Soothe Body and Mind -If you take care of yourself, planning your wedding becomes a welcome challenge, not a burden. Here’s how to promote harmony between body and mind:
. Cut down on carbs and bump up the protein. A protein shake with digestive enzymes can help level off that anxious feeling-plus, the mix lasts longer than a sugar fix.
. Take a stress-formula supplement. choose one with all the B-vitamins, plus minerals like magnesium, iron, potassium and zinc. some contain ginko, which help increase blood flow to the brain.
. Walk away your tension. Just three times a week for 30 minutes will do the trick.
. Explore Pilates, Tai Ghi or yoga. They quiet the mind and keep you limber.
. Book a massage. Muscles tighten when you’re under a lot of pressure and leave us prone to headaches. In the monthes leading up to the w-day, try to have one every three weeks.
. Explore aromatherapy. Lavender, camomile, clary sage or lemon can be calming. Light an aromatherapy candle, or add some aromatherapy beads to your bath and listen to a relaxing CD.
. Sleep easy. Stay away from caffeine after dinner; drink camomile tea instead. Getting solid zzzs is paramount when under pressure.
Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days. Some of us are always looking to......
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“Meditation helps you recognize that you’re bigger than the thoughts crowding your mind,” explains physician and psychotherapist Dr. Lucinda Sykes. “Meditating can reduce anxiety, decrease breath and heart rate, and cut down the release of stressful hormones.” Mindfulness-based stress reduction(MBSR), The program of meditation and exercises tought by Sykes, is not so much a philosophy or religion, but a fresh way of looking at things. Instead of living anxiously in the future-or fighting your obsessive thoughts-she suggests you gently bring your mind back to the present moment: you”ll not only be much calmer, but you”ll get more done.
What a Wedding Planner Says…
Charlene Weed of Dream-Maker Wedding Consultants in Calgary, Alberta, says: “Accept compromise and don’t sweat the details. Guests can enjoy a DJ just as much as a band.” And get help. friends and family members are usually happy to pitch in, but if you’re really stressed, it makes sense to hire a wedding planner. Her advise for brides is to give yourself time to kick back before your wedding day. How to make time for that? Run those last minuite errands a week in advance and schedule your rehersal at least two days before. Anything you can do to save any added aggravation or last minute sress-do it! Your body and mind will thank you for it.
Mindfulness, naming negative emotions allay depression Yogis and Buddhists, among others, have long known the benefits of meditation and mindfulness. Now, Western science is not only confirming those benefits, but attempting to find clues to how it works. Studies currently being published in the journal Psychological Science by UCLA psychologist Matthew Lieberman and his colleagues......
July 20th Roundup Sunday Money Madness is back again this week with more great mid-afternoon reads. Don't miss out on: Low Cost Weekend Idea: Borrow Library Videos from Blueprint for Financial Prosperity is a great idea for those who don't have Netflix and are looking to watch movies without having to go to......
Trouble With Thought What we realize when we really tackle this subject of the brain, of thinking, is that we weren’t really paying attention. So we get panicky, we say "Well if my thoughts can be wrong, then how can I know?". Because to trust we need to know, and we aren’t wrong.......
You should be on cloud nine, but you’re stressed to the max. We’ve sussed out these strategies to help you decompress and recapture that wedding bliss.
What a Doctor says…
“Stress affects the neurological activity in the brain and causes an increase in cortisol and other hormone levels,” explains Dr. Essien Stopnicki, clinical directorof the Toronto Stress Centre and Research Clinic. These hormones are part of the ” fight or flight” response and affect the metabolic rate, heart rate and blood pressure, resulting in a heightened-or-stressed-state. Stress can lead to a prolonged state of anxiety or an increase in anger, rage or even depression. Stopnicki suggests talking to your doctor about herbal supplements called adaptogenes, which allow you to adapt to sress more readily. Rhodiola rosia or relora are two common types.
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Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown roast on all sides; set aside. Add carrot and onion to the same pot and saute until onion is slightly browned, stirring constantly.
