Add Flavor to Your Coffee

Coffee is strong, full-bodied and tastes great in itself. Throughout the years, people have discovered more and more ways on how to enjoy coffee. Whether it is instant coffee, or even having a coffee dessert or coffee flavored ice cream, the taste of coffee is truly great in any form. You can buy flavored coffee from your local grocery store but you can also make it at home as well. It will be a lot cheaper, plus you get to have that exact flavor that you want.

When storing your beans, add the spices and remove them after 12 or 24 hours, depending on how strong or how light you want the flavor to be. Store the beans and the spice together in a tightly closed container. After a few hours, take off the spice and then when you grind the beans, you will be able to smell that the flavors have been infused into the beans.

You can also add the spice while grinding, although this can be a little trickier than the first procedure. Add the spices while you are grinding but be careful not to add too much or too little. When they are already powdery, both the beans and the spices, it will be hard to determine whether your spice is too strong or too mild. Be careful with your coffee and spice proportion. In fact, you may want to try a test cup of coffee before you make a whole batch.

You can also prepare flavored coffee just like at Starbucks. Make your cold coffee and add any spice to your liking. Whether cinnamon, hazelnut, irish cream or whipped cream, you can add one or combine the spices for a more complex and unique coffee experience. For a little kick, you can also make spiked coffee. For parties, you can add Kahlua to your coffee and give your coffee a little twist.

Once you master personally homemade flavored coffee, you can easily give it away as gifts or as favors such as coffee wedding favors. You may also sell them if you feel the demand is increasing from the people who know your product. Coffee can truly be enjoyed in many ways. Whether as a personal drink, as a gift, or as a business, coffee can truly affect not just your daily caffeine and alertness needs, but also your mood.

The Effects of Coffee on Your Health

Coffee has indeed never lost its popularity and is still one of the world’s favorite drinks. There is even now what we call instant coffee so you can enjoy coffee anytime and anywhere without the need to grind the coffee beans and brew them. Canned cold coffee is readily available and whether coffee beans, coffee mugs, or any coffee-related item, these are now popularly being given as gifts or as favors such as coffee wedding favors. You can often hear people say that coffee is their daily morning fix, however, there are dangers when you drink too much coffee all the time.

While coffee seems to induce energy and make you feel mentally and physically alert, it is not really an energy boost from the body. Rather it is just a trick that the chemicals do. The chemicals produced through the caffeine intake causes stimulation only of the body. When the body feels this, it signals the body and brain to a stress response mode. As you may know, people take coffee to wake themselves up in the morning. But because this is a stress response, the body and brain acts as if it is responding to a fight or flight situation making the heart beat faster and triggering the alertness of the brain. When the body is continuously exposed to too much of this during the day, eventually fatigue and mood swings might set in.

Caffeine also interrupts a person’s sleeping pattern. Because of the caffeine that makes the heart and body race, the body will be restless and may have difficulty relaxing and preparing itself for sleep. Increasing doses of caffeine and coffee may be required eventually by those who abuse coffee intake. Just like any other prohibited or illegal drugs, a cup of coffee or a shot of espresso may not give the person the same effect over time. Consequently, more and more coffee and caffeine doses may be required.

Also, just like any other case of addiction, stopping or lessening intake of caffeine may make the person experience headache or nausea. These withdrawal symptoms may be experienced for the first few weeks during withdrawal.

Just like anything in life, moderation and control is key to everything. Caffeine, as well as sugar, syrups or other additives in coffee will indeed be harmful is you consume them too much or too often.

Instant Coffee vs Regular Coffee – Which is better?

Coffee comes in many flavors, variants, and types. While coffee used to be enjoyed only through the long process of ripening, grinding and brewing, people now can enjoy coffee in its instant form or in a regular form. Depending on your preference, you can enjoy the cup of coffee that best suits you.

The most basic difference between these two can be seen in three major aspects – the preparation method, the taste, and the price. While there are other aspects such as aroma and caffeine content where they also differ, these three are the primary indicators of the difference between instant coffee and regular coffee.

From the name itself, instant coffee is far easier to prepare. The one and only step is that you have to add hot water, and instantly you get to enjoy a cup of coffee. Regular coffee takes the same preparation as you would for gourmet or premium coffee except that the coffee beans have been ground already, so you can skip the grinding part of the process. Regular coffee is also available in grocery stores. If it is the convenience that you’re after, instant coffee would be your best choice.

