7 Birthday Facts You Should Know

In this article I have listed 7 facts about birthdays:

Fact 1: The History of Cards

Birthday Cakes

No one knows who it was that mailed the first birthday card but we are aware that the first greeting card was sent in China before they were sent anywhere else. In England, the royal family used hand made cards to send wishes on holidays and special occasions as early as a few hundred years ago.

Fact 2: The History of Cakes

The first birthday cakes were created in Greece. The Greeks celebrated at the Temple of Artemis with a cake shaped like a moon every year. Back in the Middle Ages, people in Germany made treats shaped like Jesus in celebration of his birth. That is where the idea of food to celebrate a birthday came from and how we ended up with birthday cakes today.

Fact 3: Candles on a Cake

The first people to use birthday candles were from Greece. The candles they put on the cakes helped them find the temple and also to imitate the light of the moon.

Fact 4: The Party

When the Greeks celebrated at the Temple of Artemis, that was the original birthday party. However, the Germans had the first birthday parties, which they called a Kinder Fest. These were done because of the high death rate among children that made the first birthday a special occasion. These birthday parties included food for the guests and the child and presents for the child as well.

Fact 5: The Gift

Most people know about the wise men bringing gifts to baby Jesus at the occasion of his birthday even if they are not Christians. The birthday gifts of today come from this historical event. The reason for birthday presents in the past was to make people feel good on their birthday or to bring them good cheer and to ward off evil spirits. Today, there are no evil spirits to worry about so presents are just to make people happy.

Fact 6: The Songs

Mildred Hills and her sister are responsible for writing the original Happy Birthday to You song in 1890 and it was published originally in 1935. The words to this birthday song are protected by a copyright so they cannot be written or sung without written permission. That means a lot of people are breaking the law when singing the birthday song.

Fact 7: The Celebration

Birthdays are the biggest celebrations of anniversaries around the world. In the Roman Empire, the Romans used to celebrate birthdays of the soldiers.

7 Birthday Facts You Should Know

Terje Brooks has written articles on the internet for many years. He likes to write about home and family issues such as birthday preparations as well as celebrations. Take a look at his birthday invitation cards website which contains a birthday cards for friends guide and similar information.

The Clock Is Ticking - How Jim Survived a Heart Attack

The phone call came like a jolt to my system. I never heard my name being called on the nursing home's overhead page. Someone came to the desk where I was sitting, and told me I was wanted on the phone. My husband Jim, who was calling, calmly informed me that he was having a heart attack. When we hung up, he called 911, and started the process of saving his own life.

When the signs of a heart attack strike, getting help fast is just as important as getting the right help. That fact hit home when my husband Jim woke up on this summer day with the chest pain that wouldn't go away. Both Jim and I work in healthcare, and we'd been aware of the signs and what to do about them. A large magnet, from our local hospital, that was tacked on our refrigerator reminded us, too, by saying "Time is Muscle, Time is Tissue."

Birthday Cakes Delivered

I felt as if a giant clock had begun ticking, counting down, if you will, and that each second could be stealing him from my life. For the next half hour, I finished some work I was doing, and then walked across the parking lot to the emergency room (ER) that Jim had been taken to.

As I reached the ER door, someone I didn't know spotted me and came to open it, leading me to Jim's cubicle. He looked small, pale, and more frightened than I could ever remember seeing him. His hands were his hands so cold, I thought, but I never let my smile fade. The tears I wanted to shed dried up.

A small army surrounded him, all working like cogs in a huge medical machine that was doing its utmost to save him. In just a few minutes, I heard a nurse calling another hospital and arranging a helicopter for Jim. Meanwhile, people moved in and out of the cubicle, each on a mission to do their part to treat Jim. The nurse closest to Jim's head, Donna, seemed to be running the show, and I learned later that since she knew Jim, who worked nights in the hospital, she delegated the care of her other patients so she could care for him.

Two tall, well-built men in dark blue flight jumpsuits arrived, and prepared Jim for his flight to the nearby medical center, where some kind of heart surgery would take place. Someone hastily shoved a consent form into my hands, and I found myself signing it, without recognizing the words on paper. I got the attention of Nurse Donna, and asked her to step out into the hall. Though much had been going on, little was actually said to me.

"Donna, can you tell me something?"

"Yes, sure," she said, with a calming steadiness in her gaze.
"Has Jim really had a heart attack?"

"Yes, he has. We're moving him to the cath lab at Albany Med. They're already prepping so they can help him."

Less than a half hour later, they loaded Jim aboard the helicopter, for his 15 minute air trip to Albany Medical Center. As the clock ticked, the chopper took off, and I left the ER to begin the long drive to Albany, NY. Walking toward my car, I saw and heard Jim's helicopter flying straight over my head. I looked up at it for a few seconds as it headed west, and wondered if he'd be alive when I saw him again.

The drive took an hour. I stopped at a convenience store along the way to get a drink, hesitating, and a flash of uncertainty tried to creep in. Hurrying through the building-maze that is Albany Med took a few minutes. I reached the seventh floor cath lab and spotted a receptionist. I identified myself.

"Oh, he's already done. Press the red button near that door, and I'll let you in." What did that mean, "done," I wondered to myself.

Out of nowhere I noticed one of the flight crew next to me just then, and he led me to the recovery bed where Jim, already awake and looking much less pale, waited for me. During my drive to the hospital in Albany, another small army of medical pros, with names that I later found hard to pronounce, had saved Jim's life. The small blood vessel near his heart that was causing him so much pain now had a new stent that opened the flow of blood and oxygen to his brain and body.

Jim was moved to the cardiac care unit nearby, and after 48 hours, he was discharged, without any permanent damage to his heart muscle. Follow-up tests confirmed it. This, we learned later, made him the exception to the Rule. The Rule was that most people whose hearts fail suffer muscle damage, and need rehabilitation. Jim never went to rehab, and actually returned to work a mere three weeks later.

Jim's team, all of his caregivers that day, helped him to beat the odds, and stay alive. Later, I learned that in 2006 many hospitals, including the two that treated Jim, had set an ambitious goal-get a heart attack patient from ER door to the right treatment in 90 minutes. When I thought of the complexity of everything I'd seen that day, the odds of making the 90 minute goal seemed slim. That it all worked so flawlessly comforted me beyond words.