Add broth, wine, water, bay leaf and peppercorns. Bring to a boil; cover and simmer 10 minutes. Add roast; cover and reduce heat and simmer slowly for 30 minutes.
Combine sauce ingredients.
Remove roast from liquid; cover and let rest 10 to 15 minutes before carving. Slice roast across the grain into thin slices. Serve with Tomato-Basil Sauce.
Stuffed Peppers Now on to the recipe (it doesn't involve cupcakes)... I concocted this version of the stuffed pepper while playing in the kitchen one day and was pleased with the results. I used brown rice for a healthier twist and chose lean, ground sirloin. Tofu would work as a replacement for the meat,......
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Mushroom Chicken Recipe We have a ways to go from here to get to a Asian Buffet. So a few years ago we started preparing our own Asian Dishes. This Mushroom Chicken Recipe is just delicious. The fresh Zucchini blend with the other flavors in the recipe is scrumptious. This is a......
Q. I’ve already got all the tableware I need. Why would I want to register?
Couples with well established households have as good a reason to register as those who have nothing, since there’s even a greater chance you will receive items you don’t need. Registering is a great opportunity to expand an existing dinnerware collection, for example. It provides a chance to fill in the gaps; some things may have been to costly or not essential enough for you to have acquired when you were single. Also, consider some untraditional registry options, such as honeymoon travel.
Q. Should I register even if I’m having a very small, private wedding?
Absolutely. Guests still appreciate the convenience of a registry. However, limit your choices to the most wished for items; otherwise, it could be years before you finally complete a table setting for six.
Q. Are there any spcial services?
Some special services your wedding registry might offer include free gift-wrapping and delivery, discounts on merchandise purchased through the registry and a toll-free line for out of town guests. Ask your registry consultant about the store’s registry services.
Q. What happens after the wedding?
Traditional etiquette alows a guest to give a gift up to a year after the wedding. The registry plays an important role for guests choosing this route, since you’ll receive many gifts prior to the wedding and on the day itself, so guests will appreciate knowing what you would still like to receive. Most registry services can be continued after the wedding; your wedding registry list is simply transferred to a general gift registry, which might also prove useful for special occasion gift-giving.
One final note: Tabletop patterns are subject to changes in design and are sometimes discontinued. You might return to the store some years after your wedding to find patterns are no longer available. It’s a good idea to check with the manufacturer on a yearly basis to confirm your patterns are still in production.
Our Best and Worst Wedding Registry Experiences (Hint: Avoid Sears) This past year Energi Gal and I finally tied the knot. As part of the process we decided to register at a number of places. We picked three stores: Macy's - Macy's has a strong national presence, which is great when you live in the San Francisco and your guests......
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Browse through many pages of wedding magazines and note the retailers offering a wedding registry service. Select one that’s convenient for you and carries a selection of merchandise with a range of prices. Register with a store that shows genuine interest ijn serving you. You may register at more than one store, depending on your needs. If you register for the same items at two or more stores, remember to alert the others when a guest purchases a gift at one; that item should be removed from the others to avoid duplication.
Q. When should I register?
You should open a registry six months to one year before your wedding date; it may be helpful to people purchasing gifts not only for your wedding, but also for birthdays, special holidays and showers. To register, avoid arriving unannounced on a Saturday, usually a store’s busiest day. Most stores prefer you book (in advance) an appointment with their consultant, to provide personalized service and maximize your time once you’re in the store.
Q. How do I spread the word that I’m registered?
First, take advantage of any cards or other handouts provided by your registry service, listing the name and phone number of the store and consultant. Keep some handy in your purse or wallet and near the telephone.
Your families and close friends (members of the bridal party, especially) will be asked if you’ve registered, so supply them with all the pertiment information. Ensure your mother and fiance’s mother have all the details for your registry; they are likely to receive the most requests for this information. It’s perfectly acceptable for registry information to be included on shower invitations.
Q. What should I register for?
In a word-anything. Traditionaly, couples register for dinnerware, crystal and silverware; it’s also common to register for linen, cookware and small appliances.
