences of European customers. Indian silver ornaments are exported in bulk quantities every year to countries like Dubai, China, USA, UK, etc. Besides silver, gold ornaments are also popular amongst the foreign buyers.

Putting up an import export data trade is very costly, especially when it comes to ornaments. First of all, it requires a huge investment as the manufacturing cost of jewelry is pretty high. After investing such enormous amount of money in the trade, every trader wants to reap maximum profits from each and every deal. In addition to manufacturing or buying quality products, Jewelry exporters and importers require database records of jewelry exports import to access valuable information. For authentic and genuine information, you can refer to the services of Infodrive India. It provides an exhaustive list of jewelry importers and exporters from all over the world.

If you want window tint for your car, then you have probably already thought about the color you want as well, right? If you don't have the color that you want already picked out, then that would be a good thing to do right now. Most people assume that all colors are going to look good, however, this is not what happens. Just think, how is a red car going to look with bright pink window tint? This will look rather funny.

You must understand that any tint that you get will change the look of your car and blank tint will work no matter what color your car is but it won't add much more style to it. That is the reason more people are using colored tint in order to give their car the look they desire. There are more colors that you can get but make sure you read this article to understand what will work and what won't. Trust me, there are more colors than just plain black that will work for you and your car.

Tint Colors To Choose From

Black - If you want to tint your car windows, then there is no way you can go wrong with using regular black film. Also, being that black matches with almost everything, you won't have any issues getting it to look right. This will make your car look a lot better but if you are looking for something that will give your car a different style, then this might not do that.

Silver - Silver tint is another color that you might want to consider. What you will like about silver is that it gives your car a slightly different look but not one that is really different from black. There are a lot of colors out there and after black, silver is the best color that you can go with as it matches with anything.

Blue - Are you looking for a color that is different and makes your car stand out from the others? If that is what you want, then you can't go wrong with a good looking blue tint. What many people like about the color blue is that it looks good with black cars, white cars, silver cars and blue cars as well.

Red - Red is very similar to blue, however, it matches better with a red car. Adding a touch of red will get your windows to look really good, so make sure you check out this tint. Trust me, you won't regret using red tint in order to add a little bit of style to your windows.

These are some of the most popular colors, so choose between one of these colors and you will be just fine.

My Dad came from a proud line of Master Butchers - and his shop and the house I was born in reflected this on the verandah signage, boldly declaring - 'GRAHAM'S MEAT SERVICE - Quality at Lower Prices'.

The shop was typical of its day - out front, a mosaic tiled wall beneath large glass display window, with the same proud sign-writing on the glass - and of course, the obligatory small, set-back, step-up entrance into the 'customer front' of the shop. This was a roomy space, to enable some people to be perusing the window display, whilst others waited their turn to be served in front of the neatly organised serving counter that divided the sales and working areas of the shop.

In Japan they rake coarse sand and fine pebbles to make symbolic shapes, patterns and designs to define their world and their most basic spirituality. In South Australia, in the 1950's, one Butcher's young daughter raked the sawdust that covered the floor of your average, suburban Butcher's shop. The practicality of the sawdust was to absorb any blood drips from the meat. And it extended into the front of the shop, where the customers stood, because my Dad would come out to the front window display to carry the chosen 'cuts' back to the counter for wrapping.

But my deepest pride came from the perfectly even and artistic patterns I could create, whilst walking backwards, so all designs were perfected. Diamonds, swirls, chequer-board - ALL patterns were possible - only limited by one's imagination. How come it never mattered that the first customer of the day would ruin all a young girl's creation in just a few unthinking steps? I have no clue - I just DID it, that's all!

The wide counter defined the customer side and the 'business' area - and it was memorable. Firstly, there would be discussion about the meat required, usually with my Dad establishing what the customer was planning for their dinner - and making recommendations on the cut and often the cooking method as well. Then the trusty scales played their part - wherein the meat was placed on a piece of greaseproof paper and checked against the customer's wishes and approval.

Next came the old silver cash register - a work of art looming huge in my memory. All those rows of press down keys, and the magical pop-up tabs in the 'window' at the top, showing the individual prices and then cleverly calculating the sum of the price multiplied by the weight. No message of how much change was due - in those days, all who served the public knew their 'sums' exceptionally well - and every Butcher scribbled the individual prices on the white wrapping paper with the trusty pencil tucked behind his ear - and quickly totalled them - so the customer had a written record of their purchase, actually enfolding their meat.