Time is life. That was the lesson for me. Listening to your body and knowing the signs of trouble are critical to staying alive and well. In a medical crisis the sense of time changes, and time can feel like it moves faster and slower, sometimes even in the same moment. How that happens is still a mystery to me. How the crisis will end is by no means certain, like a suspenseful mystery story. Twists and turns seemed to appear when I least expected them.

When the clock starts to tick, hearing it and springing into action makes all the difference. There's no time to deny it, or be scared. When you're in the hands of trained, caring people, fear can be chased away and replaced by hope. As I lit the candles for Jim's birthday cake recently, I remembered that a clock can be your friend, too.

Side Bar
"Door to Balloon" Time-It Matters*

Door to Balloon Time, or D2B for short, is a term used by medical professionals to describe the time it takes from arriving at the hospital with a blocked coronary blood vessel until blood flow is restored to the heart. The balloon part refers to the use of angioplasty, or propping open a blocked artery with a balloon tipped catheter. D2B target time, for 75% or more of the patients having a heart attack, is 90 minutes from arrival (door) to restored blood flow (balloon). Patients who achieve this time and treatment goal are more likely to survive a heart attack than those who don't.

A study released by the American College of Cardiology in late 2009 showed that while 50% of 831 hospitals surveyed were meeting D2B goals in 2005, that number had risen to 80% by March 2008. While paying attention to the signs of heart trouble and seeking help quickly is still important for patients, medical professionals have been doing their part by giving the right care, faster, and diagnosing problems much more quickly. As Dr. Elizabeth Bradley, from Yale University, lead investigator of the D2B study put it, "This campaign (D2B) has changed the way heart attack care is delivered -- for the benefit of patients."

The Clock Is Ticking - How Jim Survived a Heart Attack

*Reference: http://tiny.cc/uajbs

The End

Marilyn E. Jess Shaftsbury, Vermont

Pretty Princess Parties for a Royal Celebration

Every girl dreams of being a princess, and what better way to celebrate your royal beauty than by throwing her a princess party? Princess parties can easily be done on a tight budget or can be as lavish as Cinderella's ball, all it takes is imagination.

Invitations to the princess party could be designed as scrolls rolled up and hand delivered to each guests "Hear ye, Hear ye, all maidens and knights of Stonebrook Elementary...."would be a clever way to kick off the theme. Once the children arrive they can each be announced properly as Lord or Lady of their last name and enter the room where the party is to be held.

Birthday Cakes Delivered

After settling down at the princess party the guests can play dress up with tiaras, feather boas and pairs of mom's high heels. For the boys invited to the party they can make their own swords and shields from cardboard from discarded boxes. Swords for the "knights" may also be purchased from the local dollar store.

Of course, no royal occasion is complete without a grand buffet at the princess party. Seating the guest of honor in her royal throne can be as simple as decorating an old chair with a sheet covered in plastic jewels. The grand feast can include the cake and punch served in "goblets" or plastic wine glasses.

Depending on the age of the birthday girl, parents may be in attendance at the princess party. Include the parents in the fun by offering adult snacks and by helping the boys with their swords. Princess parties create memories for lifetimes. With a little creativity your princess will be the belle of the ball.

Pretty Princess Parties for a Royal Celebration

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for Princess birthday party supplies and fun free educational party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Shop has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Theme Parties to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Father of the Groom Speech

The father of the groom speech is in the majority of cases not seen as one of the prime speeches at a wedding. No doubt the best man speech or even the father of the bride speech can be seen as a given speech, but nowadays the father of the groom and his delivery of the speech are seen as equally important. This speech gives the father a chance to greet the bride's family and welcome his son's wife in to their family. It is also crucial to emphasize that you will always be there for them in times of need. This speech should be delivered with an element of humor and also placing a slight emphasis on serious talk.

I will admit it is not that easy to deliver a speech after such ones like the best man speech where the guests will all be falling off their chairs in laughter or even leaving some in disgust. This speech is designed to make guest laugh and give an insight in to the groom's life and some of the mischief they have got up to in their past. Sometimes a little too much can be revealed. Then not to forget is the bride's father who steps up to give his speech and this in the majority of cases is where things can get soppy.

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You need to prepare well for your delivery as there is nothing worse than getting up there and not having a clue what to say. Remember you do not need to get too personal in yours.

So how should I start?

Greet the bride's family and welcome her in to yours. Tell her she looks fabulous and that you are sure her and your son will be happy together. Her family will love you for this. Something many people do not do is add a story of their son from his childhood. These usually go down really well. Make sure you do at least one of these. If it is something that will be embarrassing then that is perfect. Just make sure not to mention a girl that he was with when he was younger, you do not want to start anything controversial. Make sure you give some advice to the newly married couple and draw from your own experience if you like. This will make your advice that little bit more personal. This is the perfect place to add a joke. It could be anything like remember son when a womans wrong always pretend she's right.

Finally, do not make the father of the groom speech too long, you don't want to bore people but rather give advice, add some humor and then finish and wish them the best of luck with their marriage.

Father of the Groom Speech

Click Here to find out how you can deliver the best father of the groom speech without having to write your own.

How To Find The Best Birthday Cake Online

Where do best ideas come from when it comes to a birthday cake? Perhaps you have been doing your research for a while to help you in planning parties for your clients, friends or even family members but you seem unable to find the ultimate idea to find one. Here's an article to provide you with simple yet powerful ideas of what to look for in an online cake store.

Do Your Research

Birthday Cakes

Who are your customers? It's an important consideration when you buy a birthday cake because cake preferences also vary with age. A teenager, a family man and a busy Mom have different tastes when it comes to cakes so you must know what their choices are. Surf the web for more information on the latest cake designs and ask your customers.

Creative Designs

If your customer is a six-year-old boy then he might be able to appreciate a birthday cake with a blue glaze that portrays an ocean. He may enjoy the white icing to the peaks of the waves and the small plastic toy there that looks like a surf board. You can also choose the cakes with the designs of his favorite cartoon character. Ask the parent about the child's interest to be sure that the birthday celebrant will appreciate the birthday cake. If you will buy it for a matured person ask friends or loved ones for details.

