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Wednesday, October 31, 2007

TAKE BACK YOUR TIME



Ever find yourself with not enough time in a day?! EVERYDAY Right!!!


Exhausted, Stressed, Sleepless nights right? This doesn't only effect you. It effects your spouse, your kids, your parents...you get the picture





TAKE BACK YOUR TIME is a major U.S./Canadian initiative to challenge the epidemic of overwork, over-scheduling and time famine that now threatens our health, our families and relationships, our communities and our environment.






TIME STRESS HURTS ALL OF US IN DIFFERENT WAYS:




  • Our health


  • Our marriages, families and relationships


  • It leaves us little time for ourselves


Check out timeday.org



Learn ways to Reclaim Family Dinnertime and much more


~Enjoy



Monday, October 29, 2007

Project Everlasting


This is an exert I found and it is so true. Enjoy!
~Jane


There's no such thing as a perfect marriage, only perfect moments."We were shocked to discover how much work went into creating a great marriage. We'd always figured, "Hey, I'll just find my soul mate and things will naturally fall into place after that ... we'll live happily ever after."

Um, not so fast, one Marriage Master wife said with a certain look that meant business. "Whoever said being soul mates was going to be easy?" Her husband of 52 years nodded, then added, "Marriage is a bed of roses, thorns and all."Any time two individuals live together (especially over 40 years) there are bound to be annoying, irritating, and frustrating experiences. But whether it's the toothpaste cap, toilet seat, snoring, or the last-minute pull-the-car-over-to-check-the-score-of-the-game-at-the-local-bar move, one thing is for sure: the best marriages are served with an extra helping of acceptance for one another's peccadilloes. "And that's the beauty of marriage," said Maurice, another Marriage Master. "All of our individualities, all of our wonderful differences. You gotta have friction. You can't get any heat without friction.

"We would do well, they say, to expect non-perfection; practice patience and give the acceptance we want in return. There's no doubt that this is hard work, but judging by the end result, it's well worth the effort.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Wine Glass Candle Lamp




The fabulous ladies over at The Event Essentials posted this and I just had to share it with my readers as well!
Found on Charles and Marie on how to take a wine glass and make it into a mini lamp candle holder. It’s absolutely adorable and can be used for many different events.




Made out of fragile parchment, each set contains 3 different shades with cute and whimsical designs that are printed in a faint white. All you need to do is take them out of the package roll them up, drop a candle into a wine glass and add the lampshade. That’s it. Instantly the white pattern is transformed to a darker shade (as if it were a shadow) and a wine glass is turned into a sweet miniature lamp.
Save-on-Crafts has a great instructions on how to make your very own Wine Glass Candle Lamp
Materials8-1/2″ x 11″ (21.8cm x 28cm) sheets of vellum (one per lamp)Scissors Scissors with decorative blades Decorative paper punch in desired shape Glue pen Wineglass Votive candle or a LED Battery Operated Tea Light Candle putty (floral clay)
1.Lampshade Pattern (PDF file click here)To view this file, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader
2. Trace the lampshade pattern onto the sheet of vellum. Cut the straight ends and the inner curve using plain scissors with decorative blades.
2. Punch designs about 1″ (2.5 cm) from the lower edge, spacing the designs evenly.
3. Apply a thin line of glue (a glue pen works well for this) to one straight end. Lap the other end over the glued end, forming the shade.
4. Secure the votive candle and set the lampshade atop a wine glass

Monday, October 22, 2007

10 little expenses that add up fast


MSN had this great article that I just had to re post, it really puts things in perspective...




Do you wonder where your money goes, especially if you're not a big spender? It's surprisingly easy to blow thousands, a few dollars at a time.


It's easy to fritter away money on little daily expenses. If you fall into these money traps, learn to avoid them and pocket the savings.


  • Coffee: According to the National Coffee Association, the average price for a cup of brewed coffee is $1.38. There are roughly 260 weekdays per year, so buying one coffee every weekday morning costs almost $360 per year.

  • Cigarettes: The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids reports that the average price for a pack of cigarettes in the United States is $4.54. Pack-a-day smokers fork out $1,650 a year. Weekend smoker? Buying a pack once a week adds up, too: $236.

