Cake Ideas From Our "Most Popular" List

Cake Ideas From Our "Most Popular" List Whether it is a guitar for a teen musician's birthday, a ship for a going away party or a Scooby Doo cake for a child's birthday; the character or novelty cake continues to be a favorite, especially the kind that is so easily made with a mold cake pan. Character and novelty pans are sold at large craft stores and baking supply stores. You can also find them online from well- known suppliers.

We're seeing more and more castle cakes at parties now too, from Cinderella's castle to enchanting sculptures for Renaissance events. The more unusual birthday party cakes are getting lots of attention lately, such as the volcano cake. It's not your typical chocolate lava cake that's for sure! This one steams and spews lava, thanks to dry ice and one of the fun cake recipes from "Cake Decorating Made Easy!" Here's what one reader wrote about our Video Books: "I sat glued to the computer watching the videos and reading as soon as I got it. It is wonderful!!! I have lots of instruction manuals that I have tried to follow in the past. Watching your videos once has made all the difference to my cake decorating skills. I especially love the flower making and will be making cakes overflowing with flowers ASAP (its spring here in Australia so perfect timing!!!). Thank you again for a wonderful, informative, and affordable product" Fiona Wagga Wagga, (sunny Australia) Another unique and fun cake idea is the beach pail cake. A variation of the flowerpot cake (a fun one for a gardener or kids by the way), the beach pail cake is a big hit with toddlers who enjoy really digging into their cakes. A plastic beach pail is filled with pudding cake and topped with a thin layer of cookie crumb sand. Vanilla sandwich cookies are a good choice for this because the filling adds some moisture to the crumbs. And when the cake's "all gone" your toddler has a new toy! Speaking of toys, doll cakes continue to please. Barbie type dolls featuring a real doll with a cake and icing dress are popular not only with young school age girls, but grown up girls as well. Creating this type of cake appeals to the fashion designer in us! And last but not least, buttercream and royal icing roses continue to be a top request for cakes from a young girl's birthday to a grandmother's retirement party. Wedding Cake Ideas The word from wedding cake designers is "Less is more." Today's bride prefers a far less ornate design. Whether classic or whimsical, understated is often preferred. Fondant continues to be a favorite cake covering because its satiny smooth finish lends itself well to the wedding cake ideas that brides are bringing to their cake decorators. Many of the more popular cake ideas are coming from an Asian influence, such as white decorations on white icing, accented lightly with red. Popular wedding cake ideas are also influenced by the current wave of colors that are replacing the white fondant and buttercream. Ice blue, light blush, rum pink, and lavender are providing the backgrounds for quietly elegant or whimsical decorations such as silver polka dots, sugar crystallized fruits and daisies. Roses, orchids and lilies continue to be part of today's wedding cake ideas. Of course, decorating alone doesn't make a great cake. Taste and texture count too! And here's one more cake idea: For an easy to make castle cake, use empty paper towel tubes and ice cream cones (the sugar cone variety) for the turrets. Or just the cones alone can be used. Cover them first with icing and glue with royal icing to a graduated square or round, stacked cake (use two or more graduated square pans to create the cake). Fly colorful flags off the top of the turrets. These can be made with construction paper, cut in triangular shapes and attached with icing or glue to toothpicks. If you have enough ice cone turrets to go around, you could even fill the cones with icing - that is if you do this just before serving! Cake Ideas From Our "Most Popular" List

Wedding Officiant Fees

Wedding Officiant Fees II was flabbergasted to receive an email the other day, chastising me for our 9 Classic Custom ceremony fee. According the writer's calculations, the fee for a "15 minute ceremony" resulted in us obtaining the astronomical hourly rate of ,476! Wowza! If that were true, I'd be writing this article from my summer mansion on the shores of the Mediterranean while my cabana boy massaged my tootsies!

Couples often have to rein in their wedding day festivities to accommodate their budget. And make no mistake about it--the wedding business is a multi-billion dollar industry with the average cost of a wedding hovering above ,000. A professional job well done is worth a fair price, however, and it seems our unhappy writer above was unaware of the time, work and expense put forth by a high-quality officiant. So, if you've been secretly wondering why the rate for some officiants seems high for the amount of time it takes to deliver your ceremony, let me clarify things.. First of all, let's look at the actual time that is included:Most custom ceremonies do not last 15 minutes as our friend suggested, but closer to 30 minutes. Officiants generally arrive up to 30 minutes prior to the ceremony to facilitate last minute coordination, and stay an additional 15-20 minutes after the completion of the ceremony to sign the license, congratulate the couple and pose for photos. The initial getting acquainted meeting lasts 45 minutes to an hour. It takes an hour to write the ceremony. Driving time to and from the ceremony must be included. There is generally an additional 30-45 minutes of email time during the course of our pre-ceremony relationship to answer questions. We advise couples on everything from marriage licenses to the name charge process to wedding etiquette.So, factoring in the above actually brings our "15 Minute Ceremony" up to 5 hours of time on the part of the officiant. Still, our frugal friend might howl that brings us to an hourly average of --unjustifiable to many. So, let's take the following expenses into account.How did our fine fellow find us? Through one of the wedding sites upon which we advertise. This does not come for free. Nor does our website that we pay to design, maintain and host in order to give prospective clients complete information on our services as well as access to other helpful resources. Add in the cost of gasoline, car insurance and maintenance to get us to the ceremony on time (always a plus!) Office expenses, ministerial vestments, binders, phone costs, bank fees, postage, business taxes, membership dues, paper, ink, postage and that fancy black pen that you get to use to sign your license!All of this is difficult to quantify and will vary from officiant to officiant. And of course, the cost needs to be spread across all of the bookings that an officiant acquires in any given month. Let's take a conservative estimate and say that the above costs average approximately per wedding booked. This brings us down to a more respectable per hour. But wait! We have forgotten to include the wedding resources to which each couple has access in order to write their ceremony. Most officiants who've been writing ceremonies for years have compiled a vast wealth of options for vows, blessings, readings, etc, as well as some great creative ideas for use in the ceremony. Value? Well, we sell our ceremony resources, for , so let's assume that is a safe bet. Lopping that off the top of the original 9 brings our officiant's hourly rate down to a more reasonable .00 per hour. Now, our fine fellow could certainly have his best friend, Bud obtain a quickie online ordination and perform the wedding ceremony for the compensation of a six-pack.. That would be one way to save the cost of an officiant and is a viable option for many. However, before you go call up the Bud-ster, you might want to think about what comes with that .00 per hour fee. A professional wedding officiant is going to be able to handle anything that comes along on the day of the wedding. It's not as simple as showing up and reading the script. Consider the following mishaps that have happened to couples whom I've wed: microphones die during the ceremony, bridal party members faint, ex-spouses feud (openly!), brides and grooms cry uncontrollably during their vows, flower girls get stung by bees, Dads need reassurance, lines get flubbed by the bride and groom, the ring bearer throws up on his way down the aisle. A thunderstorm unleashes halfway through the ceremony, Unity Candles won't light. It goes on and on. And then there are the last minute details--coordinating with the music providers, the photographer and the venue staff. Bridal party members need to be lined up and inevitably some key person is in the bathroom come ceremony start time. Is the Unity Candle lighter in place? Where are the roses for the rose ceremony? They were forgotten? No problem, the officiant plucks some out of a centerpiece and saves the day. Does the best man have the rings? Oh dear! The reader forgot her reading--good thing the officiant has an extra copy. Who has the marriage license? Which side is the bride's side and which is the groom's? The FOB (father of bride) is MIA. Oh, there he is--on the balcony having a cigarette with his girlfriend (who by the way can't stand the ex and refuses to sit in the same row). The bride, starting to stress, turns to her officiant, who offers her a reassuring smile. All is well. The ceremony is filled with wonderfully creative ideas that the officiant has provided. It is delivered by a proficient public speaker who projects loudly enough for even those in the back row to hear. Along the way, the officiant has offered support, guidance, and encouragement. A professional wedding officiant is equal parts emcee, etiquette advisor, coordinator, script-writer, organizer, frayed nerve-soother and legal resource. The wedding officiant is one of the lowest wedding vendor fees that a couple will pay, yet having a bad one can ruin what should be the couple's most special day. While we respect the right of each couple to prioritize their wedding spending, it is always surprising when a couple spends copious amounts of money on things like cake, cutesy favors and limousine, only to seek a bare bones ceremony--which is the heart of the wedding day. Down the road, I think you will want to remember the words of commitment you spoke as being meaningful and poignant as opposed to how yummy your cake was or that you had an open bar at the reception. Beware the officiant who charges a ridiculously low fee, does not require a deposit or doesn't issue a contract. I can't tell you how many calls we get from panicked prides because their "professional" wedding officiant backed out of the wedding a week before. If you haven't given them money and signed a contract, then the deal is not sealed. Here's the bottom line: expect to pay a fair price for a professional service. Then, sit back and allow your officiant to show you how to create a wedding ceremony that upon which you will look back and smile about for many years to come! Wedding Officiant Fees

Papaya, the Wonderful Fruit of Southeast Asia

Papaya, the Wonderful Fruit of Southeast Asia Everyone is familiar with the name. But for most of us the mention of the fruit does not give a distinct impression in terms of taste, though it certainly conjures up an impression of the tropics. For those familiar with the fruit, they are more apt to see it as a good old standby, pleasant enough to be eaten on its own, but nothing to sing about either.