Answer The Challenge

Regardless of age group, people have eyes for beauty. It is important to use your imagination in choosing decorations for your birthday cake. If you are a new event organizer and you want to attract more customers, choosing the right designs to capture their attention is a big challenge for you. Check the online cake store and pick a beach party theme or a roller coaster ride design for your client. You can buy small toy umbrellas and a small toy beach ball for a cake suitable for a beach lover.

Stick To A Budget

Choose a birthday cake that is wallet friendly. There are many cakes with great tastes and marvelous designs that are offered at very affordable prices. You just need to choose the right theme for your client or your friend or partner for that matter. Choose according to the taste and the style of the cake and not according to the price range. Take note of the delivery fee and make sure that you type the right address so that your client or anyone you purchased it for will receive it.

Whether you are starting a business where birthday cake is a part of the trade or simply buying a cake for someone special, purchase a birthday cake that does not sink to the plate once it is served. Choose playful colors of candles and see the glitters in the eyes of the happy birthday celebrant. Whether he or she is a client or a special someone, giving a birthday cake is a great way to express your greetings.

How To Find The Best Birthday Cake Online

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Planning a Terrrific Minnie Mouse Birthday Party

Minnie Mouse is an iconic figure that people know throughout the world. Minnie is part of the Disney characters and one of the first set of characters. Minnie is commonly known as Mickey Mouse's girlfriend which begs the question why hasn't he married her yet? But we digress. You are looking to host the best Minnie Mouse birthday party ever and you've just started. There is plenty of information on this popular theme and plenty of stuff to pre-purchase of create yourself.

When planning just about any birthday party you'll need a cake, decorations, party favors and games. Those are the four key elements of any good party. The rest of the things that people discuss such as party invitations, costumes, etc are a nice touch but not necessary especially when discussing such a well known and popular theme!

Birthday Cakes

The first thing to consider is the Minnie Mouse cake. You have a few different options which include creating it yourself or buying one from a local bakery. If you opt to buy one be sure to plan in advance as they will need usually a week to prepare the cake. As well, a store bought cake will usually be more expensive then the alternative. If you want to make the cake yourself but don't have great decorating skills don't be worried. You can simply put a layer of white icing on the top and place cake toppers on the top. These cake toppers make a great toy afterwards too! If you have more cake decorating skills then consider purchasing a Minnie Mouse or Mickey Mouse cake pan. You simply pour the batter into the pan, bake it and it will come out in the shape of Minnie. You then ice the cake with her features and create your very own Minnie Mouse Cake. It's actually not as challenging as it sounds and you'll be surprised how well it will turn out!

Next you'll want to consider the decorations. Luckily you have a very easy theme to decorate and simply need streamers, balloons and a few themed items. In fact, you can probably re-use old decorations as long as they are in the typical Disney or Minnie colors. You can also purchase a cardboard stand-up of Minnie which is makes a great photo opportunity for the parents and kids. Having themed tableware for the party is also a nice touch.

The games and party favors can often be combined. You can purchase party favors which can be used as part of the games. This would include who can draw the best Minnie Mouse (or if they are boys a Mickey Mouse). However, it is more common to have a party favor that is separate from the games. In this case you can buy pre-assembled party favor boxes which are licensed by Disney. The alternative is to visit your local dollar store or Walmart and create your own party favors! However you create the party be sure to try and enjoy the party as much as the children!

Planning a Terrrific Minnie Mouse Birthday Party

For more detailed information on a great Minnie Mouse party including games, fun snacks, party favors and more information about Minnie Mouse Party Supplies visit Thor's website!

No Bake, Easy to Decorate Cookies

It's July and temperatures are soaring, but your mom nevertheless volunteered you to provide homemade cookies for her Salsa dancing group. What to do when you need cookies, but it's too dang hot out to turn on your oven? Why, make a batch of no-bake cookies, of course. These cookies are also ideal when you have more cookies to make than you have time to bake.

Some no-bake cookies require stovetop cooking while others require only mixing ingredients and forming into shapes (great for that summertime Salsa event.)

Birthday Cakes Delivered

While eggs aren't used in no-bake cookies, a binder of some sort is needed to keep the cookies from becoming cookie crumbs. Peanut butter, oatmeal, marshmallows, corn syrup and chocolate are some often used ingredients for this purpose.

No bake cookies are smooth, crunchy or a little of both. Add crunch with chow mein noodles, nuts, crackers, cereal and actual cookie crumbs.

This recipe is perfect for your bird-watching group or other spring-time event.

Easter Bird Nest Cookies

Ingredients:

4 cups chow mein noodles

3 cups miniature marshmallows

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

Miniature jelly beans or other egg shaped candies.

Directions:

Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Pour crunchy noodles into large bowl. Over medium heat, melt butter or margarine and marshmallows, stirring until smooth. Pour marshmallow mixture over noodles, and mix until noodles are well coated.

To form the cookies, first rub some butter or margarine on your hands because things can get sticky. Form noodle mixture into six round balls. Place balls on waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Pressing with back of a teaspoon on each ball, make a hollow indentation, so the cookie forms a nest shape.

Set cookies aside until they're firm. Then fill centers with the candies. There you have it, birds nests complete with eggs!

Chocolate Orange Layer Cookies

Are you creating cookies for your son's circus-themed birthday party or your daughter's graduation from dog-groomers school? You can use cookie cutters to create shaped no-bake cookies. This recipe yields 100 miniature cookies.

Ingredients

Chocolate Layers

12 ounces of semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening

Orange Filling

7.5 ounces marshmallow cream

5 cups confectioners' sugar

1/4 cup grated orange rind

2 teaspoons orange extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

White baking chocolate for garnish, optional

Directions

Bottom Chocolate Layer:

Prepare two 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1 inch jelly-roll pans: Line one pan with aluminum foil, and line the second pan with waxed paper, taping the waxed paper to the bottom of the inside of the pan.

Melt 1 cup chocolate and 2 tablespoons shortening in double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water. Stir while heating until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.

Pour mixture into foil lined pan, spreading evenly with metal spatula. Refrigerate this until firm (about 20 minutes). Once firm, invert the chocolate onto the waxed paper, and peel off the foil. Refrigerate.