  • Alcohol: Drink prices vary based on the location. But assuming an average of $5 per beer including tip, buying two beers per day adds up to $3,650 per year. Figure twice that for two mixed drinks a day at the local bar. That's not chump change.

  • Bottled water from convenience stores: A 20-ounce bottle of Aquafina bottled water costs about $2. One bottle of water per day costs $730 per year. It costs the environment plenty, too

  • Manicures: The Day Spa Magazine Price Survey of 2004 found that the average cost of a manicure is $20.53. A weekly manicure sets you back about $1,068 per year.

  • Car washes: The average cost for a basic auto detailing package is $58, according to Costhelper.com. The tab for getting your car detailed every two months: $348 per year.

  • Weekday lunches out: $9 will generally cover a decent lunch most workdays. If you buy, rather than pack, a lunch five days a week for one year, you shell out about $2,340 a year.

  • Vending-machines snacks: The average vending machine snack costs $1. Buy a pack of cookies every afternoon at work and pay $260 per year.

  • Interest charges on credit card bills: According to a survey released at the end of May, the median amount of credit card debt carried by Americans is $6,600. The average interest rate on a standard card is about 13%. Making the minimum payment each month, it will take 250 months (almost 21 years) to pay off the debt and cost $4,868 in interest. Ouch!

  • Unused gym memberships: Costhelper.com reports that the monthly service fee at gyms averages between $35 and $40. At $40 per month, an unused gym membership runs $480 per year.

    Budget your way to smarter spendingThe B-word doesn't have to be a straitjacket on fun. Here's how to find the leaks in your wallet.
    Interest charges on credit card bills: According to a survey released at the end of May, the median amount of credit card debt carried by Americans is $6,600. The average interest rate on a standard card is about 13%. Making the minimum payment each month, it will take 250 months (almost 21 years) to pay off the debt and cost $4,868 in interest. Ouch!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

More Gifts...

OK I have another gift idea, I don't know if its the season that has me always thinking about gifts to give or I'm just on a gift giving idea kick, well with that said.


You & your man have the groomsman's gifts, and you have your girls gifts but what about the man you are about to marry?? You want to give him that will last a lifetime and something he can look at (or use) and have wonderful memories!

That said how about some nekkid pictures of yourself? Although the word nekkid is a lot more fun they are properly called "Boudoir Photographs", a Boudoir Session shows your many moods…soft and sensual to bold and daring, nudity is not required, of course--just some of your new pretty lacy things and a sensuous attitude.

Think about it: with your wedding workout and diet, you are probably in the best shape of your life right now and you have a photographer that could either take them for you or or refer you to another photographer that you would feel more comfortable with. You could even try to schedule your photo shoot for the day that you have your makeup trial. Keep the hair natural and tussled though * Think of the expression on his face as he looks at these for the first time, and second time and third time, well you get the "picture"

Friday, October 12, 2007

Flip Flops.....I'll take them!!


Ok I told you yesterday about my obsession with cute miniature stuff, well I came to the realiziation that I may have an obsession with somthing else...my husband has pointed out on many occasions when I ask him if he has seen my flip flops and he says whith a sarcastic sigh "which pair"? I live in Florida! Its pretty much a fashion must have!! (in every color under the rainbow) Ok so I found these at http://www.myweddingfavors.com/flipflops.html and now im trying really hard not to to put thim in my shopping cart, but that shouldnt stop you!! How cute are these with the cute lil moagrams on them and what a cute photo-op with all your maids wearing them!!
You should buy them and then send me pictues of you and your girls wearing them so that Jason doesnt ask me why I have a new pair of flip flops, when I have plenty in the closet that I havent even worn yet....;0)

Thursday, October 11, 2007

It's Tiny...I'll take it!!



I have an obsession...It’s an obsession with miniature stuff, not just any miniatures, like the stuff in doll houses, even though that is super cute too, but the stuff that is replicated from big stuff...for example I have a miniature mail box, shopping carts, yes plural! I have two and they are soooo super cute, I have cute miniature salad tongs, well anyways you get the idea. The reason I’m telling you is because today I happened to be at Sears and came upon a miniature Craftsman tool box (gift card holder), and I had to have it, first thinking it would make a cute Christmas gift
But just as I was thinking of who to give it to...a idea popped in my head! What a cool gift for the "handy" groomsmen!!! I mean it's just screaming "Great groomsman gift" so if your fiancé is in a bind, not knowing what to get his guys just send him over to sears....they got what you need!