Papayas are basically of two types, though all papaya is originally from Southern Mexico. The kind most often consumed in North America and Hawaii are yellow when ripe, can be held in the hand, and have yellow flesh. In Southern and Southeast Asia, big heavy dark-skinned papayas are the norm. The flesh of these is blood red. The latter is a quintessential part of the Thai beach fruit plate. The two taste quite similar, a bit musky with honey overtones. The Asian cultivar tends to be stronger in flavor however. Both varieties are reminiscent of melons, but unfortunately lack the melons complexity and delicious nectar. Despite unremarkable culinary qualities, papaya fruit is yummy in tropical hotcakes, smoothies and shakes, and in fruit salad. It is a health dynamo as well, quickly producing nutritious fruit even in poor soil. Papaya seeds are edible and spicy, somewhat like black pepper. They have a number of medicinal properties, but are especially known for being conducive to good digestion. They are even used as a contraceptive, with medical evidence backing up their efficacy! Papaya is sometimes called paw paw, but the latter actually refers to a whole other fruit altogether. Paw paw is related to the custard apple, and the northernmost ÔtropicalÕ fruit, extending into the Ozarks. Their flavor, when ripe, is somewhat like a cross between a banana and a mango (which they resemble). They have a very short shelf life however, and ferment quickly. Papaya, the Wonderful Fruit of Southeast Asia

The Soccer Mom Diet For The Mother On The Go

The Soccer Mom Diet For The Mother On The Go Attention soccer moms! Here's a sample diet that you can use to lose those 5 or 10 extra pounds, and feel a lot healthier. Feel free to modify it based on your eating preferences and other lifestyle issues. You can also use a meal replacement or protein shake for one of the meals later in the day, but it should be a relatively clean protein, like whey or something without a ton of carbs in it.

1. Breakfast - 1/2 cup oatmeal and 4 or 5 eggwhites (one omega yolk would be fine too) 2. Apple with 1 TBSP natural Peanut butter (peanuts should be the only ingredient) 3. Lunch - Chicken breast on salad with LF dressing (I usually use 1 tbsp LF dressing mixed with lemon juice and vinegar); 1/2 avocado can be added to the salad. 4. Tuna or other lean protein with 4 rice cakes and carrot/celery sticks (a small potatoe or 1 cup brown rice could be substituted for the rice cakes) 5. Dinner - chicken/fish with veggies (brocolli, asparagus, whatever); another option is an eggwhite omlette with veggies 6. Veggies as needed; raw almonds (a couple handfuls) or 1 Tbsp peanut butter There are lots of ways to mix and match, but just try to stick to the basic elements of dieting- no sugar, minimal dairy, eat veggies whenever hungry, eat throughout the day, minimize carbs late in the day. That's a good way to start, and then you can adjust the diet and training as necessary to get results. I'd like to add that you can eat pretty much as much veggies you'd like, as the calories in veggies are generally consumed by their very own processing (they have lots of fibers). Also, encouraging the family to join you in this healthy eating will make all the difference! The Soccer Mom Diet For The Mother On The Go

Wedding Traditions in Spain and Latin America

Wedding Traditions in Spain and Latin America Women usually think big to dream her wedding. Imagine the dress, rings, the party and even the prince.

A Wedding is unique and unrepeatable. Its essence will depend on the personality of the couple, and the involvement of family and friends will also be reflected in the celebration of the link. However, there are some common issues based on traditions. The alliances of the bride and groom Gold also represents the durability of that love. Popular belief holds that a tight alliance predicts a close marriage, while loose alliances portend a short marriage and no future. It is common for partnerships to be taken to the altar by children courtship, either in a small basket or on a cushion. They take on the ring finger because, as the popular saying, there is a vein that runs from this finger directly to the heart. The procession takes the pledge They are usually brought to the altar by the procession, like the rings. The arras thirteen coins are delivered to the groom to the bride, symbolizing that the personal property to be shared at that moment. In this case, the number thirteen is a good omen for a future family income. Dress and veil of the bride The white color is used in Western culture symbolizes the virginity of Bride, Who is delivered into the arms of pure love. The veil is performed using the bride during the wedding ceremony to cover his face. After the wedding, the groom lifts the veil and kisses his wife. Although its use is falling into disuse, some brides are still taking it as it symbolizes purity. Throwing or giving away the bride's bouquet In the United States and many Latin American countries, the bride throws the branch single women at the party, who are desperately trying to catch him. The popular belief that the single brand that gets the bouquet will be the next to marry. In other countries, like Spain, it is common that the bouquet is handed to a person previously designated by the couple. Links for unmarried women In France, was born the tradition of chasing the bride to take the league as it was considered good luck. Over time, brides began throwing the league voluntarily to avoid the chasing for the party. At present, it is not used to launch leagues. The 5 inflatable's of the Bride Something blue, something new, something old, something borrowed and something used. A well known phrase, repeated over time. But what does it mean? The blue symbolizes loyalty. Symbolizes the new life that is undertaken as a whole and the desire for a happy future. The old is a symbol of continuity and the building blocks of life. It symbolizes what is left behind, but still present: family, friends. The symbol used to maintain what is important in personal life. It provided a symbol of friendship. In the past it was thought that using something from someone who was happy, he appealed to happiness. In England, the bride should carry a penny in your shoe for the happiness and fertility. Preferably, the currency must be the year of his birth. The best man In the past, the daughter was owned by his parents. Hence the tradition that is just the father to deliver it to the altar. However, today this custom symbolizes the blessing of the union by the parents. The ring and charms wedding cake Typically, the cake (or pie) wedding has in charms with ribbons, which throw the shower invitations to the party. Who take the ring will be the next to marry. There is a lots tradition, depending on the culture to which it belongs. Keeping traditions or not is entirely up to the couple. The important thing is to make every wedding a personal event. Wedding Traditions in Spain and Latin America

Kid Birthday Cakes - Easy Decorating

Kid Birthday Cakes - Easy Decorating Do you want your child's birthday cake to be special?

Of course you do But how? Cake decorating takes time and at least a little artistic talent -- unless you know a secret. The secret to your success OK, it really isn't a secret, but it is a SUPER EASY way to turn any birthday cake into a very special cake indeed. Kid birthday cakes - edible cake art Edible cake art is colorful, fun and very easy to use. And edible cake art is available for just about every theme. Edible cake art is -- well, it's edible and so easy to use, but more about how to use your cake decorating "secret" in a moment. First, let's look at where you can find edible cake art. At the end of this article you'll find a link -- Just click the link and you'll discover lots of kid birthday cakes, ideas and edible cake art. How easy is that? Once you've selected your edible decoration at an online cake supply store, your selection will be sent right to your home -- now that's convenient! Easy Decorating Now let's look at just how to use your special cake decoration. It's way easy First, you can either bake your own cake and frost it, or you can pick up a ready-made, frosted cake at your favorite bakery where they make all those yummy, colorful, fun looking cakes and cookies and oh my. Be sure and pick up the type of cake your child likes and their favorite frosting too. Now you simply place your edible cake art flat on your cake. After a while you will notice that the edge of the cake art will blend with your frosting. This makes your cake look very professional. Just add a happy birthday, and some fun candles and -- instant special birthday cake. Your birthday child is going to love their cake. Cake decorating can take time and some creative skill -- but with your new "secret" you can easily create kid birthday cakes that will have all your neighbors talking about your cakes. Have fun Kid Birthday Cakes - Easy Decorating

Employee Gift Ideas

Employee Gift Ideas Over the years, I have tried searching for something "just-right" for my individual employees. I try to get to know them, learn about their hobbies and their families. But, I'm sure that "World's Greatest Golfer" statue that I got for Bob five years ago is either in a box or in the landfill by now. Eventually, I turned to food.