Prioritize your lists before meeting with the registry consultant, deciding which type of gifts you’re hoping to be completely fulfilled. It’s preferable to have one group of selections completed (for example, all your dinnerware settings) than to have an assortment of incomplete sets. Make sure there are items at a variety of prices, and tell the consultant you’d be delighted to receive components of selected items; for example, instead of a 5-piece setting, guests could choose a 3-piece setting at a lower cost. Take into consideration the size of your wedding; for an average wedding of about 160 guests, consider registering for two sets of tableware, stemware, flatware and barware (one set for everyday use and one for formal occasion).
Today, you and your groom can register for just about anything-from works of art or floor lamps to honeymoon packages. A registry can include home furnishings and decorating services, giftware, barware, gourmet accessories, travel necessities, lingerie, beauty services and more. Ceramics-such as figurines, bowls and pottery pieces-have become increasingly popular registry items, Although retailers who carry such items may not offer a formal registry, many if asked, will keep a list of purchases made on your behalf.
P.S. Anyone who was at this years Wonderful Wedding Show would have seen lots of registry ideas. I would also like to remind you that King Cole Catering is now offering a Free Wedding Cake with bookings made from now until the end of January for weddings held in 2008.
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Creating your registry is one of the best things about wedding planning, but where do you start? here are some answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Q. What is a wedding registry?
A wedding registry is a complimentary service offered by retailers(from department stores to specialty shops) to engaged couples. Essentially, it’s a worry-free way of helping your guests take the uncertainty out of gift selection. Registering for gifts, a practice dating back more than 50 years, was at onetime reserved for “privileged” couples. Today all couples have the the option of opening a registry, now viewed as a wish list. A wedding registry is useful to everyone-whether you’ve been living together for years, still living ewith your parents, or are getting married for a second time.
“”"This is the last day of The Wonderful Wedding Show at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. take it in before it’s all over.
King Cole Catering is still offering a free wedding cake for weddings booked by the end of January for weddings in 2008.
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How Do I Perform Keyword Research? "How Do I Perform Keyword Research?" Excellent question Francine, it's all in the tools. There are quite allot of software tools available for keyword research. Lets start with some of the free keyword research tools; Google Adwords Tool SEO Book Keyword Suggestion Tool Trellians Keyword Discovery kwbrowse All the above......
1. Think beyond four wheels: Make your exit in a helicopter, hot air balloon, seaplane or boat-or take off in twin motorcycles.
2. Make a donation to a cause that’s important to you. Leave a sign on the escort-card table so that guests are aware of the donation and the significance of the organization.
3. Get creative with groomsware. A tie or even a pair of socks can reflect the locale (preppy whales in Nantuket, favorite sports team, Etc.).
4.During the ceremony, take a moment to recognize special people in your life by handing them flowers.
5. Create a who’s who page in your wedding program explaining your relationship to each of the major players in your wedding party
6. Hire a caracaturist to sketch pictures of your guests during the rehersal dinner.
7.Get creative with your cake topper. Use the one your parents had at their wedding, buy one at a flea market or antique store or create your own from toys, figurines or other objects that reflect your personalities.
8. Slip into comfy shoes at the reception-white sneakers embellished with ribbons, rinestones or lace, or flip flops with silk flowers.
9. Leave a welcome note for each guest at their place setting.
Don’t forget to check out the Wonderful Wedding Show at The Winnipeg Convention Centre this weekend. Also make sure to look at my blog posted yesterday for specials I am offering during the Wedding Show.
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Selecting Unforgettable Music For Your Wedding Music sets the feel and romance of a wedding ceremony. Like other details in a wedding such as candles, flowers, and dresses, music should be carefully chosen because it is very vital in the overall ambiance and flow of the ceremony and it also reflects the taste and personality of......
How do we find a cake artist? Word of mouth is a great way to find a baker. Ask your married friends and family who they used and who they’ve heard buzz about, then call to make appointments.
The complimentary consultation should set the groundwork for creating the cake,” says Colette Freitas, owner of creative cakes…By Colette in Sheperd Park, Alberta. “Bring your inspirational file, and also look at the artist’s portfolio to see if they offer the type of cake you are looking for.”