For more the taste, regular coffee is prepared through a coffee maker. The beans have to be grounded so that the coffee retains its strong and full-bodied flavor. With instant coffee, the beans have been processed so that it will just need hot water to be prepared. Thus, the coffee beans have lost their flavor. Also, the beans used in instant coffee are blends of beans. Due to mixing with lower quality coffee beans, the premium taste of Arabica coffee beans are diminished.

As with any other beverage, the better it tastes, the higher the price. Instant coffee is inexpensive and regular coffees are pricier. Add to that the cost of coffee filters, time for preparation and the life of your coffee maker as well. For instant coffee, you simply need a cup, cutting down the price to more than half because of the ease in preparation.

As gifts, while regular coffee and coffee may be preferred as it has more taste, you can also give small packets of instant coffee. Whether as a birthday gift, as birthday favors or coffee wedding favors, the receiver will definitely appreciate receiving them. You can also give coffee-related gifts or favors such as mugs, coasters or paper filters.

The Basics of Making Your Own Homemade Gourmet Coffee

Coffee is enjoyed by people all over the world, whether male or female, whether young or old. Some people prefer instant coffee while others prefer regular coffee. But the best way to go is of course, gourmet coffee. There is a world of difference when it comes to the taste and quality of these three types of coffee.

Gourmet coffee basically follows the same steps when as you would when you make brewed coffee, but why is there a huge difference when it comes to taste? A major contributor to the taste difference is the coffee bean. Arabica coffee is an expensive type of coffee bean that produces a bold coffee flavor. It takes 4 to 5 years for an Arabica coffee to grow and be harvested and this contributes to the high price of this commodity. Another popular gourmet coffee is Robusta. However, in the stricter gourmet sense, Arabica is really the one considered to be gourmet. Robusta takes 2 to 3 years to grow before it becomes available for harvest, and some suppliers combine Robusta with Arabica and pass it on as Arabica. Robusta has a higher caffeine content but this doesn’t mean that is has bolder flavor. When it comes to taste, Arabica is still bolder and full-bodied.

The next step in making gourmet coffee is to grind the coffee beans. Whenever you grind, you should only do so immediately before you brew and grind only the amount that you need. Grinding the beans beforehand and brewing them at a later date will not produce the same gourmet taste. To store the other beans that you will not use, place them in an airtight container and put it in the fridge. This will retain the freshness and the temperature needed to keep the beans fresh as if it has just been handpicked.

You can get gourmet coffee beans from reputable coffee stores such as Starbucks. Gourmet coffee beans are pricey so if you need to buy coffee beans in bulk to give as gifts or party favors such as coffee wedding favors, you can opt for ground coffee or still give coffee beans but in smaller quantities.

You can enjoy gourmet coffee at home by following these simple tips. Gourmet coffees are expensive but if you can make your own perfect cup, you can get to enjoy it at a significantly lower price than at a coffee shop, and more importantly, whenever or as often as you want it.

Simple Tips to Making a Great Coffee Cup

Your coffee maker has been sitting on your cupboard for months and the coffee beans you have received as coffee wedding favors are sitting in the cupboard too as you settle for that instant cup of coffee at home. If you think gourmet coffee can be done only by trained baristas, then read on to see how simple it is to make your own cup of gourmet coffee.

You can make that perfect brewed coffee anytime you want at home. Great coffee has to follow three major but easy steps – grinding, brewing and serving.

When grinding, most people recommend Arabica coffee because of its full bodied taste. You can also use other coffee beans as well as some have creamy, smooth, rich or nutty flavors that differentiate them from other coffee variants. After grinding the coffee beans, brew the beans but first remember to clean or to rinse the paper filter. Paper filters that are fresh from the box have small fibers that can be mixed into your coffee, which adversely affects the taste. Do not re-use coffee grounds as well as the flavor will not be the same as a fresh brew.

Always keep your coffee equipment clean primarily for hygiene issues. Also, dirt and grime might accumulate with frequent use, which can make your coffee taste differently. It is best to aim for a dark roast as this can give a rich coffee taste.

Grind, brew, and serve coffee only when you need a cup. Coffee is considered fresh within 10 minutes from the time it was made, and if it goes beyond that time and goes cold, avoid reheating the coffee as it will lose much of its taste.

The perfect combination of a perfect cup is two heaped tablespoons of coffee, combined with 6 ounces of water. Then you brew it for 4 to 6 minutes. The addition of sugar, milk, creamer, syrups and other flavors are dependent on the flavor and style of coffee that you want to have. Combination of these other coffee ingredients follows specific coffee recipes, so your cappuccino will not taste like latte.

When you have visitors, serve gourmet coffee and not instant coffee. With these tips at hand, you can now enjoy cup after cup of perfect coffee without having to leave your home or spend a lot of money.