Oh yeah.... my son saw it and now it’s his, luckily I distracted him long enough to get it away from him to take some pictures of it :0)


Enjoy!






Some Pointers


Anyone who has ever planned a wedding should know how stressful planning a wedding can be. Let's visit some examples, I'm sure you know what I am talking about:

I hope this information can help you!

1)Keeping everything organized such as business cards, vendors, website links, etc.

2) Taste butter cream, fondant, and royal icing from at least 3 different bakers. If only the wedding cake could taste just the way you want it.

3) Making sure your bridesmaids can fit into their dresses that you had ordered 6 months ago. And go that xtra mile and find (or ask your planner) a seamstress.

4) Ensuring that the groomsmen don't do something entirely crazy during the wedding. And more importantly, making sure the bestman doesn't forget his speech. (Better yet make sure the BM shows up, ours didnt!!)

5) Pleasing your future in-laws or anyone involved with the planning. Finding the right balance is very difficult. My best advise give them somthing small and let them use their best judgement and creativity, you will look back and be happy you did and they will also feel good that they were involved.

6) Finding the right shade of ivory to match that dress you've chosen. There aren't too many places that carry ivory, since white is more popular.

7) Hiring a planner might be a good thing instead of driving around town to all your different vendors. Plus we usually have a great group of vendors that we work with!

8) If the flower girl or ring bearer get stage fright, before they wald down the isle dont worry about it! You would rather have a peacful ceramony instead of an upset little one wanting his/her mommy in the middle of your "I Do's"

9) Tasting the wines before the wedding reception. Choosing the wrong wine can speak millions about your taste.

10) Getting your table linens to match with that right color shade. For instance, the colors blue, red, and pink are examples of colors, which seemingly possess their own personality. If only colors could match the first time you try!

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Save the Tata's!


October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Im a little late posting this but, better late than never! I walked with my best friends and their family over the weekend in the Making Strides for breast Cancer 5K. It was so magical and touching to see these women and men out there (wearing pink no less) supporting such a wonderful cause!! To all the women and men out there that have been touched in some way by this horrible cancer, this is for you!!

and please feel free to donate to a good cause by going to http://www.americancancersociety.com/

Thursday, October 4, 2007

The Hilton or Holiday Inn??




  • Be sure you consider your guests when you are looking at hotels.
    College students invited? Look at budget minded hotels – Holiday Inn vs. Hiltons
    Couples with kids? Hotels with pools and free breakfast.

  • Not planning any extra activities? Hotels near shopping or tourism activities.

  • If it is within your budget include a nice welcom bag. There are a few must haves that go inside:Bottled Water, Map, Brochures, and guest itinerary....Have fun with it :0)

  • See the rooms. I cannot stress this enough, if a place will not show you a room you do not want to book there ever!
    Do be considerate of what time/date you go to see rooms.
    Try to go after noon, but before 6pm unless you can schedule an appointment.

  • See (and try) the amenities. Look at the pool. Do they offer a Satisfaction Guarantee? Usually they will have a sign posted or it will be on a brochure. Try to avoid asking this question, as it may seem like you plan on complaining to get it free.

  • Do not book on Travelocity, Expedia, etc. until you check the hotel's own website and check with the hotel. FYI they do not offer the best rates on those websites, you always pay a little extra for the convenience. It's like grocery shopping at a gas station

  • Be sure you ask about group rates. But know you are not guaranteed lower rates just because you have a group. Avoid peak times to get lower rates, examples would be: Memorial Day weekend, Labor Day weekend, New Year's ect.
    Sometimes Friday or Sunday may be cheaper than Saturday, so be sure if your guests are staying multiple nights they give you the best rate for each night.

  • Its okay to hold more rooms than you need, but be sure you tell the guests they have to book before your group's drop date. That is the only way to be sure they get a room and get it at the right price. Also, do not hold the rooms on your credit card unless you are prepared to pay for all the rooms or any no shows or cancellation fees.

  • Read your contract before you sign it!!