The white wrapping paper came on a large roll, cut (by the apprentice or the Butcher's son/daughter into big tidy squares, and piled up, ready for action, with greaseproof paper on another roll, to lay down first for safe and total wrapping. The only other thing I can picture on the counter is an order book, where my Dad would take notes about future requirements. And maybe also a daily turn-over calendar.

The customer paid, and then came a pull of the handle to make the cash drawer of the register open (and the important thing to remember was the size and bulk AND weight of this drawer when it 'sprung open'). One collision was usually adequate to indelibly impress upon your mind the need to make a hasty sidestep or backstep to avoid contact.

What a treasure trove when this drawer was opened. Numerous compartments with curved bottoms towards the front, to enable 'scooping out' of change. And wire spring clips to hold down the various denomination notes - and this whole arrangement was a complete lift out, with important things like cheques and special delivery dockets hidden below. And let us not forget the trusty spike to push the dockets onto.

These were written in a docket book by the person manning the cash register, as a record for my Dad to reconcile the monetary takings of the 'till' (or cash register). In quieter times, my Dad dealt with these matters, but when the busier days happened (like Fridays), then my Mum was there, taking the money and doling out change and conversation with all the locals.

And so this was the 'sales' side of the shop - on the other side of the counter was the 'working' side of things, where the Butcher plied his trade.

穢 2011 Christine Larsen All Rights Reserved

Is your home in need of a make-over all those walls looking dim the carpet not so new anymore then give your home a make-over with crepe paper flowers. Take your attention and your guests off the walls that need to be painted and the carpet that needs to be replaced by altering your room using decor with colorful crepe paper flowers.

It is not only easy and enjoyable but cost effective to give your home a make-over with crepe paper flowers. You can choose any color you like and make any floral arrangement that suits your fancy.

Crepe paper floral arrangements are easy to make. Being surrounded by bright beautiful colors is always certain to chase the winter blues away. And know that the rainy spring months will bring real flowers just like your paper flowers in a few short weeks.

If you really want to brighten up your home you can use summer flowers such as roses, daisies or lilacs. Make them in any color you want and make a centerpiece or a few for the rooms you spend the most time in.

Let us look at some ideas for floral arrangements. A nice idea is to fill a window box with bright colored flowers and of course set it in the window then whenever you look outside at the piles of snow or mud you will be reminded by your window sill paper flowers that warm weather is not far away.

The living room or family room is another ideal place for your paper flower arrangements. A nice medium to large size centerpiece made up of several colorful assorted flowers will always brighten your day.

One of our favorite paper flower arrangements is what we call the floral shapes it is very easy to make and can be a family project. Certainly you have seen flowers arranged to form an object. A few good "starters" are a butterfly, a star or a heart. These are the easiest shapes to make. You can allow them to be free flowing and in the shape you desire or you can attach the flowers to a piece of cardboard and hang them on your wall. The flowers should be small this makes them easier to work with. Once you have your paper flowers made just arrange them into the desired shape. If you are going to attach them to a piece of cardboard, cut out the cardboard so it is the shape you want to use, this will also work as a pattern. Using a clear drying glue attach the flowers. You can leave the arrangement on the table or even hang it up.

Another favorite arrangement is a centerpiece filled with an assortment of different colored roses with some baby's breath and greenery. To bring out all the colors of the centerpiece simply layer it. By that we mean cut some of the stems shorter than the rest and you will have one flower that is tall then one that is slightly shorter then a tall one etc... layer the flowers so they alternate between tall and slightly shorter. Place the baby's breath near the center and spread the greenery out between the different size flowers.

These are all great ways to give your home a make-over with crepe paper flowers. I'm sure you can use your imagination and come up with some great ideas of your own as well.

Having a beach house or just decorating your home to give you that free and easy feeling can be done without great expense. Beach house style is cool, breezy, clean and crisp. To achieve a beach style motif you must take all your decorating clues from nature. You can bring the elements of the sand and surf into your home and relax in a serene setting. Below are a few of the top nautical home decor ideas and secrets to making your home reminiscent of the beach.