Body Language and Its Meanings

Body language is a type of communication called visual communication. Even without hearing words, the other person will be able to understand what you are trying to communicate by watching you and how you move. Visual communication makes up to more than seventy percent of communication which means that the words we say will convey a lesser significance than other tone, body, and movements. Sometimes body language can have multiple meanings and are sometimes misinterpreted by people. Here are some common body language movements and their meanings.

Raising your eyebrows towards something or someone shows your disagreement or show you have been surprised, and not in a good way, towards what you have seen or heard. Wringing your hands will show you are being nervous, anxious or frightened towards the situation.

Next time you say you’re excited, being attentive or just listening, make sure that you do not yawn. Yawning is the body’s way of saying that you are currently bored, sleepy and uninterested with what is going on.

Even when you are seated, do not think that your body language is limited. When you are leaning forward, it shows that you are interested and are being attentive towards the speaker or to the other person. Leaning forward is a sign that you do not want to miss a word in the conversation. However, when you are folding your arms whilst you are seated, it means the exact opposite, that you are disagreeing and disapprove of what is being said.

Other positive body gestures include maintaining eye contact and having the correct posture. This shows that you are being open, confident and is attentive in the discussion. You need not verbalize the words because your gestures are enough to show your interest.

Even when you think your words are saying what you want the other person to hear, a shaking head will show that you dislike the wedding bookmarks that they are planning to give away on your wedding even if you utter the words ‘I like them’. Your body language will truly give it away and sometimes you may be conscious of it, while at times you are completely oblivious to what your body is signaling.

How to Write Your Own Novel

Everyone of us has a novelist deep inside of us. Whether you are someone who reads every single book on the bestseller list, or reads at least two to three books in a year, or someone who gives books as Christmas gifts or favors such as wedding bookmarks, everyone of us has an inkling to reading in one way or another.

For someone who has a great story in mind and wants to share it with the world, writing a novel is a dream accomplishment. Not all published writers or novelists are experienced. For the writer of the worldwide bestseller, the Twilight trilogy, it was her first time to have written a novel. If she can do it, then you can do it too.

Writing a novel all starts with writing down a map of how the story will flow. Begin by identifying the major parts you want to be included in the story from the start to the end of the novel. You now have the outline of the story and you can work on the wordings of each part of each chapter later on. You can also go straight into writing the novel without the outline. Whichever works for you, as long as you get to start and finish writing, then it’s the right way to go.

You should also identify the plot or the major events, situations, realizations or twists in the story. The plot has a rationale behind it and also a beginning, a middle, and an end. The ending is not the only important thing but rather all three play a crucial part in the development.

You can now identify who your characters are, what they look like, and the backdrop against which the characters are set. You must have a protagonist, the character who goes towards and around the main plot of the story, and the antagonist who is the exact opposite of the main character. You should also create other supporting characters because they are important in the development of the story and solidifying the personalities and values of your two main characters. They may have their own side stories but they should be weaved towards the main plot. Make them realistic so the readers can relate to all characters.

And of course, the plot and characters should move around an environment that you have created for them. Describe all the major and minor details of the scene but make sure you don’t derail the readers from the main storyline. You should eventually go back to the characters and plot once the environment or backdrop has been established.

Effective Storytelling Tips and Suggestions

Telling stories is one great way to entertain people, make them discover new things, or simply get your message across before your little girl goes to sleep or as part of a school or company activity. Storytelling requires communication and people skills for it to be effective. People who tells stories are usually seen as more interesting people, so it is a good skill to practice.

It all starts with choosing the story. Firstly, try to choose a story that is interesting to you. It will be harder to effectively tell a story that you do not find interesting yourself. Choose a story that you know will be interesting for you all the way to the end. Your natural enthusiasm will shine through when you are telling a story you enjoy.

It is important to keep your tone and pace of voice as natural as possible. You can change your tone and voice for different characters.

Watch your body language and make it in synch with your words. Pay attention to your facial expression as well so the level of excitement and happiness can be heard in your voice and seen in your face, and other feelings can be heightened as well. Maintain occasional eye contact and you can also act out certain parts to give the story more dramatic effect. What you tell and how you move should be done with proper timing.

Be sure to practice and rehearse at least a few times before you tell the actual story. Sometimes rehearsing out loud will allow you to catch mistakes or areas of the story that can be improved. The more you tell a story, the better you will get at it, whether it is a children’s story or just a story that you are telling to a friend about something that happened in your life.