I started out with fruit baskets, but those get pretty boring. I found personalized baskets with coffee or soup and mugs or bowls. Those are pretty cute. But, once I started giving cheesecakes, everyone seemed a lot happier. In fact, now they would be disappointed if I started looking for other employee gift ideas. They sort of "expect" their cheesecakes. In the beginning, I was surprised to learn about all the different luscious varieties that are available from the better companies. I thought you might find them interesting. Pumpkin Cheesecakes These are particularly popular around the holidays. They've pretty much taken the place of pumpkin pies, in my mind. You get that same kind of flavor in a light airy dessert that literally melts in your mouth. Not a fan of pumpkin? How about mangos, pecans, blueberries, chocolate or caramel? The best bakeries offer a large number of choices. Personalized Desserts "Happy Birthday, Bob!" "Happy Anniversary, Judith!" Anything that you can say on an ordinary cake can be said more scrumptiously with a cheesecake. These are great employee gift ideas and you can always include an E-card or greeting to make it even more personal. Samplers When I have new employees, I tend to stick with the samplers. That way, I can be sure that at least "one" of the choices will be appealing. Then, I try to make a note of remarks that they make about specific flavors. If he didn't like the raspberry swirl, I'll order something different next time. The first time that I ordered a cake, I got it from a bakery in town. I had to go there one day to place the order. I had to stop in again to pick it up. It was good, but I have found that ordering on-line simplifies the process. Cheesecake Delivered.com, for example, has a variety of cakes and other employee gift ideas. I have one employee that only eats "organic" food. Believe it or not, they make an organic cheesecake! Get it Delivered! Having it delivered is just the easiest and simplest option, but local bakeries charge a fortune and you can never count on a delivery date or time. There's nothing more frustrating than having the party delayed, because the dessert hasn't arrived. Employee Gift Ideas

Top Three Healthiest and Tastiest Protein Bars

Top Three Healthiest and Tastiest Protein Bars If you really need a snack and you are looking for a healthy one protein bars are a great option. There are a variety on the market today are not all that healthy. Some contain high fat, calories and are loaded with sugar. When looking for them, do not take for granted that they are all healthy and low in calories. The following are some protein bars that are on the market which are healthy and great tasting:

1. The Promax Bar-This protein bar has a high amount of sugar but is healthy. If you are on a low calorie diet it is great to have because it only has 290 calories. Its flavors include: German Chocolate Cake, Black Forest Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and a host of other flavors. This bar will definitely increase your energy and will yield a lot of minerals and vitamins. It is also ranked number 1 by a lot people who reviewed it because of its candy bar taste. 2. The Supreme Carb Conscious Protein Bars-This bar is loaded with protein and has the potential to build muscle. There are five flavors available which include: Rocky Road Brownie, Caramel Nut Chocolate, Peanut Butter Crunch, Peanut Butter Pretzel Twist, and Cookies N' Cream. This bar is great because it is low in sugar. It contains a lot of healthy ingredients although it is high in calories. This is also a very great tasting bar which will make you think you are actually eating a candy bar. 3. The Think Thin Bar-This bar is high in protein, gluten free, contains no sugar and a great protein bar to add to any diet plan. It is not easy to find a protein bar that contains no sugar and is still great tasting but this one meet the challenge. It comes in the following flavors: Whit Chocolate Chip, Brownie Crunch, Dark Chocolate, and other flavors. It also contains calcium caseinate, a protein that is slow digesting and one which will make you feel full. This bar will definitely help you in the area of weight management. I like the fact that I can get a great tasting protein bar when I want a snack and still not wreak havoc in my diet plan. They are also very beneficial if you need to rebuild muscle. The above bars are the tastiest and the best protein bars on the market. You will very seldom find a protein bar that is this healthy offer you these amazing flavors and are great tasting at the same time. Top Three Healthiest and Tastiest Protein Bars

Finding Food Savers to Fit Your Needs

Finding Food Savers to Fit Your Needs Food Savers keep meat, produce, and other grocery items fresh and tasty for much longer than other storage methods. Ordinary refrigerator or freezer bags just do not allow food to retain its quality the way FoodSavers custom fitted bags do. Whether you want to casually put away a few items or you really want to get serious about food storage, there are Food Savers just for you.

No matter what kind of Food Savers you look at be sure you consider the ones with a full sized vacuum channel. This is necessary to get the best seal on your Food Savers bags. A crush-free seal is also important so that you can keep the vacuum from squeezing the bag too much when your food items are fragile. A light, fluffy piece of birthday cake can be kept in its original form rather than be crushed to crumbs. Hands free operation makes FoodSavers convenient, especially on the models where it is done by the touch of a button. A touchpad control panel makes using Food Savers easy, especially when you are bagging heavy meats, cheeses, and vegetables. A design that conserves counter space is welcomed in any kitchen. The most versatile Food Savers are capable of sealing all the different sizes of Food Savers bags and canisters. Settings might include buttons for moist or dry foods. Roll and pen holders make it easy to make custom sized bags and mark them by date and contents. A locking latch makes it possible to keep the bag in place while the FoodSavers are sealing the contents. Because you will be taking all the air out of the Food Savers bags, you will often pull out liquids from the foods. Juices might be sucked out of the bag when you are packaging meats for example. This makes it doubly important to have an antibacterial drip tray. It works best if it can be removed for easy cleaning in the dishwasher. Food Savers offer some extra special features, such as a DVD that comes with one model, showing ways to use the kitchen appliance to its best advantage. Look for the one year warranty on Food Savers appliances. A variety of bags are available to buy for the set. Finding Food Savers for your kitchen is as easy as comparing the features of the different models. While some Food Savers are simple in design, others offer the full gamut of features and accessories. Finding Food Savers to Fit Your Needs

How to Plan the Best Graduation Party Ever

How to Plan the Best Graduation Party Ever Of course you want your son or daughter's graduation party to be the best one ever. One way to ensure your party is a success is to take advice from the experts who've done it before. Here are some tried and true ways to have an amazing party.

Choose the date wisely Remember, your son or daughter will want their friends to be able to attend their party. And since everyone is graduating on the same day, there are going to be lots of parties going on at the same time. Why not have yours the next day or even the next week? Planning your graduation party for a slightly different time and date will ensure that more people will be able to make it. Involve the graduate There's nothing worse than planning a party that you think is wonderful only to find the guest of honor is not so thrilled. To avoid any disappointment, you'll want to involve your graduate in the planning. What would they like to see included in the party? What should you stay away from? Is the theme you chose too immature for them? Did they have anything specific in mind for their theme? By asking these important questions, you'll find the planning goes smoother. Invite Early Since everyone will be graduating at the same time, get your invites out early. People will be more likely to RSVP if you give them enough notice. That way you'll have a better head count. And for any out of town relatives or friends who are coming, you'll want to give enough planning time. Send out written invitations. Don't rely on emails that could get trapped in a spam filter and never be delivered. Plan for Extras No matter how well you think you've planned, there will always be extra people who show up. So, to avoid embarrassment, always have double the amount of drink cups and ice that you think you're going to need. Plan extra cold cuts, appetizers and drinks as well. And don't underestimate on the cake. Better to go larger and freeze some or give it away for guests to take home than to run out before everyone's been served. Choose a fun theme No one wants to be sitting around bored and uncomfortable. So, choose a theme that gets everyone involved. Ask people to dress up in themed attire (beach, pajamas, etc.) well in advance so they have time to plan their costumes. Have interactive games ready that get people off their feet. Provide music that is loud enough for all to hear but not so loud that the older folks feel uncomfortable. Plan to keep the volume at a level where conversation can easily be heard over it. Think Safety If you're having a graduation from middle or high school, keep in mind that any alcohol you serve is your responsibility. To avoid underage drinking, keep the bar under the control of a close friend or relative who won't serve minors. Provide lots of mocktails (cocktails without the alcohol) so that kids can feel grown up and included. By having the bar area in a central, well-lit place, you'll avoid mishaps that can spoil even the best parties. Ensure your graduation party is one that parents will feel comfortable sending their children to. Send them off in style Provide graduation party favors for the end of the night that are fun and meaningful. The more personal you make them, the better. Keep the theme going by offering favors that are perfectly matched to your theme. Everyone loves edible gifts, so offering sweets and gourmet snacks is always a hit. Ensure you'll have extras of favors for additional guests you hadn't planned for. Put a younger sibling or cousin in charge of the handing out of the favors so it's one less thing you have to try to remember. How to Plan the Best Graduation Party Ever

Birthday Cakes

Birthday Cakes If you are planning a birthday party, it is important that you pay extra attention to the birthday cake. Next to the birthday celebrator, the cake gets the most attention. It shares the spotlight with the celebrator when singing "Happy Birthday," followed by a wish and blowing out the candles.