First thing you will need to do is to get rid of the clutter. Beach decor is a minimalistic tableau. Less is really more when you see the awesome ways you can decorate without having a lot of items strewn around.

Choose sea inspired colors for your walls. Any of the cool hues on the color wheel will do nicely. Pastel blues, pinks, corals and other soft natural colors will give you a great canvas to work from.

Make liberal use of stark whites, this will give an open and airy feel to any room.

Use plank like paneling in the bedrooms to give it that beach shanty appeal. Keep it simple and basic. Using colors that complement each other.

Use wide slat blinds and/or gauzy type curtains for your window treatments. The entire effect should be one that brings to mind a fresh ocean breeze, and the window treatments blowing in it.

Natural wood floors are great in a beach setting. The use of throw rugs that bring out the warmth of the wood will be a good addition as well. Again stick with the lighter colors.

Tile floors can also be a great beach decorating option. You can enhance the cool tiles with rugs; the balance of smooth with texture gives you the contrast found in the great outdoors.

Use slip covers that match the rest of the decor to give your home that "vacation like" feel. Make liberal use of ottomans, not only do they look great, they also provide extra seating, or you can just throw your feet up and relax.

Wicker furniture has long been a favorite of decorators when planning a beach house theme. The furnishings add to the image of being in an ocean front bungalow. Glass vases filled with colorful flowers will compliment any decor.

Do not stop with the indoors carry your theme out onto the patio with a great set of Adirondack chairs and a matching table. Use candle lanterns to add a warm glow to the night as you sip a glass of wine and admire the sunset.

If you follow these tips you are sure to have a home that will take your breath away each time you enter through the doors. Use plants that are found near, in and around bodies of water to complete the effect.

Assisted purchase is easily defined by the term's two words, assisted, meaning aided by another and purchase, meaning to buy. Together, these words identify the term's definition: to buy with the aid of another.

As a verb, the term refers to the act of assisting someone to buy something; and as a gerund, the term refers to a service that assists customers in buying the items they want. The latter will be our focus, as this article seeks to define the service, who offers it, who its customers are, why and how it is used.

First of all, assisted purchased is confirmed to be a service term, with the purpose of that service being to aid customers in buying the items they want. That sounds like a service that could be valuable to its customers, but who are its customers?

Assisted purchase customers are those who want and need both the assisted part and the purchase part, because they can't do it themselves. "Why not?" you might ask, so let's take a look at some possible scenarios. Most assisted purchase customers are those living outside the United States, yet who want to buy American goods. One scenario is that of living in another country. Let's say you live in Russia, but want to buy several items from a major US auction site online; however, the payment medium for that site only accepts US credit cards. Another scenario is you live in Canada and have found the cutest little boots online but when you try to use your credit card, the US company's POS system does not accept it. A third scenario is that you live in Hong Kong and want to buy an Xbox game system bad; you have plenty of cash but no bank account. Without assisted purchase, living outside the United States and wanting American items might make you feel like a kid looking inside a candy store window.

Now that we know who the majority of assisted purchase customers are, let's proceed in discussing why and how the service is used. First off, why is this service used. We already know that it is used to assist customers in buying, but why? The main reason why focuses on disadvantage. Customers are generally at a logistical disadvantage, meaning their location is the problem; such as living outside the US. Another disadvantage is that of not having access to a specific designated payment medium, such as not having a credit card, US credit card or account. Yet one more disadvantage would be that of using an incompatible financial medium; such as having an account at non-international bank, having cash but not a credit card or having a debit card rather than a credit card.

How assisted purchase works is fairly straight forward. The customer finds a company that offers this service: US mail forwarding companies are most likely, as it complements their parcel consolidation and forwarding services. Next, the customer tells the company what he or she wants to buy and how much it costs. Usually, the company will want the URL of the item if being sold online. That way, the company knows the exact model or type item the customer wants. Afterwards, the company provides the customer with an invoice that includes its fees and the cost of the item(s) to be purchased, along with any shipping or taxes charged. Finally, the customer wires the monies to the company and the items are purchased.

The first Christmas that you share as husband and wife is an unforgettable time. It is a time to share favorite traditions, show your love, and start new traditions of your own. These are some fun Christmas ideas for newlyweds.