Storytelling is a great hobby or a family bonding activity. If you are into storytelling, you can encourage others to do it as well or you can give books as Christmas gifts or wedding bookmarks or baptism bookmarks as favors whenever you have or organize a similar event. You can do your share in keeping fairytales and bible stories a part of everyone’s life through effective storytelling techniques.

Suggestions for Decorative Keychain Accessories

We may see keychains to be just a small personal item but what we don’t realize is that despite their size, they help organize and safe keep those very important keys that open our homes, car and office lockers. Whenever you pull them out, those chains of keys and how they are arranged can show how much we value being organized. However, you can still spice it up a little bit and make that bundle of keys more interesting and more fun by adding keychain accessories on them. There are various designs when it comes to keychain charms and most of them are readily available from mall stalls or you can find them online as well.

If you fancy your favorite food and want to declare to the world how much you love French fries, why not have a keychain charm shaped as fries? You can also have a donut-shaped keychain accessory if your sweet tooth tells you to, or you have other charms shaped as burger, taco or a cake slice. You can also have fruit and vegetable inspired keychain accessories as well. For the rocker in you, use keychain charms that are in the shape of a guitar, drums, or microphone. You can also have sheet music, musical notes or other musical instruments such as piano or a harp. Nature-inspired keychain charms are for nature lovers and travelers. You can find accessories shaped as the sun, flowers, mountains or leaves. For funny accessories, use ones that are shaped as Elmo, Woody or Buzz, Piglet, Donald Duck or maybe even Darth Vader. Another popular theme for keychain charms are sports-inspired items. Use a golf ball, a tennis racket, a basketball, or a baseball field as the design for your charms to show how obsessed you are with your favorite sport.

For special occasions, you can get personalize keychain charms as party favors on birthdays where you can have a charm with the receiver or celebrants name, or wedding keychains where you can place the wedding details, the couple’s name or a love quote or message. Personalized gifts are available everywhere now and you can find personalized keychains for just about every occasion. For unique keychains, get one from a local store next time you go a European or Asian tour. They have different charm designs of even just the simple charm choosing the name of the place you visited will be fun and interesting as well.

Small Gift Suggestions You Can Send through Mail

Sending gifts whether within your own country or internationally is now made easier and faster with the vast network and efficient systems of shipping companies. While shipping companies can send items as small as keychains to items as big as home appliance, most gifts sent through shipping are small gift items for two reasons. First, the cost of shipping charged to the customer is higher as the item gets bigger, and the cost of liability when it comes to paying for shipping insurance gets high as well.

If you will be sending gifts through mail, here are some gift suggestions: cigarettes, small flower vases, teddy bears or stuffed toys for the kids, or linen materials for people who sew. While these may be simple and common gifts, it is recommended that you send something that is not readily available in the recipient’s area if possible.

You can send small items that will also cost you less when it comes to fees but note that shipping companies have a set of guidelines that you should follow when packing them. Remember that your gift has a high chance of being thrown, stacked or shoved around while it is in transit. While guidelines may be different in some aspects, the general shipping guidelines are the same.

First, you should use the proper material when shipping such as sturdy boxes, strong packing tape, and the shipping label. This can ensure that your gift will not get lost, damaged, or discarded.

Next, for small breakable items, you should consider double boxing them, put in crushed styrofoam, and wrap them in bubble wrap to avoid breakage. For items that are liquid, place them in airtight and sealed containers to avoid spills and leaks. Remember that it will be a hassle for everyone if your package leaks onto other packages.

As a general rule, you should declare or if you have other options, refrain from sending valuables such as jewelries or precious stones. Small items that do not have high value such as small baptism or wedding favors like wedding keychains, are great items to send in the mail.

Your Own Handcrafted Keychain

Making keychains is easy and you will need only a few items. Your own handmade keychains will do well for personal use or as gifts. People definitely appreciate receiving keychains because despite its size, it helps a lot in organizing keys and in keeping them safe as well.

For the materials, you will need aluminum foil, a toaster oven, a string or key ring, and depending on the type of keychain you want, you can either use a transparent paper or a small cut out piece of a cake pan according to the size of keychain you want. If you will use a transparent paper, cut it into a size that’s six times larger than the actual keychain you want. Don’t worry as this will eventually shrink when it is placed in the oven. Use the thicker plastic shrinky dink paper rather than thin transparency film.

When you have the required shape of the keychain, get your permanent markers and write your message, quote or name on either side of the keychain. You can also use both sides if you prefer. Avoid using other writing materials and just use permanent markers. If you want different colored fonts, there are colored permanent markers available. Other writing materials such as crayons will melt and fade during the heating process.