Themed birthday cakes are gaining popularity for the extra excitement and surprise they create. Aside from the colorful icing and little sugar flowers, a lot of other decorations can be incorporated on the cake. Depending on the creativity of the pastry chef, your birthday cake may come in a fantasy-inspired theme, complete with magical woodlands and faeries, miniature roller coasters or decked with super heroes- perfect for kids parties. It's not true that only wedding cakes have the right to be multi-tiered. Birthday cakes can be as lavish and decadent too. Birthday cakes aren't just for children. Adults have the right to make wishes too. A good treat is to have a full color photo of the celebrator printed on the icing of the cake. If the birthday celebrator is a big sports fan, you can have a cake shaped like a basketball player about to dunk or a soccer player kicking a ball. You can also have a sports car-shaped cake. Or if the celebrator is a doctor, you can have one resembling a physician complete with a lab coat and a stethoscope. Imagine the delight of everyone at that! And these cakes are not just decorous. Not only are these cakes fun to look at, many are delicious eating as well. If you want to have great, fun party, be as creative with your cake design as you want. You can be sure that people will talk about it for days. Birthday Cakes

Make Your Own Unique Birthday Cake Decorations

Make Your Own Unique Birthday Cake Decorations Let's face it, if you want to get a uniquely decorated birthday cake you will have to cough up the cash. And unless you've got a nice chunk of cash, the cake you get might not be so impressive.

So you don't have a boat load of money to spend on a birthday give; what do you do? Here's a crazy idea, why not make your own unique birthday cake decorations! If that truly does sound crazy or sounds like rocket science to you rest assured, it definitely is not! Your imagination is the limit and once you let your creativity flow the end result will be your own unique birthday cake decoration. The best part about making your own decorations is that cakes and their accessories are completely versatile so they can be literally anything you want them to be, and it can give an otherwise ordinary birthday cake an extra special personalized touch! Some of the most unique cake decoration ideas started in home kitchens, and there is no doubt that they will continue to be started in the homeliness of warm kitchens simply because ideas are endless. And of course, once you've experienced the fun in the experimenting, you'll understand why so many people get hooked on creating masterful, unique pieces of art work from their very own homes. Who knows what you can come up with if you don't at least try? People have been known to create unique birthday cakes such as vehicle cakes, animal cakes and even cakes shaped and decorated in the form of the person you're baking it for on the special occasion! What's really unique about making your own birthday cake decorations is that you really can customize the cake, to such an extent that you probably won't find in stores or anywhere else, to match a particular peculiar interest of birthday boy/girl, for instance, you friend is obsessed with roses. So why not make her birthday cake into a rose and decorate it with your unique design of petals and leaves? By making birthday cakes that are so unique and that are decorated with your own designs, what you are actually doing is giving the most invaluable gift; you are telling your loved one how much you care about them, and how glad you are that they were born! So grab some cake pans and icing bags, and start making your own unique birthday cake decorations that are sure to impress! Make Your Own Unique Birthday Cake Decorations

A Simplified Explanation of Wedding Stationery Protocols

A Simplified Explanation of Wedding Stationery Protocols Your wedding stationery announces the wedding and at the same time tells the recipients about yourself. Many guests will know the type of wedding you are having by looking at your wedding invitation alone. You may realize that aside the wording, the type of stationery you use also speaks lot about you. You must use refined paper and elegant envelopes to carry the right impression about yourself. The first impression the couple will make on their visitors is the wedding invitation and that is the reason why you should take all your time to get it done tight.

Go about you wedding stationery in a way that reflects your wedding theme. Traditional or formal weddings have their own flavors that you must keep. Everything about these weddings must reflect elegance. You need to be flamboyant minded as well. The wording of your invitations must be elegant. You will have to observe strict protocol concerning the titling, addressing and even statements that you use to invite your guests. Couples should be invited in the appropriate manner. Again, you will need to put in reply cards which are self addressed to enable your guests respond to your invitations. You will have to make give special direction to obscure locations so everyone can get there on time and comfortably. These days there are many websites that specialize in wedding stationery. You can order all types of stationery from the desktop. You will however have to select your theme and then provide the wording. The companies have sample wordings that you can use. If you are however ordering from the net, you will have to do it early. Online ordering can take some time to arrive. You would need to get your stationery delivered months ahead so you can send them out on time. For formal weddings, it is considered a standard protocol to let a calligrapher address your envelopes. It makes them look elegant, traditional and formal. A Simplified Explanation of Wedding Stationery Protocols

Hawaiian Flowers - You Can Make Leis At Home

Hawaiian Flowers - You Can Make Leis At Home Hawaiian flowers are known as some of the most vibrant and most attractive flowers on the earth. Of all the Hawaiian flowers out there, the most attractive and popular are strung onto leis, to be bestowed on special occasions.

Hawaiian leis are available in many different places. Obviously, most people know these assortments of Hawaiian flowers can be found on the Hawaiian islands. But the fact is that they can be found in many other places as well. There are many different groups and businesses that make leis that actually use Hawaiian flowers, even though the business are based somewhere else in the world. Many of these businesses have Hawaiian flowers specially shipped from Hawaii to anywhere else in the world. While this can be a very effective way to collect Hawaiian flowers, there are pitfalls as well. The biggest problem can occur when flowers are ordered, but not delivered in a timely fashion. If they are not delivered timely, there can be big problems when the leis are made because they may not be fresh. If you are interested in making leis from Hawaiian flowers, here are some guidelines. You will need Hawaiian flowers (dendrobium orchids are a popular choice, but a lot of different flowers can be used), some string, and a long lei needle (these are bought specially and are generally 3" to 4" long): Step 1: In order to make a lei from Hawaiian flowers, first hold the blossom flat in one of your hands. Insert the needle very carefully through the bottom part of the flower. Pull the needle from the bottom and through the center. Step 2: After you have completed the first step, push the blossom down onto the lei needle. This process should be repeated until you have something around five or six blossoms around the needle. You can have more or less, but about five or six is really the best amount of blossoms to start off with. Step 3: When step 2 is completed, use your free hand and wrap it around the flowers. Pull the needle first, and then pull the twine softly through each of the flowers. This process should be repeated as many times as you need to repeat it until the lei is the length that it needs to be. The process for making Hawaiian leis is fairly simple, but it does require a good bit of skill and practice to make the leis look neat and tidy without destroying the blooms. Depending on where you live, there may be classes offered that teach people how to make Hawaiian leis. Of course, the best way to learn how to make leis from Hawaiian flowers is to take a course offered by somebody who has done it. Often, vacationers to Hawaii can find classes on lei-making. If you cannot find a class to take, there are illustrated books also available to help those who want to learn about the lei-making process. When making leis with Hawaiian flowers, many people begin to gain a greater appreciation for the beauty of these flowers. Hawaiian Flowers - You Can Make Leis At Home

Planning an Elegant Buffet - How I Catered My Daughter's Wedding From Three States Away

Planning an Elegant Buffet - How I Catered My Daughter's Wedding From Three States Away "How does this happen?" you ask. The secret is organization - such as the pros do it - planning every last detail. I will tell you here how you can do it too.