Orange Filling:

Combine marshmallow cream, 4 1/4 cups confectioner's sugar, orange rind and extract, and salt in medium-size bowl. Stir with wooden spoon until a thick mass forms. Then knead mixture with hands until ingredients are fully incorporated.

Lightly dust work surface with confectioners' sugar. Turn marshmallow mixture out onto prepared surface. Knead for about 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth. Lightly dust waxed paper and rolling pin with remaining confectioners' sugar. Roll filling out to 1/8-to1/4-inch thickness so that it fills the jelly-roll pan.

Remove sheet of chocolate from refrigerator. Let stand about 5 minutes or long enough to soften. Carefully invert filling on top of chocolate; peel off waxed paper. Return to refrigerator and chill about 15 minutes.

Top chocolate layer:

Melt together remaining chocolate and shortening in boiler over hot, not boiling water, until smooth. Remove filling from refrigerator. Pour chocolate over top, smoothing over entire surface with long thin metal spatula. Return to refrigerator and chill 15 to 20 minutes or until firm enough to cut.

Using mini cookie cutters, cut into shapes. Or cut into 1-inch squares.

To decorate cookies, melt white chocolate and drizzle over tops.

If you're interested in learning more intricate forms of decorating cookies with fondant, glazes and more, you can find classes, books and videos on the subject, such as the "Cookie Decorating Made Easy" Video Books. Here's what one reader had to say:

"Hi Michael! I bought your cookie video books on Friday and made cookies with my kids on Saturday. It was the funnest time and the cookies turned out beautifully. .........This is the coolest thing I've bought on the internet since your Cake Decorating video books!"

Chris B.

Las Vegas, NV

One more advantage to no-bake cookies: Remember years ago when you were allowed to lick the bowl when your mom made cookie dough? Since this recipe has no raw eggs, it's ok for your own kids (or you!) to lick the bowl.

No Bake, Easy to Decorate Cookies

Samantha Mitchell, Co-Author Cookie Decorating Made Easy! Vol. 1 & 2 The World's First Cookie Decorating Video Books. For more cookie decorating tips, along with instructional videos, delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our free newsletter at http://www.CookiesMadeEasy.com

Cheap Birthday Gift Ideas - These Won't Drain Your Wallet

The true meaning of gift giving should not be neglected. It isn't the value of the gift but the thought that truly matters. Giving birthday gifts is great way to show your love to the person who's celebrating his or her birthday. However, there are times when your loved one's birthday is fast approaching and you don't have enough money to buy her an expensive gift. Do not fret because birthday presents don't have to be pricey at all times. There are lots of cheap birthday gift ideas to help you out.

1. Gift Ideas for a Child

Birthday Cakes Delivered

Since children love watching their favorite movie again and again, among the inexpensive, simple yet great gift that you can give to your child that he or she will surely appreciate are DVD movies. Toy will also make a good gift. Visit a big toy center and look for the toys that will suit your child's age. You will surely find lots of choices ranging from the newest movie toys up the traditional lego. If the celebrator is a highly-creative kid, you can choose artistic gift sets that will furthermore hone their creativity. A craft set is a nice pick for little boys while a bead and choker set will be great for little girls. For small growing girls, a bracelet is a cheap gift idea.

Wrapping your gift to a kid is equally important as the content inside. So take time to wrap the gift perfectly and see how surprised and how excited he or she is to open your present.

2. Gift Ideas for your Wife or Girlfriend

Flowers and chocolates delivered to her office or place of work are always romantic and will surely be appreciated. You should send it along with personally written greetings or love poem. You can also make a personalized or hand-written card and give it to her along with a typical photo frame with her picture in it, a teddy bear, scented candles, an album or a basket of fresh fruits. You can also prefer a music box, cheap gift baskets, inexpensive magazine subscription, music box, cheap jewelry box, her favorite books or silver jewelry. Moreover, a birthday cake with your personal message written in it will also make a heart-warming gift.

3. Personalized Birthday Gifts

These are the most treasured gifts these days. So if you're thinking of a gift for someone that's special to you, make it extra special by personalizing it. You can buy a pillow or a bathrobe or towel and have her or his name embroidered in it. Get a vase or a photo frame and hand paint it to create a great desktop piece.

Birthday gift ideas seem to be overwhelming. So in choosing a gift, take into consideration the age of the recipient and your feeling toward him or her. Remember that your present should tell the recipient how much you care.

Cheap Birthday Gift Ideas - These Won't Drain Your Wallet

To learn more birthday gift ideas, visit http://www.birthdaygiftideas101.com.

Weddings at Sea

A wedding, whether it is your first or fifth, can be the best, and the most stressful, experience of your life. Except, of course, if you choose to tie the knot at sea. When getting married on a cruise ship, you'll have a host of professionals trained to accommodate your every need during your cruise wedding. From cakes to tuxedos, accommodations to the reception hall, you won't have to go off-board for anything. Unless of course you choose to have your reception on shore. In which case, the amenities come to you.

Imagine saying your vows on the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean, on a hillside vineyard in Italy, or on the snowy-white glaciers of Alaska. The possibilities are endless.

Birthday Cakes Delivered

There are a few stipulations when getting married on a cruise ship. First, the captain generally does not marry the couple (except with Princess Cruises). A wedding officiant will be provided by the cruise line for that purpose. Second, cruise weddings take place while in port, not while at sea. You can choose to get married on board when in port or at a selected location on shore. Finally, the bride and groom must be sailing on the cruise in order to get married on it. Your guests can, however, board the ship for the wedding without sailing on the cruise.

Many cruise lines provide cruise wedding packages and coordinators to make sure that your day is special and runs smoothly. Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International, all provide wedding packages for couples sailing on their ships. Crystal Cruises and Cunard Line do not allow weddings on their ships. The cost of tying the knot at sea ranges from 0 to ,400 and generally includes transportation to and from the port, wedding facilities, wedding officiant, wedding coordinator, ceremony music, flowers for the bride and groom, cake, champagne, photographer, wedding album, and dinner. Many will also arrange spa and hair appointments, as well as tuxedo rentals. Of course, each line has their own packages. Read below for information on the most popular cruise lines and their wedding options.