Certainly, gifts are one of the big parts of the holiday season. For the man who is looking for something extra special to make his new wife's Christmas merry and bright, consider gifts of jewelry which match her bridal set. Gifts which coordinate with her wedding jewelry are a lovely way to complete her set, and new brides always anything that remind them of their weddings (and sparkles are always great!). One fun presentation idea is to tuck the jewelry into little ornaments which open and have her find them on the tree on Christmas morning.

When you are recently married, one thing which you have in abundance is great photographs. Why not choose a really special image of the two of you to have made into a painting or a framed print on canvas? This would be a fantastic gift idea from either the bride or groom to his or her new spouse. A painted version of a wedding picture could also be a lovely holiday gift for parents or grandparents.

Another fantastic use of your favorite wedding photos is your holiday greeting card. Even if you are not normally a fan of photo Christmas cards, everyone on your list will enjoy receiving a card with a beautiful wedding picture on it. There are tons of great websites which make ordering photo cards a snap. Then you don't have to do another Christmas card with a portrait again until your first child is born.

After putting together a wedding, most young married couples are practically party planning pros. Take advantage of this by hosting a holiday open house for all of your friends and family. It is a really fun holiday event that will quickly become one of your favorite things about Christmastime year after year. The concept of the holiday open house is quite simple: pick a weekend afternoon in early to mid December, send out invitations asking guests to drop by between certain hours (usually a three or four hour time span is best; the smaller your guest list, the shorter the time window should be) to share a cup of holiday cheer, some Christmas cookies, and a few light munchies.

Your first Christmas as newlyweds is a great opportunity to establish holiday customs that you will enjoy every year that follows. Some may be things that you have done together in holidays past, they could be holiday traditions from one of your families, or it could be something entirely new. There are all sorts of fun ideas. It could be opening one gift on Christmas eve, going ice skating every holiday season, or one of my favorites, having Chinese food every year on Christmas eve. Thinking of special traditions to start and sharing your most cherished childhood customs will be one of the most meaningful parts of your first Christmas as husband and wife.

If you are looking for valuable information on steaming different types of materials and garments. You have come to the right spot! I will give you great tips on steaming your most important delicate materials and more. It is much safer to use a garment steamer on all fabrics then an iron. So don't buy a cheap garment steamer or you will get what you pay for!

Tips About Steamers

• Irons have a tendency to burn if applied a moment too long. Clothes steamers are safe to use on almost any type of fabric or material. There are a few materials that will be an exception to the rule and it will be marked on the care instructions of the garment you purchased.


• Make sure you look for 1300 to 1500 watts of power to ensure more steam, the more steam the better!


• Look at your heat up time, a telescoping stand and the length of hose. Depending on what you are using your garment steamer for, these features make all steam jobs a lot easier!

Steaming Tips

• To get the best results out of your steamer, be sure to either hang or tumble dry your clothes so you are not dealing with deep creases.


• Some garment steamers have a stand to hang your garment on, this will keep your garment upright and not laying flat. Steaming should only be done vertically. This will also keep water drops from landing on the fabric you are steaming.


• Be sure to start at the bottom so the steam rolls up the garment. This will make an amazing difference in the effectiveness of using your steamer


• If you try steaming from the inside of your garment, pull down on the fabric. Keeping your material taught will make your steaming 3-4 times more effective.


• Be sure when you are done using your garment steamer to let it cool for 30 minutes and then remove the remaining water from the container. You will also need to clean any condensation from the hose. To get rid of the condensation, hold the hose vertically and let the water drip back into the water container.


• It is very important to use distilled water to ensure these minerals don't change the color of your material. If you don't use distilled water, you will need to put white vinegar in your steamer periodically to get rid of the mineral buildup.

Basic Materials

When steaming pants, hang by the cuffs and touch the garment lightly with the steam head. You will notice the creases disappear.

Heavy Fabrics or Materials

When steaming jackets, table cloths or curtains, be sure to hang over a curtain rod and steam both sides.

Delicate Materials

While steaming silk or cashmere, be careful not to touch the fabric with the steam head. Be sure to hold about 1-2 inches away to be sure not to incur any damages. Velvet or beaded garments should be steamed from the reverse side of garment. NEVER touch any of these delicate items directly with the steam head.