Here's how it started: a few years ago we were planning a wedding for our eldest daughter, a second marriage for her. She chose to be married in Long Island where my sister and her husband have a lovely waterfront property on a point of land. What could be prettier than a wedding ceremony on a Sunday afternoon in July with the Great South Bay sparkling in the background? So, among other preparations, we set about finding a caterer. The guest list was around forty, a manageable group. It's important to note here that I consider myself a foodie. I never want to ingest a solitary calorie that is not up to my standards. The menus from local caterers and restaurants were sorry in my estimation and pricey for what it was. I quickly concluded that I could do just as well if not better. Now this was possibly a stretch, since I live three states away in Massachusetts, but I am not one to shrink from a challenge. I enjoy cooking, and just as important, other people enjoy my cooking, and I am not beyond working hard. My idea of what I wanted to serve was an elegant meal appropriate for a summer afternoon. To me that meant beautiful fresh food, elegantly presented and served cold or at room temperature. This would be a buffet. I knew I could figure it out. Figure it out. That is exactly what it's about. Start with a nice clean legal pad and a couple of sharp pencils. The first step is to fashion a menu: four categories, one page each. First, appetizers to be served with drinks. Second, the main course and the third, dessert which will most certainly be a wedding cake and perhaps other goodies as well. The fourth page is drinks. You do not have to be a wonderful cook. Let me repeat that: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A WONDERFUL COOK. You will come up with one dish that you do well, and keep the rest very simple. Let us here recall the KISS rule. Keep It Simple, Stupid. What makes simply served foods work is the PRESENTATION, that is the way it's served. For example, sliced tomatoes carefully arranged on a pretty platter with a few sprigs of parsley is attractive and a worthy dish on an elegant table. But let's get back to that list. Hors d'oeuvres, starters, appetizers, whatever you wish to call them is what people will munch cocktail party style with drinks or champagne, perhaps just after the ceremony. For my summer party, I kept things light - not the kind of food you might expect at a Super Bowl party. Think shrimp. Tiny grape tomatoes in a bowl. An artichoke dip with nice quality crackers. Do a cheese platter with 2 or 3 cheeses with some beautiful grapes or cut up fruit. Remember that cheese tastes best at room temperature - most cheeses are tasteless when cold. (A good thing in this instance.) Use your imagination, but lacking inspiration, consider searching your cook books or the internet. Write down all the appetizer dishes you like and sort out later. Consider buying a few prepared dishes. You will then rewrite a clean new list with your final choices. Just remember, you want to spend a minimum of time and effort the day of the wedding, so your dishes must be carefully chosen. Next, the main course. I wanted to have some beautifully done simple meats. I chose sliced cold turkey breast and a big side of poached salmon. (At the end of this article I will include my recipes and methods of preparation.) The turkey and salmon were served on big beautiful platters. The turkey was surrounded with grapes and alongside I served in a nice little dish, a wonderful sauce which my friends could not identify. It was Ken's Raspberry Pecan fat free salad dressing. Perfect. The salmon was served with lemon wedges & dill artfully placed around the fish. Simple? Absolutely. But that wasn't enough. For my centerpiece I created a large, pasta dish which was served room temperature and prepared just before the wedding party began. It went into a not so big punch bowl and just got better as it waited the hour or two before it was served. I suggest covering and hiding this beautiful dish lest your family pick away at the top. All of the parts to the pasta dish were prepared days before and assembled with the freshly cooked pasta. Additionally, I served some salads and a platter of sliced tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella cheese, drizzled with olive oil, and decorated with gorgeous fresh basil leaves. Fancy baskets with cloth napkins were filled with fresh breads. Back to your list. On you main course page, list several candidates. You could choose any dish you make well, or perhaps confer with someone with more cooking and entertaining experience. Or, ask a friend or relative for a recipe he or she makes well and practice making it - or even better, get them to make it for you! Alternately you could purchase your keynote dish from a restaurant. It will cost more than it would if you make it yourself, but possibly worth the expense if this is a source of stress for you. If you decide to cook the entree yourself, consider carefully and eliminate from the list those that will not work well. Choose a dish that benefits form advance preparation and will be the least work at the last minute. Next, the third page is the wedding cake. Be sure to order it well in advance from a bakery you trust. If you wish you can also serve chocolate covered strawberries, sliced pineapple, mangoes or whatever else is available or traditional for your family. Page four. Coffee? You'll need to round up a good sized coffee pot, creamers, sugar and packets of Splenda. You also need to consider what wine, cocktails, beer, sodas and non alcoholic drinks you plan to serve. How about after dinner drinks? Since you are going to be quite involved with the food, assigning the matter of the drinks to someone else is a stellar idea. Lacking a trustworthy friend or family member, you will have to assume this as well. I am fortunate in having a husband who has had years of training (our previous parties) so I was able to confidently leave this to him. Let's get back to that list. You have now decided what exactly you are going to serve. Here is where you will work like a pro and take the stress out of this major effort. You should now have four lists - appetizers, main course, desserts, drinks. These are your master lists that you will refer to even up until the day of the party. The next step is to make a copy of every recipe you will be using - don't count on your book - have a separate copy. Everything. This ensures you will forget nothing at the last moment. Once you are settled on what you will serve, the next list is your shopping list. This is a separate piece of paper. Or three. Go over the ingredients for each dish from the recipe pages and make a shopping list. If you will be going to more than one store - I went to Costco and a super market - have a separate list for each store. Check your pantry for the things you think you have on hand and be sure they are fresh and you have enough. If a trip to the liquor store is necessary, this is a separate list. Let's think about the serving platters you will use. On each recipe page - I like to put this info in the upper right corner, write down the particular serving platter or plate you will use and the utensils you will need (fork, spoon, perhaps both, tongs, etc.) On a clean piece of paper start another list for serving platters. If you don't already own all of the plates or platters you will need, you could borrow, rent, or go out to Target, TJ Maxx, Home Goods or wherever you know you can get a good looking plate or two without breaking the bank. For me, this list was essential the day of the party, and equally necessary when I was loading platters, layered between towels, into my trunk when I was getting ready to drive to New York! So now you know what you will serve, what you need to buy in the way of groceries, and what exactly you will be using underneath all this food. A time line is next - working backward from the day of the wedding. You must first assess what your preparation will entail for each dish. You will not, for example slice your tomatoes until the last moment, but you will chop any onions you will be using well in advance and have stored in a zip-lock. Remember where I said the pasta dish was assembled just before the party -once the pasta was cooked? Having all components ready to use is called MISE EN PLACE. This is a French term that, when it refers to food preparation, means that everything is readied in advance and ready to use - just the way things are done in restaurants. . Mise en place is a key step is making this entire effort less stressful. So you need to go through your recipes and determine what you can do a day or two in advance, what can be done a few hours before, and what has to be tended to last minute. Say your party is on Saturday. Your Thursday list might include chopping onions and garlic and packing each into airtight plastic bags. You might unwrap your cheeses and rewrap, again in an airtight manor such as tight saran to avoid the commercial packaging hassle when you're down to the last few minutes before your guests arrive. That cheese, by the way, should reappear on your 'few hours before' list to be taken out of the refrigerator to come to room temperature. As tedious as this extensive list making may seem, the work you do now is your insurance that panic will not set in later AND it will make it much easier for anyone helping you! Plan how you will arrange your platters on the serving table. Do you know what table you will be using? Perhaps you should think about renting a table. You may need to rent several dining tables and chairs. Also think about table cloths and linens. If you don't want to use paper, elegant dishes can be rented and you can return them dirty. Recently I had a formal party for 20, and rented the items mentioned above for 0. Everything was beautiful - they picked up, delivered, set the tables up and then picked up the next day all in the price. Will you be transporting your food from your home to another location? Here's how to make that more efficient. Have a separate box for each dish with the prepared components, recipe page and any last minute notes and special kitchen tools packed into each box. Boxes from the liquor store are ideal because they are abundant, smallish and very strong. You can also add cold packs to each box near those foods that are perishable as I did when I was transporting my wedding party food to New York. Lastly, if this is a large group you will need help. The best of all worlds is to hire someone to help you starting an hour or so before the party and throughout to clear tables and wash dishes. This will insure your guests feeling comfortable about not having to be in your kitchen helping, and you will enjoy the party. You can check in from time to time. The person you hire need not be a catering pro. You could hire at or per hour a mature high school girl with common sense who knows her way around a kitchen Do what you can afford. If hiring someone is out of the question, you will have to rely on a family member or two to help out. Planning an Elegant Buffet - How I Catered My Daughter's Wedding From Three States Away

Microwaved Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob can be a quick and easy dinner vegetable using your microwave. Microwaving, like steaming, yields a healthy, low fat vegetable with excellent flavor and corn on the cob can be cooked this way quite successfully.

If you are using fresh corn on the cob, cook the corn directly in the husk. Peel back the husks, but do not remove. Remove the silks from the corn, spread with butter, salt and pepper as desired, then pull the husks back into place. Secure with rubber bands if needed. Microwave for 2 - 3 minutes per ear, depending on the size of the ears. For 4 ears, 8 to 10 minutes should be sufficient. For more than 4 ears, microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per ear. Half way through the cooking time you should rotate the ears for even cooking. After microwaving, wrap the corn, still in its husks, in a towel to keep it warm and let it stand for 3 to 5 minutes. Corn will keep warm for up to 15 minutes if kept wrapped. For fresh or frozen corn that has been husked already, either place the ears in a plastic bag, or wrap each ear separately with wax paper or plastic wrap. If desired, you can butter and salt each ear individually before cooking. Rub each ear with softened butter and sprinkle with salt before wrapping. Microwave as directed above and wrap again in a towel for at least 3 to 5 minutes. Frozen ears may require more cooking time, check the label on your package. Variations: Make a herb butter with a mixture of any of the following herbs, along with the juice of a lime mixed into 1 stick of softened butter. Use any mixture of chives, parsley, basil, sage, tarragon, and minced garlic. Spread a pat onto each ear before wrapping.

Imaginative Play Games, Scenarios, Ideas - Benefits of Pretend Play for Child's Development

The importance of Imaginative play in child's development cannot be stressed enough. In our modern overly technological society a child's imagination is often paralyzed with fast-moving pictures of a television set or brightly colored 3-D worlds of computer games. Often, parents concentrate on getting their preschoolers school-ready by paying a lot of attention to learning the alphabet and numbers but forgetting how important it is to nurture their child's imagination. A number of psychological studies have shown that pretend play prepares children for life in the real world because during play children learn important life skills like taking turns, sharing responsibility, empathy and many others. So let's see what games we can come up with to foster our children's imagination.