PLEASE NOTE: Prices provided on this page are general indicators of wedding package costs. They are provided to give a general indication of costs for couples in the early stages of planning their weddings. Stated prices are not guaranteed and do not include taxes.

Carnival Cruises
For those looking to celebrate a special occasion, Carnival offers a variety of packages designed to suit every need. Wedding ceremonies are performed by a wedding officiant before the ship sets sail and Carnival provides a photographer who takes pictures both during the ceremony and the reception. These photos are available for purchase during the cruise.

The basic cruise wedding package is for eight guests (including bride and groom) and includes the ceremony, bridal bouquet, groom's boutonniere, bottle of sparkling wine, wedding cake, wedding music, and photography service. This package is priced starting at 0, prices vary depending on the port. The other wedding packages offered by Carnival add to the basic package with a combination of wedding luncheon, open bar, champagne, and the accommodation of up to 20 guests. These packages range in price from ,050 to ,450. Guests may wish to add a videographer, tuxedo rental, additional food and beverage service, or live entertainment.

Holland America Line
Holland America Line offers a variety of packages for those celebrating weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions.

Weddings
Holland America's wedding package is called Anchors Away. It includes the ceremony setup, personal wedding coordinator, personalized wedding ceremony, bridal bouquet, groom's boutonniere, wedding cake, champagne, and a cruise album. This package starts at ,295 USD.

Renewal of Vows
Holland America Line's renewal of vows package is priced at USD and includes flowers in your stateroom, renewal ceremony with hors d'oeuvres and beverages, as well as a photograph and photo album.

Special Occasion
The basic celebration package includes flowers in your stateroom, champagne, a special dessert in the dining room, framed photograph, and special recognition. This package is USD. You can add to this package with amenities like a dozen roses, a pair of terrycloth bathrobes, a special chocolate pillow gift, couple's massage, and a guaranteed table for two in the dining room. The price for the more elaborate package is 0 USD.

If your special occasion is of a romantic nature, Holland America has a romantic package that provides you with flowers, champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, a framed photograph, in casino chips, and an aromatherapy massage. This package is priced at 9 USD.

Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Lines gives passengers a variety of options when planning a wedding on one of their ships. Wedding packages range in price from 00 USD to ,399 USD and can accommodate anywhere from eight to twenty five guests.

Wedding Package
Norwegian's basic package will accommodate a maximum of eight guests (including the bride and groom) and includes the wedding officiant, wedding music, keepsake marriage certificate, ceremony location, wedding cake, champagne, and a photograph package. The photograph package provides the bride and groom with twelve portraits, a mini-album, and two 8" by 10" selected portraits. You can add to this package with such amenities as additional guests, a one-hour, open bar reception with hors d'oeuvres, additional champagne, additional photographs, a two-hour sit-down lunch with wine, and live music.

Anniversary and Honeymoon Package
Whether you're looking for a deluxe package with all the fixings or a small combination of some simple luxuries, Norwegian Cruise Line can accommodate your needs. With prices ranging from to 9, the basic package includes champagne and strawberries, canapes in your stateroom, photograph, and romantic dinner for two in the bistro with a complimentary bottle of wine. The most deluxe offer gives couples champagne and strawberries, spa wrap, massage, breakfast-in-bed, a formal portrait, and a romantic dinner for two in the bistro with a bottle of wine.

Princess Cruises

Weddings
Princess Cruises offers customizable cruise wedding packages that include everything from bouquets and wedding cake to portraits and tuxedo rental. You and your Cruise Consultant can work together to create the package that suits all of your wedding needs. One special bonus with Princess is that your wedding ceremony will be conducted by the captain of your ship.

Renewal of Vows
The basic package costs 5 and includes the ceremony, bouquet, boutonniere of orchids, commemorative certificate, a bottle of champagne with engraved champagne glasses in your stateroom, and a framed portrait of the ceremony. For an additional cost, the package can be upgraded to include champagne and breakfast-in-bed, two Princess terrycloth robes, a thirty-minute massage or facial per person, and a visit to the bridge while the ship is in port.

Special Occasion
Celebrating a birthday, promotion, or graduation? Do it in style on a Princess ship. Princess Cruises offers a variety of packages for people celebrating something special. The most basic package includes a bottle of champagne, framed formal portrait, hors d'oeuvres delivered to your stateroom, and breakfast-in-bed with champagne. All for 5 per couple. Passengers can add to that package with amenities like Princess terrycloth robes, spa visit, a visit to the bridge, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Prices range from 5 to 0 per couple, depending on the package.

Royal Caribbean International - Weddings
Royal Caribbean offers seven wedding packages ranging in price from ,095 to ,595.

Duet, the simplest onboard package, includes the wedding coordinator, wedding ceremony, wedding officiant, ceremony music, bride's bouquet of roses, groom's boutonniere of roses, wedding cake for four, photographer, one wedding photo, wedding certificate keepsake, and champagne. Additions that are made for other packages include more wedding photos, larger bridal bouquet, champagne and breakfast-in-bed for two, round-trip transportation to the port in a chauffeured limousine, and chocolate-covered strawberries in the couple's stateroom.

These packages can be enhanced to include live music, videography, beauty appointments, tuxedo rentals, wedding invitations/announcements, wedding reception, and marriage license processing. Ask your Cruise Consultant about the cost of these additions.

Shore Weddings
For weddings on shore, Royal Caribbean includes many of the same amenities found in the Duet package, but adds indigenous wedding flowers, escorted transportation to and from the territorial court and ceremony site, local wedding cake, and secured, marriage license documents.

Renewal of Vows
If you would like to renew your vows on a cruise ship, you can do so for 0. Your vows can be renewed in the wedding chapel (if there is one) or in a designated spot on board. This cost includes the ceremony, ceremony music, bouquet for the bride, boutonniere for the groom, keepsake certificate, wedding cake for four, photograph, and champagne.

PLEASE NOTE: Prices provided on this page are general indicators of wedding package costs. They are provided to give a general indication of costs for couples in the early stages of planning their weddings. Stated prices are not guaranteed and do not include taxes.