A wedding dress should be hung in a steamy bathroom. Turn on the shower and let the steam of the hot water do the work, but be sure to keep the dress away from the water. The hot steam will help release the wrinkles. After leaving your dress in the steamy bathroom long enough to work out most of the wrinkles, use your garment steamer to work out the hard to get out deep creases. Make sure you put a towel over the steamer so no water drops drip on your wedding dress.

If you are not comfortable steaming your delicate belongings, be sure to take them to a professional dry cleaner you trust.

Fun Tips

Another way to use your clothes steamer is to remove window tint. Your window tint will come off with great ease, just like cellophane.

Your wedding should be perfect and with all of the places that something can go wrong all of the help that you can get is greatly appreciated. Bed Bath and Beyond Bridal Registry not only allows you to sign up so that your friends can purchase the gifts you would prefer; they have an electronic assistant in their Bridal Toolkit to help you along the way. With the great selection, ability to make returns easily and friendly service that you receive when in the store, Bed Bath and Beyond is an obvious selection for a bridal registry.

Ease of Use

Your friends and family can choose to shop online or in their local Bed Bath and Beyond store for your gifts. Products are listed with their prices, weights, shipping costs and other fees available so your guesswork. A few clicks and you are on your way to set up your account or to purchase a gift for your loved one. Keepsakes as well as necessities can be given. You can browse the site by category or by brand. The site is made for your ease of use and the stores themselves have a friendly staff available to assist you to have a fairly problem free experience as well.

Selection

The selection is so vast there are few things that might not be available. Not only do they have just about every category that you might need for your household including bedding, kitchen appliances, tableware, flatware, cutlery, bedroom furnishings, household furnishings and such; but they also have categories such as infants, children, keepsakes, window treatments, rugs, electronics, seasonal, and many more categories. Sections with suggestions for both the couple and the guests are available.

Perks

The bridal registry includes a bridal toolkit with several organizers and planning guides for the bride. These tools include a timeline, a task manager, a personal wedding site, seating arranger and guest list manager. The task lists include over 200 tasks for the 12 month engagement period. With that many things to do it is nice to have someone help you stay organized.

Tips

If you have friends and family who are going to show up at the store just days before your big event and pick up some pieces to complete your China set, they might not like what they find. These pieces are easily purchased online but the stores do not keep these pieces in stock. It can take 4 to 6 weeks for delivery for these pieces. A little preplanning can keep this from being a problem. Spending a little time getting to know the system once you sign up can be beneficial in the long run.

Your wedding should be the most magical time in your life. Except when it's not. Weddings can be incredibly stressful, and nothing is more stressful than finding the perfect dress. Let's face it: the dress says it all, and most of us have been dreaming of the perfect dress from age 5. Who hasn't browsed through wedding magazines and discovered "the one," only to find out that the dress is out of budget or simply doesn't fit. You can avoid the heartache! Just avoid these top five wedding gown shopping mistakes:

Mistake #1: Window shopping. Unless you're built like a Victoria's Secret model (and if you are, kudos to you!), you need to be careful when you're looking at dresses in magazines and on mannequins. Remember, those dresses are on stick-skinny models, and will look very different on you.

Mistake #2: Going over budget BEFORE you get to the store. Yes, this sounds difficult to do, but how many bridal magazines actually list the retail price of that awesome Vera Wang that you MUST have? Do yourself a favor and do some research. Most likely you will be able to find a similar gown that is in your budget.

Mistake #3: Not making an appointment. You're the bride. That means that you're queen for a day, right? Wrong. Make an appointment at the stores you plan on shopping. This way you can rest assured that you will be given the attention and time you deserve, rather than be treated like a nuisance.

Mistake #4: One-stop shopping. Sure Kleinfeld's is the world's largest high-end bridal store, and David's Bridal has some beautiful gowns. But do they have the gown for you? Is their price range and quality really what you're looking for and able to afford?

Mistake #5: Getting caught up. Caught up in what, you ask? The entire experience! Most bridal stores not only carry wedding gowns, but they also have a wide array of shoes, veils, gloves, purses, even flower girl and ring bearer accessories. Stave off the urge to indulge in these purchases, as they only detract from the gown. Focus on the task at hand, and take a little while for your accessories. You don't want to have buyer's remorse because the dress you loved only looked good with that veil you end up hating.