House/Cave/Camping Tent To set up this game you will need two chairs, one big blanket and a flashlight. You can also use a table instead of the chairs. If you are in a "Cave" or a "Tent" gather some food supplies and water and prepare for an adventure. Turn off all the lights in the room and leave the flashlight on, search the dark room with the flashlight, can you see any wild animals lurking in the woods? What can you hear? Can you hear the birds and that waterfall nearby? You can even make a pretend fire and toast some real marshmallows over it, yum!! If you are in a "House" you can invite some friends over (furry animals, dolls), put some pillows and blankets on the floor and have a slumber party! Car Cut out the wheel from a cardboard box or use anything round you might find around the house. You can sit on a chair (wind the windows down, take down the roof - it's a convertible after all!) or "drive" around on foot. You can even have a race! Ask mum if she wants a ride! Family This game is wonderful as it allows the child to swap places with the parent and become mummy or daddy for a short while. You can play it with a doll or mum and dad can play the role of the child for a change. Notice how your child behaves during this game, it will be fascinating to hear what they say and see what they do, how they discipline or reward you - it will be like looking at yourself in the mirror because they, of course, will be mimicking what you do and how you behave on a daily basis. Great for building self-esteem and awareness of self and others. Boat/Ship Anything in the house can become a boat or a ship with a little bit of imagination. You can turn two chairs pushed together, a couch or even a bed into a boat or a ship. Get all the passengers on board (do they all have their tickets?) and don't forget your supplies. Take some fishing rods and a bucket with you so you can do some fishing (make fishing rods out of thin tree branches and some rope or wool thread). If you want something different on your next trip, a boat can become a train or even an airplane. Doctor's Office Those toy doctor's kits are excellent for pretend play but even if you don't have one you can collect some household objects to play this game. For example, a pen and pad to write out prescriptions, a plastic syringe to administer medicine or even give those ouchy shots, a small jar of jelly beans in case a patient has a headache or a belly ache and needs a pill, stretchy bandages to tape those serious wounds and band-aids for small cuts. In the absence of a toy stethoscope you can make one out of a simple empty toilet roll by cutting one open, rolling it into a thinner tube and gluing it back together - you can use it as a stethoscope or to check out the ears and the throat. Shopping You will need a shopping bag, a wallet with some coins in it, groceries, like a bag of pasta shapes, some apples and bananas, a can of peas and a box of cookies and a cash register made out of a shoe box or any other useful box you can find around the house. Take turns being a shopkeeper and a shopper. If you want your child to learn some math and counting along the way, you can make some pretend paper money out of paper, make sure the numbers on your pretend paper bills are large and clear. Make price labels on all the groceries in the shop and try to pay correct money for everything and give the right change. Make a shopping list so you can check things off the list when you put them in your shopping bag. Cooking For this fun and exciting game you will need pots, pans and other cooking utensils. Other things that might help are grains like rice, lentils or dry beans, pasta shapes and even cereal like cheerios. Put the ingredients into the pot, add salt and pepper, stir. When the meal is ready, get some plates out and invite friends for dinner. Helping mum or dad with real cooking is also lots of fun, like beating the eggs for an omelette or tearing up lettuce for a salad. Dress-up Lots of old clothes is, of course, what's needed for this game - anything from skirts and shoes to hats and bags. But the best way to play is to pick a theme and dress accordingly. "Kings and Queens" is a fun theme to dress up for but you will need to make your own crowns and capes. The best thing about this game is that you can use as much dress jewellery as you have lying around the house. Birthday Party A pretend Birthday cake and party food can be made from play-doh and you can even use real candles with it. Invite all the stuffed furry animals and all the dolls that live at your house to your party, perhaps even some real friends can come if they are visiting at the time. To make the party more fun you can have a disco afterwards - turn some music on and dance together. In the park The park provides so many opportunities to play creatively and imaginatively. Use anything you might find - sticks, stones, dry leaves. You can make little houses out of everything you find, you can even play the shopping or the cooking game - sticks, dry leaves, grass and little flowers make perfect ingredients for a yummy soup. There are as many of these games as there are objects around you and situations you encounter every day. Eventually, when your child knows that you are free and open to pretend and be anything they like they will suggest their own ideas, like pretending to be butterflies or horses, for example. Don't be shy, spread your wings and fly, stretch your legs and gallop away!

Why Hydrogenated Oils Are Bad For You

Warning: Do not eat foods that contain partially hydrogenated and hydrogenated fats. These fats are found in all kinds of packaged and junk food. Food manufacturers really don't care about your health when they add hydrogenated oils to their foods.

Good clean vegetable oils are hydrogenated to create shortenings and margarines. Vegetable oils are partially hydrogenated so they can be added to many foods since they become a source of cheap fat and increase the shelf life of the food product. What do hydrogenated oils do? When healthy oils are processed through bubbling hydrogen at temperatures up to 210 C, un-natural fatty acids are created that are called trans-fatty acids. Your body is unable to use this un-natural fatty acids so the liver see them as toxic waste and proceeds to detoxify and eliminate them. Trans-fatty acids are one of the most toxic wastes that can be inside your body. Trans fatty acids, also, can block your body's use of the essential fatty acids. Hydrogenated oils also have all of their nutrients removed during their processing. This forces removal of vitamins and minerals from your body to help digest the stripped hydrogenated oil. In his book called, Eat Fat Look Thin - A Safe and Natural Way to Lose Weight Permanently, 2002, Bruce Fife, N.D., talks about the dangers of hydrogenated oils, "Trans fatty acids affect more than just our cardiovascular health. According to a study reported by Mary Enig, Ph.D., when monkeys were fed trans fat containing margarine in their diets,...their red blood cells did not bind insulin as well as when they were not fed trans. This suggests a link with diabetes. Trans fatty acids have been linked with a variety of adverse health effects which include: cancer, ischemic heart disease, multiple sclerosis diverticulitis, diabetes, and other degenerative conditions." Hydrogenated oils are use by a food processor because they are cheap fats, which increase the size and shelf life of their product. This is where you find hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, * 40% of all foods in a grocery store * 95% of all cookies * 75% of chips and crackers * 70% of all cold cereals and cake mixes * 80% of all frozen breakfast foods * in most microwave popcorn * in many salted peanuts and other nuts * in most candies * most restaurants that fry foods including donut shops shortenings * and the list goes on and on Buy less of these foods and give yourself better health and force the food manufacturers to use less hydrogenated oils in their food products.

Wedding Ceremony Script

Wedding occasion is one of most significant days in every human's life. There are different denominations of people. Everyone celebrates weddings according to their customs. The wedding to be conducted is first authorized by the elder priests of the church. The acceptance will be then conveyed to the parents or the guardian. Then the venue, date and time is fixed. On the day of the wedding, the script is the heart of the wedding ceremony. Wedding ceremony scripts are unique and customized. Wedding scripts are lengthy and wedding ceremony scripts are given to the bride and the groom and they will have rehearsals too.

On the day of wedding, amidst the friends and relatives the bride stays at the entrance of the church waiting for the ceremony to start. The groom will stay inside the church near the altar where the ceremony is to be held. The wedding ceremony starts with entrance and processional music followed by the introduction of the priest. Then scripture readings are done by the priest. Congregation, priests and wedding couple sing matrimonial hymns and songs. The wedding ceremony script includes the priest asking for acceptance of the congregation whether the couples can marry. When acceptance by the congregation is given, the couple is asked for the same. Then the priest precedes the ceremony by asking," Will you have this man/woman? The couple should answer, yes. This is followed by exchanging rings and the priest blesses the couple. Wedding vows are given by the couple in front of the priest. The script begins as, "I"(the name spelled) promise to be with my husband/ wife at all circumstances of happiness or sorrow etc,. The priest says," This couple is united before the eyes of God and no man shall divide them". Let them be husband and wife. The special message is delivered to the couple and the congregation by the priest. Offerings and gifts are given to the church by the newly wed couple. Then the priest introduces the couple to the church and everyone sings the closing hymn followed by the blessing of the priest to the gathering. This is followed by the cake cutting ceremony, reception and dinner. The wedding ceremony script is what the people remember. The vows taken are another attraction. It is to make their wedding unique that so much attention and care goes into writing the wedding ceremony script. So, if you are planning to get married soon, get your wedding ceremony script ready before the tension gets to you.

How To Throw The Best Italian Dinner Party Ever

You walk into an Italian Restaurant - the whole experience is just wonderful - the smells, the atmosphere and hopefully when your order is delivered - the food. The background noise is all a part of the experience - it's often at a higher frequency than most restaurants but it's all part of the fun.