Weddings at Sea

John Hanson, CruiseShipCenters, Email: jhanson@cruiseshipcenters.com, Website: http://www.cruiseshipcenters.ca/johnhanson

Unique Gifts for Mother of the Groom

A wedding is a joyous occasion, and an occasion when gifts are exchanged among many different people. Guests and bridal party members give gifts to the bride and groom. The bridal couple gives gifts to the wedding party and to the bride's mother. Some couples do not give a gift to the mother of the groom. It is entirely proper to do so, however, and will go far toward alleviating feelings that the mother of the groom is in the background.

Unique gifts for the mother of the groom may be purchased, but the most unique gift a bridal couple can give her is personal attention. Only you can show that you have time for her on your special occasion. Before you get too caught up in the day, plan a heart-felt gift that only you can give.

Cakes Delivered

The French custom of the groom walking his mother down the aisle is a lovely, unique gift that she will always remember. The bride and her father walk the aisle together. Give similar attention to the mother of the groom.

Order a lovely bouquet of her favorite flowers to be delivered the morning "after" your wedding. She will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Be sure it includes a sincere thank you for her part in the wedding.

In addition to your personal touch, give her a unique gift you have purchased. We've gathered a few ideas here to help you.

Unique Gifts for Mother of the Groom - Sentimental

Since the mother of the groom will usually cry at the wedding, give her a unique gift that is sentimental, and that she can cherish forever. A dainty handkerchief in linen and lace can be embroidered with the words, "Mother of the Groom" to make it uniquely hers.

A necklace with a tiny bouquet of silver forget-me-not flowers is another unique gift. Its gentle message is that she will not be forgotten, even though her son is married and starting his own family.

Visit the CafePress store online, and create a unique gift featuring Mom's favorite photo of the couple, or simply a gift bearing your wedding date and names. Use your imagination to style a mug with the words "Mother-of-the-groom" and a photo of Mom.

Your personalized keepsake is always a unique gift. Write a poem, or choose one that expresses your feelings. Add your names, and have it etched on a scalloped block of clear Lucite with a display stand.

Unique Gifts for Mother of the Groom - Stylish

If the mother of the groom is a business woman, and regularly carries business cards, a unique gift might be a personalized business card case. Have it engraved with the initials, MOG. Few people will understand the initials, but she will think of you every time she uses it.

Purchase a decorative crystal bud vase and have it engraved for a unique gift. You might put her initial in flowing script near the top, with your names and wedding date at the bottom.

For a mother of the groom who always has a key in her hand, give her a heart locket key chain. Be sure the heart locket is large enough for an engraved message such as "Our hearts are always with you." Put your photo inside, and you have a unique gift that no one else could give.

Unique Gifts for Mother of the Groom - Amusing

If the groom's mother has a sense of humor and enjoys a good play on words, you might give her a lovely make-up set for "groom"-ing. Ornate, silver-tone make-up brushes in a black satin case would make a unique gift. A silver compact, engraved with her name, would also be fitting, either with the brushes or alone.

A medal of honor might also be appreciated as a unique gift for the mother of the groom. The Bridal People website offers an amusing medal of honor to be awarded the mother of the groom for surviving the wedding. Hanging from a ribbon, their medallion weaves together the initials M.O.G., and spells out Mother of the Groom in small letters across the top.

Tip: Unique gifts for the mother of the groom, or for anyone, are usually a result of coupling your imagination with your knowledge of the gift recipient.

Unique Gifts for Mother of the Groom

©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about unique gifts at http://www.distinctivegiftsandcards.com. Anna has posted additional information on that site about wedding gifts. If you would like to learn the etiquette on sending wedding gifts, visit Anna now.

Inexpensive Kids Birthday Party Locations

While throwing your child a birthday party is high on any parents list, most people don't want to spend a fortune for the celebration. Depending on the time of year and your budget, there are some great options for the location of the party (other than your home).

If you do decide to throw a party outside your home, be sure to include your child in the location decision. If the child is young, you may want to bring them to the location prior to the party so that they can get comfortable and excited about the upcoming event. Most kids look forwarding to opening their presents at the end of their party. So whatever option you choose, make sure you set aside a special place where all the party goers can place the birthday gifts.

Birthday Cakes

1. Town Park Shelter. Many local communities offer rental shelters at the parks where they have picnic tables, grills and play equipment for the kids. The older children can go play while the adults hang out. The food doesn't have to be gourmet, instead keep it simple and easy like barbecuing hot dogs or burgers or a couple baked lasagnas with salad. Follow up with a fun birthday cake from your local warehouse club, grocery store or your own kitchen.

2. Fast Food Restaurant. Both McDonald's and Hardees offer kids parties that include a party hostess, food and cake at reasonable prices. The other great thing about these restaurants is that many have Playlands or plastic ball pits so that the kids can be entertained while the adults chit-chat and relax a bit.

3. Children's or Science Museum. If you have a larger budget, a local science or children's museum can be a great place to hold a birthday party. Some places have party hostesses and provide some supplies, so just check what they provide in your city. You may only need to bring a birthday cake and presents.

4. Movie Theater. Many towns have inexpensive or dollar show theaters that will rent out the entire theater or give you big group discount as well as discounts on snacks and soda. Some theaters will let you bring in some of your own snacks and a cake so just check and see what can be done at your local theater by speaking with the manager.

5. Neighborhood Club House. If you live in a planned community, chances are that you have a club house in your neighborhood or apartment complex. Often these rooms are either free or can be rented for a nominal fee by residents. The club house would likely give you more room than your home, but it would still be close enough that you could set up the birthday party relatively easily. Not to mention, you don't have to clean your house!

6. Local Fire Department. Often times, local fire departments have rooms that they will allow local residents utilize for free or for a nominal fee. Some fire departments will even give the children of a private birthday party a tour of the department and let them try on some of the firefighters' gear and get their photos taken. These pictures make great keepsake gifts for all the children.

Inexpensive Kids Birthday Party Locations

Can't make the birthday party or need a unique birthday gift this year? All About Gifts & Baskets has a huge selection of Kids Birthday Gift Baskets for any age. From candy to cookies, chocolate to books, let us take care of all your gift basket needs. Shop online and ship direct to the birthday boy or girl.