Mistake #6: Being a stickler for white. Wedding gowns have to be white, right? Not so! Very few women look beautiful in a bright white gown. Be open to trying on cream, off-white and even taupe. You'll be amazed at how great you'll look with a little color change.

Mistake #7: Listening to the peanut gallery. Sure, you want your mom, your sister, your college roommate, your best friend from grade school...wait a minute. Remember that everyone you bring to your shopping appointment is going to have an opinion, so be choosy. Bring those friends and relatives who have your best interests (and personal style) at heart.

Well, that's it! Avoid those seven mistakes and your dress shopping experience should be perfect bliss!

When people are getting married, having personal wedding websites helps them to save a lot of time as well as some money. If you are planning a wedding for yourself or a loved one, you should consider building a wedding website to share all of your plans with family, friends, associates and relations.

From wedding showers to invitations to photographs of wedding preparations, it can be fun and timesaving to post personal and pertinent information about your wedding to a website. When you announce your website to everyone you know through email, you can use the email announcement as a "save the date" announcement as well, which allows you to save time and money right from the very first announcement.

In fact, you can save quite a bit of money on paper when you use a personal wedding website for save the date cards, maps and RSVPs. You can post maps to your wedding shower, your fiancé's bachelor party and the wedding itself on your website so that you do not have to send out any maps inside invitations.

You can also set up electronic RSVPs so that you do not have to include RSVP cards in your invitations either. Your family and friends will love going to your wedding website to RSVP because they will also get to get a glimpse of all of the fun that is going into planning your most special day.

Your wedding website can be a personal space that expresses your personality as well as a place to share information. Personal wedding websites can be as personal as you would like them to be, whether you choose a whimsical theme or you design it to reflect your wedding color scheme.

There are so many wedding flower design ideas you can use to decorate the reception hall. Most brides opt for a traditional flower centerpiece on the tables at the reception.

If you are willing to think outside the box you can easily create wedding flower design ideas that will amaze your guests and leave them in awe! In this article we will look at a few unique "garden" designs that you can create or at least will hopefully inspire you to create your very own one of a kind masterpiece.

The best flowers to use for these designs are going to be made from either crepe paper or mulberry paper. These two types of paper are sturdy and very easy to work with, using any other type of paper will make your flower projects much more difficult and you may even become agitated with the paper before you get the first flower finished.

Garden design entrance way. Many brides often have an archway or the doorway its self decorated with flowers. A unique and beautiful flower design is a garden themed entrance. You will need a lot of paper flowers for this beautiful garden. You can still decorate the archway or doorway, and I actually recommend it. You can design the garden in one of two ways. The first would be to use tables to line the walkway where the bride and groom and bridal party will enter at the reception hall. Cover the tables with green crepe paper to create the image of grass and either set the flowers (minus the stems) on the table or use square window sill planters. You will want to use a lot of paper flowers and you can even toss in a few garden wedding themed ornaments. Try to avoid any empty spaces but do not over crowd the flowers either. This makes a great place for photos to be taken and your guests may even enjoy having their photos taken here. You will need either a very large room or an out of the way area with a door to set this up. You do not want your guests bumping into the garden while walking or dancing.

The second garden design you can create is a bit simpler and will most likely need to be removed after the grand entrance has been made. You will need a green colored isle runner (extra wide) for the bride and groom to walk down the center and both sides of the aisle will be decorated with the flowers (no stems) or use the window sill boxes with stems. Both of these garden designs will look amazing; just choose the one that works best for you.

You can also use any flower and color, the more colorful the better. You are not limited to the flowers in your bouquet or centerpieces of your wedding theme color. It is a garden design that you can do, however you would like.

Another idea for a garden is to choose a spot in the center of the room and either rent a medium to large size fountain or use a large round or oval table and create the garden the same way you would with the isle suggestions. This garden will be able to stay put for the entire reception and if you place a nice bench or a couple of chairs in front of it all your guests will have a perfect picture moment with their loved one!

These three garden wedding flower design ideas are just a few ways you can create a beautiful garden full of crepe paper or mulberry paper flowers. If you are creative enough you could create an entire tropical lush garden for your entire reception hall! Imagine how breath taking that would be, surrounded by flowers hanging from the ceiling and decorating the walls and floors!