Ask for references and contact other clients to see how the company operates. Also ask about delivery and set up on W-Day.
“Most decorators will do the delivery and set up of the cake themselves, as you have to assemble the cake after it gets to the reception,”Frietas says.
Once you’ve chosen a designer, you must commit six to eight months before the wedding, and most reqire a 35 to 50 percent deposit. The price can range from $3 to $18 per slice.
Address The Details
1. Icing-There are three main varieties: rolled fondant is a dough- like sugar that is rolled out and draped over-the top of a lightly iced cake. It has a very low fat and moisture content, so it can withstand heat much better than other icings (a good choice for outdoor weddings). “Because you can create anything with fondant it is the most popular icing choice,” Gordon reports.
Buttercream is smooth, creamy and soft and is easily tinted or flavoured. It is used to both ice and decorate cakes, with piping, swags and rossettes and other borders. Its base is butter, so beware of high temperatures!
Royal icing is used to create latticework, beading, bows and flowers. It hardens as it dries, making decorations that will last a lifetime if properly stored in a freezer.
2. Decorations-A big trend today is decorating cakes with fresh flowers. If you choose that option, Gordon recomends pairing blooms with fondant-blossoms may sunk into a cake finished with butter icing. If choosing a cake topper, Freitas recommends shopping for a unique one that compliments the feel of your celebration. “I have a bride who loves dolphins and found a beautiful figurine to go on top of her seashell-inspired cake,” Frritas says.
3. Flavour- Everything but fruitcake is haute today, with flavors running the gamut from vanilla, chocolate, lemon and carrot to mocha or espresso. “If you can’t decide on one flavor, many couples are choosing a different flavor for each tier,”Freitas notes. “When you do go out for tasting, try at least four different selections, and make sure it’s a piece of each to ensure you truly love the flavor to the last bite.”
P.S. Remember to take in the Wonderful Wedding Show this weekend at The Winnipeg Convention Center. King Cole Catering is offering a free wedding cake to anyone booking a wedding with me from Jan.18th. until the end of January. The wedding itself can take place anytime during 2008. There are still limited days available this summer. Don’t delay!!!
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My Wedding Suppliers Around San Pedro Laguna I have been getting a lot of hits on my post Free Wedding Checklist and the readers actually ask me detailed questions about my wedding, most probably to get an idea on how to prepare and pull this off :) . So now I am creating this post to show......
Find the confection of your dreams with our sweet selection guide
Wedding cakes have come along way from the simple ivory towers of years gone by. A cake honouring the bride and groom originated in Roman times, and the tradition was to break the confection over the bride’s head, an act symbolizing prosperity and good will. Thankfully ( for the sake of your hair and your gown!), wedding cakes are now an edible accessory, a gorgeous creation that compliments your style and your wedding theme. Choosing your tower is one the most delectable parts of wedding planning. Follow our easy steps to find the perfect cake for you.
Do Your Research
Before booking an appointment with a cake artist, compile an inspirational file by snipping and clipping photos of confections you love. You also need to compile a list of wedding facts ( the size of the wedding, wedding colours, flowers, wedding theme and the amount of money budgeted for the cake itself) to take when you visit the cake artist, so the pro is on board with your vision.
” The pictures are great because they give a good indication of the style you are looking for,” explains Bonnie Gordon, of Toronto’s Bonnie Gordon Cokes. “Sometimes cakes are created to match the flowers, the beading of the brides dress, or the bridesmaids’ dresses, so that’s why it’s important we know about these elements.”
Check in tomorrow for more cake searching details!!!
P.S. A good place to look at different cake styles and vendors is at The Wonderful Wedding Show Jan. 18th,19th and 20th at The Winnipeg Convention Center
My Wedding Suppliers Around San Pedro Laguna I have been getting a lot of hits on my post Free Wedding Checklist and the readers actually ask me detailed questions about my wedding, most probably to get an idea on how to prepare and pull this off :) . So now I am creating this post to show......
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