Service Areas and Wait Stations

These are most likely one of the most hard areas to describe, since you can find as many kinds of service locations as there are different restaurants. The assistance area is the busy zone between the kitchen area and the guests, in which the food production staff and waitstaff use the most efficient means to get foods out of the kitchen and towards the clients. The teamwork on both sides from the pass window evolved into today's assistance area. At a small table assistance restaurant, it may be an area no larger than four to six feet long that houses the pass window.

Many eateries hire individuals called expediters to stand on either side of the window and facilitate ordering and order delivery. An expediter may organize incoming and outgoing orders for speed, check every tray for completeness and accuracy of the order before it's delivered, and even do a bit of last-minute garnishing as plates are finished. When standing in the kitchen area to do this, the person is sometimes known as a wheel person or ticket individual. In quick-service establishments, the service areas are the counters, clearly visible to incoming customers.

Cakes Delivered

A recent innovation may be the separation of beverages and condiments from ready foods. Nowadays, clients fill their personal drink cups, dispense their personal mustard or ketchup, and so on. In some restaurants, the wait station and assistance area are one and also the same. A common issue in this area is that generally no one remembers to plan for plenty of flat room for the waitstaff to rest trays or set up tray holders. Usually, no matter what this region is known as, many restaurant designers view it with apprehension. And no wonder. It's really an extension of the back of the house that occurs to become located within the front of the home.

The wait station typically has no inherent "eye appeal," and yet it's an absolutely essential component of an effective service system and should be stocked with everything the waitstaff uses regularly. A likely list will include: bread and butter, bread baskets, all coffee making and serving paraphernalia, assorted garnishes, salad dressings and condiments, dishes and flatware, water pitchers and glasses, ice, linen napkins and tablecloths, bins for soiled linens, tray holders, credit card imprinters, computers, calculators, counter space, and so forth. Get the idea? Things are always hopping here.

If your service region is instantly adjacent to your kitchen area, a few simple design precautions will make the space safer for employees and provide a better flow pattern for your assistance traffic. Many of these locations have swinging doors that link them to the kitchen area. If feasible, select double doors, 42 inches in width, with clear, unbreakable plastic windows in every door that should be no smaller than 18 inches high and 24 inches wide. Each door ought to be installed to swing only one way and clearly marked "IN" or "OUT." There should be at least two feet separating the doors. When refrigerators are located within the service region, glass doors will help save energy by allowing servers to see the contents without opening the door. Also, think about sliding doors rather than doors that swing open.

The floor is another essential consideration. Make it nonskid, just like the kitchen area floor. And, simply because there's often the possibility of a spill, be sure you can find adequate floor drains. Finally, simply because of the intense use of this space and also the interaction of your servers and production line people, this area ought to be well lit, like the kitchen area. You can find two distinct schools of thought about whether wait stations ought to be the repositories for some ready foods: soups, salads, precut pies and cakes, and so on. While one group says it makes assistance of these items faster, an additional insists it also increases pilferage by staff members-and, therefore, increases expenses.

Where ought to your wait station(s) be located? The shorter the distance between wait station and kitchen area, the much better off you'll be. Long hikes among the two actually increase labor costs, as waiters spend their time going back and forth. It is also harder to keep items at proper temperatures if they must be carried for longer distances. If room doesn't permit your wait station to become adjacent for your kitchen area, you can find a couple of options. The use of metal plate covers will maintain foods warm for an additional two to four minutes as it is delivered to guests. Or purchase lowerators, spring-loaded plate holders that can be temperature controlled to provide preheated plates.

In numerous situations, foods is now ready in full view from the guests. Therefore, it is more important than ever that designers produce perform centers which are well organized and could be kept looking clean. Take advantage of undercounter storage space to reduce messiness. Provide a hand sink for hand washing and a utility sink to rinse kitchen area tools and utensils correct at the perform center. Select surfaces which are easy to clean, from wall paints to countertop materials. Think carefully about where to dispose of waste. Ventilation ought to receive professional attention, to minimize the grease buildup that naturally comes with cooking and to avoid the possibility of smoke wafting into the dining room.

Service Areas and Wait Stations

Franco Zinzi has been involved with online marketing for nearly 3 years and likes to write on various subjects. Come visit his latest website which discusses of Restaurant Fridges and Jenn Air Fridges for the owner of his own business..

Do You Know Your Chocolate?

What is in Chocolate?

The Basic ingredients are same cocoa butter, cocoa, sugar and milk. Hot chocolates are supplied as fine powder that could be used as beverage along with milk and sugar. Preparation of chocolates may be by two methods there are hand made chocolates and factory manufactured chocolates.

Birthday Cakes Delivered

Chocolate Manufacturing process

There are two types of processes in which the bitter cocoa solids are treated. In the other process the cocoa butter is treated with baking soda. This is able to create a leavening effect on the mixture. The resultant chocolate in used for cooking purposes. In the Dutch process the cocoa solids is treated with alkali and thus the flavonoids in cocoa are destroyed. The processes known as tempering and conching are applied to create the soft chocolates. There are mint chocolates and gourmet chocolates that have specific taste. Conching is employed to create the texture and flavor of chocolates.

Hot Chocolates

Hot chocolates are given as fine powder and hot water is added and stirred brisk with other ingredients like spices they make a nourishing and unique beverage. Spices added to hot chocolates include nutmeg cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. By using hot chocolates from tinned cans, different recipes could be prepared by adding sugar milk and cream. Special occasions like Christmas could offer an opportunity for innovating new recipes. One such famous recipe consists of the ingredients like egg, caster sugar, butter and flour. Flour is mixed with butter, and sugar. Then beaten eggs are added and this mixture is baked in the oven. Then it is cooled while pouring them in Tupper ware containers and layers of icing sugar and hot chocolate powder are added in successive layers.

Types of Chocolates

There are three types of chocolates, namely plain dark chocolates, white chocolates, milk chocolates. All this chocolates have coca butter, coca solids, emulsifiers, vanilla and the proportion of the combination may vary giving difference in finished product. According to European rule, dark chocolates should have 35% cocoa solids. In certain chocolates there may be up to 70% of cocoa solids and total fat content of 30%-40.