Even if you're new to cake decorating or an engaged couple on a budget, all you need are some basic cake decorating skills or a little time to shop online. You'll soon have a cake that has everyone wanting to take a picture!

The quickest way to gather ideas for creating a cake topper or to find the perfect one to purchase is to window shop the Internet. Search with phrases such as "funny wedding cake topper," "wedding anniversary cake topper," etc. If you're not sure where to start, here are a few examples:

· Hand-blown and spun glass cake toppers. Gold highlighted and sparkly or smooth and sleek, many of these are incredibly beautiful. A cake topper depicting a bride and groom ice-skating on top of a snowflake wedding cake is one of our favorites!

· Silver, gold or Swarovski crystal monograms (and numbers for birthdays and anniversaries)

· Sporty cake toppers can depict a bride and groom aboard a sailboat, riding horseback, roaring away in his and her race cars, and... well you get the picture.

· Humorous cake toppers include figures made in cartoonish likenesses of the betrothed and the popular resin figurines with bride and groom in formal wear acting out titles such as "The Tiff" and "Now I Have You."

· Vintage cake toppers can be quite lovely - and interesting! Check out the reviews of Penny Henderson's book, "Vintage Cake Toppers" at Amazon.com to get an idea of the possibilities.

· Character cake toppers are big hits with young children and brides and grooms. Mickey and Minnie at the altar, Winnie the Pooh and Friends on a child's honey pot, sculpted birthday cake are a couple of examples.

· Fresh fruit (grapes, kumquats, etc.) or sugar-crystallized fruit arranged in an extravagant display can make a pretty picture! (Use whole fruit so there's no danger of juice running into your icing).

· Castles - the sky's the limit here! Your castle cake topper can be the top of a sculpted castle cake or a glass, fairy castle. Castle cake toppers are often requested for wedding and birthday cakes, as well as special theme cakes such as renaissance.

· Here's a real attention grabber - a topsy-turvy cake with a cake topper that teeters over the edge. For example, a teapot with dormouse on a Mad Hatter cake or two figurines depicting mountain climbing bride and groom.

· Miniature toys. Here's another simple way to make an amazing cake topper. One idea is to place a rotating doll stand on top of a tiered or stacked birthday cake. Then add a cute toy train, such as Thomas, or a carousel with pretty white horses in pink halters, and your cake will be a big hit

· Polymer clay cake toppers can add a great deal of meaning, fun or both to a cake. You can find companies online that create them in realistic likenesses of the bride and groom sharing an activity (ballroom dancing, golfing, you name it!) You can also find generic but adorable ones, such as the hula bride and groom at in Rebecca Russell's "Round Head" collection at
http://www.rebeccarusselltoppers.com/brides_and_groom.htm

· Flowers - place a bouquet of white lilies, beautifully molded with gum paste or a bouquet of real orchids on top of the cake and then add a few around the cake (using flower spikes), some pretty borders, and you'll have an amazingly beautiful cake.

Here's a tip for using flowers as a cake topper. Take into consideration the size of the cake. Tiny flowers can be used on a large cake, but if used on their own, they'll be lost. Conversely, large flowers like bird-of-paradise will dwarf a smaller cake. Also, as with any cake topper, consider the style and formality of the event. Daisies are more casual than roses, while stephanotis can swing either way.

Here are a few ideas for flower cake toppers:

· With a bouquet of flowers on top of the cake, arrange a few clusters of flowers here and there on the lower tiers as if a few blossoms have gracefully fallen from the bouquet.

· A gum paste plumeria or orchid lei encircling bride and groom figurines.

· Adorn your cake only with edible (non-poisonous) flowers, being sure that the flowers are also pesticide-free.

Many of these cake topper tips come from "Cake Decorating Made Easy!" Here's what one reader said about our Video Books:

"I highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys baking, decorating and the feeling of accomplishment when everyone crowds around your cakes for a closer look."

Joanne Robitaille, Windsor, Ontario, Canad

If you've enjoyed learning about the visual and symbolic effects of cake toppers, check out our article on Decorated Cakes!

And here's one more cake topper tip: Be sure that your cake topper is positioned well on the cake. Use an ornament base or a plate underneath a cake topper so it won't sink into the cake. Attach small decorations to the cake or plate with royal icing and/or flower spikes.