Why not take this same experience back to your own home and create a more intimate and less busy Italian dinner party? A dinner where people can enjoy a more leisurely dining experience within the comfort of your own home. A night where you can share your favorite Italian recipes with people who are important to you - or maybe even try out some new recipes? Italian food never seems to lose its popularity. There's often a feeling of comfort and contentment attached to Italian food and the flavors are simply sensational. So, just how do you host a great Italian dinner party then? 1. Planning - In your planning, consider who you will invite and check the foods that they don't like or can't tolerate and set the date and time well in advance. 2. Invitations - Will you just invite your friends by sending them an email or can you do something a bit more creative with your invitation? You could attach a note to something very Italian. I saw a suggestion of sending the invitation attached to a small packet of biscotti or you could incorporate the colors of the Italian flag as the background (three vertical columns - green on the left, white in the middle and red on the left) on your invite. 3. Atmosphere - Do you want red and white checkered table cloths with chianti bottles as candle holders with wax dripping down the sides - just to give it that really authentic look? Or a plain white, red or green table cloth? Try to get hold of some background Italian music like some opera for example. Some of Italy's best singers generally have included Enrico Caruso, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Mina and Claudio Villa. 4. Food - since Italians are renowned for taking great pleasure in their food, wine and the company of their friends dinners can often go on for hours. Italians see meals as a time to spend with family and friends instead of to gain immediate sustenance. The number of courses served can range from three to six courses (called portate) or sometimes more courses! You'll no doubt have some lovely smells permeating into the house before your guests arrive - you could also slowly bake some garlic bread in the oven so the smell is wafting through the house as your guests arrive. This will really let your guests know they've come to the right place! You could start with antipasto which literally means "before the meal". This is also the traditional first course of a formal Italian meal. Rather than hors devours offered on trays that guests enjoy before they are seated at the dinner table, antipasto is served at the table and signifies the beginning of your Italian meal together. An antipasto plate is usually placed at the center of the table. The antipasto dish doesn't even getting numbered as one of the courses.. it's just a given. Diners are given small plates on which to place their choices. Traditional choices can include cured meats (prosciuito, mortadella, smoked ham and salami), marinated vegetables, olives, peperoni (marinated small peppers - not the meat called peperoni) along with an assortment of cheeses (like provolone, bocconicini and mozzarella). The first course primo piatto (also referred to as simply primo) or minestra may consist of soup (minestroni perhaps?), pasta, gnocci, risotto or polenta - this should only be a small portion like a cup or so. This is a dish rich in carbohydrates. The second or main course is called secondo piatto or piatto di mezzo which usually consists or fish or meat. Traditionally veal, pork and chicken are the most commonly used meat, at least in the North. The side dish is called contorno and may consist of a salad or cooked vegetables. A traditional menu features salad along with the main course. The first dessert which consists of cheese and fruit is called Formaggio and frutta - the cheese and fruit is usually served together. Then it's onto Dolce - dessert such as cakes or cookies. You should also serve coffee/espresso known as Caffè. Finally, Digestivo or "digestives" which are liquors/liqueurs like grappa, amaro or limoncello - sometimes referred to as "coffee killer" or ammazzacaffe. All these dishes sound great and I imagine when people see the number of courses it may seem a bit daunting but you only need serve as many courses as you choose. I have discovered a great website hosting 3000 free recipes from around the world. Under Italian, I noticed they offered 217 recipes so I'm sure you can find all you need there.

Las Vegas Party Theme Ideas

Bring the fun and excitement of Las Vegas, baby, to your home and friends by hosting a As Vegas-themed party! Throw on your boas and top hats to host in Vegas style!

Activity Ideas *Give each guest poker chips, play money, and dice when they arrive. *Rolling dice games are easy, and you can set your own rules such as rolling odds, a specific number, or pairs *Blackjack & 21 are easy, popular games *Have friends dressed in black & white serve as dealers Decorations *Hanging fuzzy dice and lots of black and red balloons. *Line the area with casino themed posters and art *Use as many mirrors in your party room as you have *Dim the lights, and add the flash with blinking white Christmas lights *Use poster board to create large playing cards and dice *Spray paint gold statues (second hand store items) *Playing card piñatas *Hang large playing cards suit cutouts on the walls. Invitations Purchase decks of cards and place an invitation inside. The decks can be mailed or hand-delivered to each recipient. Food/Drink *Use a buffet to reflect Vegas style *Have different stations throughout the room with finger foods and snacks. *The best drinks include popular mixed drinks and beer. *Be sure to have soda on hand for the non-alcoholic set as well as water for all. Music Wayne Newton, Frank Sinatra, or Neil Diamond music is a must! Have a high-rollin' affair!

Wedding Figurines

At your wedding you want to make sure that absolutely everything is perfect, right from the ceremony to the reception. The perfect way to show off your style, personality, and careful planning is by having amazing decorations and themes that your guests can take in and appreciate the entire night. Adding small details can make everything pop and come together and it gives your guests something new to discover during the night every time they look around and admire your decorative prowess.

Small wedding figurines are adorable and can really come in lots of different styles to fit your theme, personality, and cultural traditions. Your wedding should be the ultimate reflection of the bond between you and your new spouse, so try picking some of these great examples of wedding figurines that you can find online and have delivered right to your door. These figurines can be placed on top of your desserts, as centerpieces, wedding favors, or any other creative place you can think to put these great additions to your wedding celebration. Comical Bride Dragging Groom: This really shows off some female dominance as the bride drags the groom off to who knows where. If you know that you're the domineering one and joke about it all the time, try using this as a decoration to show everyone who really "wears the pants" in the relationship. Although it will keep your guests chortling, it will also stun them with its shining delicacy. The beauty of this figurine comes from the fact that it is painted with a shiny veneer over a porcelain base to make it not only a comical but also an elegant addition to your décor. Wedding Getaway Car: Your guests will fawn over this adorable little figurine that is crafted in a unique whimsical clay-like manner. The cute bride and groom are sitting in a classic style silver resin car that sports the phrase "just married" on the hood and trailing balloons and cans and the like to represent a wonderful wedding celebration. You can certainly use this in your wedding if you're personality is cute and childlike, which is something that is perfectly represented in this wonderful figurine. Uniquely Romantic Wedding Couple Figurine: This figurine is truly beautiful and elegant and it features a bride with a wonderful rose encrusted dress being held by her new husband. This all white porcelain adds so much delicacy into any decorative theme and will really make your guests stare in awe at its grandeur. Standing at 5" tall, this unique figurine is an adaptable piece of art that you can use in whatever way you choose to.

Brother of the Groom Wedding Speech

The brother of the wedding groom wedding speech should be written with sincerity, as it most likely to shed light on the character of the groom more than any other speech delivered on the wedding day. As a brother, the writer is more likely to know some hilarious moments about the groom which if incorporated in the short wedding speech would provide an entertaining break for the wedding party.

The brother of the groom wedding speech should also consider the different aspects of the audience. Such are like age and familiarity. The first part of written short wedding speech should tell about the two brothers' experiences in life and qualities that they shared. At this point in the brother of the groom wedding speech, tasteful jokes and anecdotes can be included to set the mood for the rest of the speech. The brother can tell of how life would change after the wedding. The entire short wedding speech should be written in a colorful manner that should not embarrass the groom.

Should the writer know some details of how the brother met his bride, he can give some details on that. The brother of the groom wedding speech also gives him the chance to make fun of the grooms' behavior during the dating period. He can for example tell in a lighthearted manner of how time spent between them had dramatically reduced. To capture the audience' attention the speech can reminisce on old times shared between the two brothers. The writer can also use the brother of the groom wedding speech to give insight in to marriage- if he is married- or portray his hopes of getting married in future if he is still single. At this point, a reference to the wedding vows can be made.

Ideally, the brother of the groom wedding speech should be part of the short wedding speeches that are use by the grooms' family for welcome the bride to the new family setting. The writer can also express his love for the groom by using simple love quotes incorporated in to the speech. In order to deliver a good brother of the groom wedding speech, one should prepare and practice well in advance. If possible, read the short wedding speech loud to family members who can give their opinions.

Finally the brother of the groom wedding speech should be thoughtful, considerate and a reflection of the brotherly love that exists between the groom and the writer. The brother of the groom wedding speech can be something like, "As all of you can see, I am one lucky guy. TT has finally wed and he will no longer overtake my weekend shopping. I hope he will not give his wife as much problems as he did me. Guys, I could not even have a nice meal without him popping in. On the other hand, I miss his sports shoes, which I used to borrow too often. TT you can still change your mind and give them to me. I am glad that you have finally wed; I was so worried that you would drop dead from chasing the beautiful girl standing next to you today."

Christmas Gift Ideas For Parents

Finding those perfect Christmas gift ideas can be challenging. You want the gift to say I am thinking of you, I know what you like (this is not a generic re-gift) and you want the gift to impress, if only just a little bit. Yet, when it comes to buying gifts for our parents, it can be challenging.