Health and Chocolate

We all know the so called fattening effects of chocolates. But are there any good ones? It has been established that chocolates tend to raise the serotonin level. Serotonins are components that create a sense of happiness in the human brain. Chocolates may have a smoothening effect on throat. Some people say that throat problems, dryness due to coughs could be reduced by using chocolates.

Gifts - Buying Chocolates online

Chocolates are perfect gift for most of the occasions like wedding, Christmas, birthday, anniversaries and many more pleasant events. Gourmet chocolates have remained as a top gift for pleasant moments. There are plenty of Online gift shops which sell chocolates at a lower price than the high street. You can shop at your leisure from home and get them delivered with a personal message to your loved ones. You never know, you might get some extra discounts if there are Seasonal Special Offers and sale in these shops.

Do You Know Your Chocolate?

Craving for more chocolate info? Here is the Wikipedia page on Chocolates! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate

13th Birthday Party Ideas For Girls and Boys

A 13th birthday party might be considered one of the most important birthday parties; at least up to that point in the child's life! So it is very important that the party is fun and creative. This article has great ideas for 13th birthday parties. Some of the ideas can work for either boy or girl parties, and some are for combined parties.

Rent Out a Gym

Birthday Cakes

Many towns and cities have a local gymnastics gym. Some of these places can be rented out for an hour or two for birthday parties. These places can be a great idea for a 13th birthday party. There are mats and trampolines, big foam shapes, and pits filled with foam. Thirteen-year olds can have fun for hours here playing tag, jumping around, and playing on the equipment.

When the gyms are rented out, they will usually come with several of the workers to watch the kids when they use the equipment and play around to make sure they stay safe. It might also not be a bad idea to recommend, or at least allow the parents of the party goers to stick around at the gym if they would like to.

This party idea is a great idea for a boy and girl party or exclusively a girl or solely a boy 13th birthday party. But it would definitely be more fun for the kids if there are more kids there to run around and play tag.

Swimming

A swimming party is a great idea for a 13th birthday party. And this type of party can be done year round. If it is too cold to swim outside, most cities have indoor pools that can be used during the winter. Kids have fun swimming and playing in the water. Most 13-year old teens probably prefer to have a swimming party with kids of their own gender, but this type of party could be a good idea for a boy and girl party if the birthday kid feels comfortable with that.

Though most kids can make up their own fun when they are swimming with their friends, it isn't a bad idea for the parent(s) to have some ideas for pool games just in case the need arises. Games like water volley ball and Marco Polo can be a lot of fun. After the kids swim they can gather together for pizza, cake, and ice cream.

Sledding

Having a sledding party for a 13th birthday party is definitely dependent on the weather, but if there is enough snow, this can be a great birthday party idea. Sledding is a lot of fun for both thirteen year old boys and girls. Along with sledding, there could be a snow man building contest, or a snow angel making contest. And parents can serve the kids hot chocolate, cake, and ice cream after they have gone sledding.

Dance

While some thirteen-year old kids are not quite ready for a dance, some might choose it for their 13th birthday party. There are a variety of ways to go about having a dance for a 13th birthday party. Having a theme might be a fun way to go about having a dance. Kids could be asked to dress up as certain characters from a movie, from a television show, or from a certain time period.

It is also a good idea for parents to have games set up since it may take awhile for the kids to get comfortable dancing with each other. Games such as Twister or balloon volleyball might be a great way for the kids to begin to interact with each other.

A food and drink table is another important thing to have at a 13th year old dance birthday party. It is important that parents keep the table filled with snacks and drinks throughout the party.

Restaurant

Another fun and simple idea for a 13th birthday party is going to a fun restaurant. There are many restaurants that have cool themes and decorations. This can be a fun way for the birthday kid to spend their 13th birthday. A restaurant birthday party might be best for just close friends and family since it can get pretty expensive if a lot of kids are invited.

13th Birthday Party Ideas For Girls and Boys

Visit http://www.birthdaypartycentral.com for more birthday party ideas, including a large selection of birthday kids' dinnerware.

30th Birthday Cake Ideas - Make It Fun And Light

Celebrating 30th birthday can be so much different like when you were in your younger years. Most likely, you don't fancy with as much excitement when it comes to having 30th birthday cake ideas. After all, you believe fancy cakes are only for younger ladies and a lot younger boys. But why confiscate a birthday cake out of your party if it can set the celebration even more of a unique one? There are other 30-ish people that celebrate with fancy or simple cake ideas, so why not you?

Black icing is a favorite for birthday cake ideas. It is usually added with the favorite candle lights, but in this particular celebration, these are going to be numbers 3 and 0 shapes. For some, it is even more fun to make two cakes to accommodate those two numbers. For others, number candle lights are out of options. They simply have the numbers carved in each cake after taking out the oven to cool them. Adding frost and sprinkles in festive colors will finish the birthday cake.

Birthday Cakes

The birthday cake can be integrated with a favorite theme that compliments the personality of the celebrant. For example, if he or she is fond of sports, sewing, magazines, clothes, shoes, and others, the cake can be decorated as inspired with a particular interest that the person celebrating the birthday has. Plastic or wax figures modeling a specific interest or hobby will do for the decoration. Be creative as you can and you will come up with the best cake idea that will surely tell who and what that person is like.

Gag gifts can be placed on the cake to create lighter fun of the celebration. For example, if the person is into cross-stitching you can add a needle and yarn on top of the cake as decorations. For more fun, you can add a rectangular piece that resembles a computer, and then add an inexpensive reading glasses on top as if you are warning the celebrant about the eye straining habit he has. It will make the celebrant feel much appreciated and acknowledged. The cake idea will also set that festive mood to kick off a celebration that would surely be remembered by everybody, and much more by the celebrant.

If there is no one to bake the cake idea, this can be easily ordered from bakery and confectionery shops. They usually provide cakes at various prices. You can instruct them how you want the cake to look like. Online bakeries are as well available. You can order from these dealers through the comfort of your home. There are many cake ideas and designs that are available online, so you can take time to select one that will best fit the celebration. You can also order a custom cake design by giving online staff instructions on the specifics you want out of it.

30th Birthday Cake Ideas - Make It Fun And Light

To learn more birthday cake ideas, visit http://www.birthdaycakeideas101.com