Children are more vulnerable to mosquito bites because they tend to play outdoors and explore areas that encourage mosquito colonies. For this reason, your children might suffer from mosquito bites.

These bites are itchy little bumps that emerge after a mosquito had punctured your child's skin and feed on their blood. Although most mosquito bites are harmless, there are mosquitoes that carry certain viruses and parasites that might cause serious health complications for your toddler. The diseases transmitted by infected mosquitoes can include West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, and Malaria. Due to the potential dangers of mosquito bites, it is essential to take preventive measure to keep these bugs away from your child.

Simple Solutions To Reduce Mosquito Bites

Get rid of possible mosquito breeding grounds. To prevent mosquito bites, you must address the root cause of the problem. This means you need to get rid of any possible mosquito breeding areas, such as stagnant and murky waters. You need to eliminate sources of standing water from your home and yard, such as bird baths, tires, empty cans and bottles, and pools.

Seal potential access points. In addition to discouraging mosquitoes from building colonies near your home, you must also seal the access points of these bugs. For one, you need to seal any cracks and holes in your home. You can also put window screens to prevent these bugs from entering your house. Avoid leaving the doors or windows open, especially at night when mosquitoes are more active.

Wear proper clothing when outdoors. When you take your child outdoors, make sure to dress them appropriately. Despite the warm weather, you must make sure to cover his or her arms and legs with clothing. You can also have them wear a long-sleeve shirt and pants, and even have them put on socks to lower the chances of getting bitten. It is also advisable to wear lighter colors.

Apply insect repellent on your child's skin and clothing. You can apply insect repellent directly to your child's clothes, or apply it on their skin. When choosing a mosquito repellent, you must look for ingredients, such as geraniol, eucalyptus oil, and picaridin. When applying this solution, you must avoid their eyes and hands as it may cause some irritation.

• You can look for repellents that contain DEET since it can successfully ward off mosquitoes and other bugs. It is advisable to use insect repellents with 10% DEET for children and babies. Remember though to avoid applying too much of the product since it can be harmful. Additionally, avoid applying it in areas that are covered by clothing.


• Another option is using natural essential oils that can repel insects without using chemicals, such as DEET. These are natural, safe, and non-toxic products that can provide protection against mosquito bites.

A home is a place of comfort. It is the individual's last respite from the world. For many homeowners, their homes are an extension of their own personality. It is natural then, that many prefer giving their homes a touch of their own style and gravitas. This is one of the reasons for the rising use of custom wood signs. Using a personalized sign board with a family name outside the entrance to the home makes a positive impression on visitors.

The use of custom wood signboards is not just a matter of style, signs can also add function. Guests will quickly know that they have arrived at the correct location. Depending on the sign style selected homeowners can immediately communicate both style and personality. For example if the resident desires a very sophisticated look then they should select bold dark colors and simple but recognizable typestyles for their custom entry sign. On the other hand if the homeowners like a little whimsy then should pick designer type-styles for their sign. And if the homeowner has a sense of humor they could add a funny quote or saying to their sign while others may want to add both first and last names.

There are many services which allow you the freedom of creating your own signs. You can add family names, first names, your favorite inspirational poem, a popular quote or a humorous saying. This flexibility makes it possible to add a more personal touch to your home d矇cor.

These personalized signs are not only great home accessories but also make gifts for weddings and anniversary or family Christmas gifts. Presenting a family name sign to a family at Christmas is becoming a popular gift. Adding the last name of the new couple with their first names on top in a two layer style is fast becoming a favored wedding gift idea. There are many variations available for the wedding signs. Some add a romantic quote while others add the wedding date. You should take care that the quality and the material used in the creation of these signs is attractive and durable particularly if the sign is to be used outdoors. Wood signs with vinyl lettering are becoming known for their durability. They can stand up to weather and also offer a variety of finishes including a traditional high gloss or the now popular distressed look. This and the ability to add your own text is one of the main reasons for the popularity of the signs with quotes and popular sayings.

With the increasing demand for these signs, many retail and internet services are opening up in the market to provide sign customization. You can approach any of these services for creating your own signs and mementos. Many websites online offer detailed information for customers and make very easy to design and create your own sign. These guides can help you create the perfect sign for your home, office or business. From custom wood signs to personalized plaques, you can find a variety of products according to your own preference online.