Most parents seem to have everything they want. Most parents also have enough money to buy what they want. Where does that leave us in the shopping department? Sometimes, it leaves us at a lost. But if we really think about those gifts before we go shopping, we can come up with some really interesting presents that parents are sure to love. Here are a few examples to get you started. Hobbies: Does mom like to sew? Does dad like to fish or hunt? You may think they have all the tools for their favorite hobbies. But think, again. New equipment and new stuff are always coming onto the market. Buy dad that new lure and reel? Buy mom some new patterns or even a newer, fancier sewing machine with all the extras. Do not settle on buying more of the hobby products you know they all ready have. Food and other treats: Parents are like everyone else, they love to eat and they have their favorite treats. Why not check out the many gift baskets available both in stores and online (that can be delivered right to your door or your parents' door)? You can buy these food gift baskets that contain many fine luxury items such as: dark chocolates, fine wines, gourmet cheeses and crackers. Plus, you add tempting breads, nuts, muffins, cookies and cakes to those baskets. Be sure the basket itself is nice. Mom may want to reuse it for decorating or storage purchases. Useful services: Does dad hate to mow? Is mom tired of washing those windows? You could hire a service to come in and do those chores for mom and dad. They can be assigned to come as often as you can afford or as often as mom and dad prefers. Imagine the burden it will lift off all their shoulders to see the work being done, without them having to do it? Mini-vacations or trips to the day spa: Would dad enjoy a mini vacation, near a golf course? Would mom like a mini vacation in a day spa? With a little bit of searching, you are sure to find both entertaining and relaxing treats for both of them. Imagine their pleasure of getting away and doing something that makes them happy. Do not worry about not having anything to wrap in a pretty box. You can always wrap the reservation tickets. Remember when it comes to buying Christmas gifts for your parents, actually think about your parents and what they would like, not what they need or what is expected. If you do that, then the ideas should start flowing.

A Couple Christening Party Games for Everyone

The Christening is an important event for the parents of a baby, though the child probably won't remember it, but you'll certainly remember whether or not you had any good Christening party games after the event. You'll probably have a few kids and adults and some older people at the party so you'll want a mixture of christening party games to choose from.

Push Along: This is a fun Christening party game any guests can really get into, well everyone who is still limber enough to play. You can certainly encourage those not playing to cheer and root for their favorite Christening party game player. Those in the race must pretend to be babies and push a ping pong ball to the finish line with their nose. Be sure to get enough ping pong balls for the Christening party games because everyone in the race will need to have one. Also set up a start line and a finish line with masking tape, string or a chalk line. It's tough to stay on a straight course when playing push along so make sure you separate the players enough that they don't run into each other. Feeding Time: This is a laugh riot to have at your Christening party games, but it may be more suitable for a Christening where a lot of adults are present. The women at the party will sit in chairs on the opposite side of the Christening party area. Give each woman a baby bottle filled with something to drink (you can use milk) and each woman should also have a bib she's going to put on her 'baby'. Set the same number of men at the starting line of the Christening party games area. When the race begins, the men will run to the women and one man will get into each woman's lap. The women should tie the bib on their 'baby' and then feed him from the bottle. The men can't touch the bottles with their hands. When a team has finished their bottle, the woman removes the bib and they both run back to the starting line. The first pair to complete the Christening party game task is the winners. When you get the guests at the Christening party games together it will be loads of fun for all. Take lots of pictures, especially during the second game because it's a riot!

Birthday Gift Ideas for Your Boyfriend

Whether you and your boyfriend have been dating for three months or three years, he deserves to have a wonderful present from you whenever he celebrates his birthday.

Well-thought out gifts are always a great way to show your affection and love for your boyfriend. Some men may not be as open emotionally as women, but your boyfriend surely could not resist giving you a kiss or a hug in exchange of all the time and effort that you put into finding the perfect birthday present for him. Here are some great and romantic gift ideas to give the most special man in your life on his birthday: 1. Something romantic. A birthday present does not always have to be something expensive. Be creative in thinking of a romantic birthday gift for your boyfriend. If he has always given you flowers before, why don't you return the favor by giving him a dozen red roses? It will make him remember you as the only girl who ever gave him roses for his birthday. A little effort would go a long way, too. Cook him his favorite dish and invite him over for a romantic picnic or dinner. Bake him a birthday cake, invite his friends over and surprise him with a birthday party. Shower him with love notes, or make his entire day special by giving him a different gift in the morning, noon and at night. Be creative in thinking of something fun, romantic and special to give him a birthday that he is not likely to forget. 2. Something that he wants. If your special someone is into gadgets, give him that game gadget or music player that he is always talking about. If he is a car enthusiast, get him a great car accessory. Or, rent a sports vehicle or his dream car for him to drive on his birthday. Go out and spend a day indulging in the sport that he just loves. 3. Something naughty. Glow-in-the-dark boxer shorts are a sure-fire way to tickle his fancy. An intimate yet funny gift will remind him of the intimate moments that you shared together as a couple. 4. Something nice and traditional. A gift basket with all the things that he likes on one delightful package also makes for a great birthday present for your boyfriend's birthday. A basket full of chocolates or wine is a wonderful birthday present. If he is an executive, get him an expensive tie, cute cuff links or a nice wristwatch. Give him a set of his favorite cologne, perfume and aftershave. If he loves sailing, get him an antique compass that he can use. 5. Something that says "I love you." You can literally give him an item with the message of how you feel. Give him a keychain for his car and house keys with an engraved message. Even small items like this would make your boyfriend feel special. Remember that it is not always the cost that counts when giving out presents for your boyfriend on his birthday. A well-thought out gift that would remind your boyfriend of how special he is to you will send out the right message on his birthday.

Pet Friendly Hotels With Over-The-Top Pet Pampering

As pet lovers, we know it's just not a vacation if we don't bring our family's four-legged member! Vacations are about enjoying time together, relaxing, and de-stressing. Selecting the right hotel or accommodation that allows pets will make or break your vacation with your dog or cat. Not all pet friendly hotels and accommodations are created equal. Did you know that many accommodations offer our pets the same amenities that we get? Hotels know how important our dogs and cats are to us, so they are offering an array of different pet services and amenities to make our furry ones feel right at home when they travel. With more and more pet parents refusing to travel without their pets, it only makes sense for hotels and other accommodations to start catering to the whole family.

Pet Welcome Packs & Stocked Rooms Don't you just love it when you get to your room and there is a nice packet of goodies waiting for you? Maybe with some snacks, bottled water, nice toiletries, and some information on area activities? Well your dog or cat can also get a nice welcome package depending on where you're staying. If you're at a Loews Hotel, each pet that stays gets a personal note from the hotel GM with a full list of different activities and services just for your pet. Oftentimes, pet friendly hotels will have food and water dishes, toys, scratching posts and treats like chicken, salmon, or tuna (among many other delicious items). If you peek into a mini bar, you might find some delicious cookies or biscuits for Fido. It's also not unheard of for rooms to be equipped with dog and cat beds, complete with pet turn down service and treats each night that they can enjoy while you eat the chocolate left on YOUR pillow. At Boston's Nine Zero Hotel, their doggie guests are given ID tags and a special room service menu. If you're staying at New York City's W hotels, you can also arrange for pet birthday cakes if you happen to be staying there during that special occasion. Spa Services for Dogs and Cats Yes, you can schedule a relaxing massage or pawdicure for your pet at the Epic Hotel in Miami. In addition to the VIP (Very Important Pet) amenity delivered to your room upon arrival, your pampered pet can get a bubble bath, nail trim, and massage! If you're at the Casa Laguna Inn & Spa in Laguna Beach, you can schedule a massage for both you and your pet. The masseuse and pet massage therapist will come right to your guest suite - the lap of luxury! Pet Psychics & Events Did you ever want to learn about your pets' past lives? Well, as part of Affinia Hotels' Jet Set Pets Program, your pet can have a reading from a pet psychic. Not only can you learn if your dog was a cat in a past life, but you can find out what your pet is thinking, as well as communicate with a pet that has passed over. When you're in Alexandria, Virginia at Hotel Monaco, get ready for Doggie Happy Hour where it's all about the pooches. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 8 PM, from April through October, Hotel Monaco goes to the dogs! Complimentary doggie treats are served along with unlimited fresh water keeping the pooches happy, while adult human cocktails and pub fare ensure a fun gathering for all. Some Kimpton Hotels host pet costume parties where you can dress up your pets and get together for some fun so everyone can get to know each other. Many pet friendly hotels host meet-and-greets and cocktail parties where humans and pets alike can socialize. Other Pet Friendly Services Ever receive a questionnaire from a hotel prior to your stay so that you can tell them exactly what kind of services you're looking for? The Peninsula Beverly Hills does just that and even sends pet preference surveys! It gives the hotel a chance to know what your dog or cat might be interested in doing and which services she will want to partake in. Many properties offer pet sitting services, dog walking services, and even a concierge to arrange any additional pet pampering. Surf's Up! Let your dog hang 20 at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in California. This resort gives dog surfing lessons alongside their human so they can both enjoy some time in the sand and surf. At the Arizona Biltmore, you can sign your dog up for some Doga (dog yoga) classes if your canine needs to regain some Zen. It's not just the posh pet friendly hotels that are offering all of these wonderful things for our pets. There has been a large movement over the last few years in many hotel chains, vacation rentals, motels, and bed and breakfasts to make sure traveling dogs and cats are comfortable during vacations as well. One of the best parts of this trend is the welcoming attitude that accompanies all of the services. Pets are treated with the same love and respect that they receive from their own family members.