After that, place the foil in the oven and place your keychain on top of it. Allow the keychain to bake for 2-5 minutes. After 2-5 minutes, you can either safely remove the keychain from the oven using thongs, or you can leave the toaster oven door open for a few minutes for it to cool before you remove them from the oven.

When cooled, you can now punch a small hole and place the keyring or string. Your keychain is now ready for use and you can make as many as you want. Your keychain is now more unique and less expensive than the ones you see in malls.

Just like any arts and crafts activity, you can make your own keychains and have them for personal use or eventually you can make it as a source of added income. You will never run out of keychain designs and special celebrations where you can sell them. You can have Mother’s Day keychains, hobby or sports themed keychain, wedding keychains as party favors, or baptism keychain favors. You can get different ideas and inspiration from these occasions and come up with different styles every time.

Goods Reasons to Have Mirrors on Your Closet Doors

A mirror, apart from a diamond, is probably another girl’s best friend. Women check out how they look as often as possible and even carry small compact mirrors with them, a reason why some brides opt to give mirror compact favors during weddings. At home, there never seems to be a lack of mirrors. Whether in the bathroom, the bedroom or the living room, there seems to be a requirement that all these places should have a mirror of some kind. Having a mirror in a room though gives many benefits and that’s why mirrored closet doors are preferred by most consumers.

A mirrored closet door can save you space because the mirror also serves as a door. You do not have to allot a space in the wall for a hanging framed mirror or a space in the corner of the bedroom for a standing vanity mirror. It can save you space and at the same time even increase the visual appeal of the room because the mirror adds an illusion of added space.

It is also more convenient to have a sliding door because most sliding doors slide smoothly and at the same time, they are quieter than the usual swinging door which has a tendency to slam when pushed hard or when there’s wind. With the full view of your body, you can easily make changes when it comes to wardrobe choices, making you look good and feel easier and faster as well.

Apart from the above-mentioned practicality and functionality of a mirrored closet door, this mirror design is also modern and a more upbeat and stylish design than its traditional all wooden door counterpart. Several modern hotels opt for mirrored doors because you can easily grab and change your clothes without having to go to and fro between the closet and the mirror.

Just like any other room furnishing, choosing your closet and opting for the mirrored door should be considered when buying a closet because it has indeed more benefits and advantages, and the design in itself is more upbeat as well. Mirrored closets are available in most department store and home furniture shops and if you want to have a wider choice when it comes to design, you can also check online where suppliers have a wide array of closet choices and different makes as well.

Get the Perfect Vanity Mirror for You

Mirrors come in different shapes, sizes and design. Some can be as wide as whole walls and are perfect for small room areas, while some can be small such as mirror compact favors that you can fit in your purse. While they all serve the same purpose, choosing vanity mirrors for your bathroom or bedroom can have so many advantages and benefits.

The perfect vanity mirror can enhance the beauty of a room. It can complement the overall theme and design of the room and can reflect the full ambience that you want to project. The right placing of a vanity room can also enhance the natural light that flows into your room. When the mirror catches sunlight it can bounce the light back to your room lighting the room up naturally.

And in buying vanity mirrors, first you must consider the size that you need. It would be a shame to get one and then later find out that it will not fit in the area that you intended to. You must get the exact measurements of the area and get the mirror size that is closest to the size of that area.

Once you have determined the size, consider when you will get a vanity mirror that you can permanently fix on your wall, or get a standing vanity mirror. Wall vanity mirrors will require that you hang it on the wall while a standing vanity mirror can be moved around the room.

When you have decided what style and what size to buy, you can now choose the design and frame available for the kind of mirror you need. Both wall vanity mirrors and standing vanity mirrors comes in different shapes, frames and design. You can get wooden framed mirrors that are slightly more expensive, or you can get ones that have plastic or metal frames.

Home furniture stores have a wide array of vanity mirrors available. You can also check online catalogues from suppliers around the world to get the vanity mirror that you want. Vanity mirrors are a must so you can see how you look before you step out of your home. In itself, vanity mirrors can greatly add to the beauty of the room. Your choice of vanity mirror should reflect your personality and taste when it comes to designing your home. Even if the mirror is not as big as other furniture like the sofa or center table, its look can greatly affect the overall theme and ambience of your room and is as equally important as the other furniture in enhancing the room’s appeal.

Tricks for a Fog-free bathroom Mirror

A fogged mirror is what you get every single time you step out of the shower. Not a problem with the bedroom or living mirror or even small mirror compact favors on display on your table top, but because of the steam and moisture generated by the flowing water in the bathroom, you get to see fog cover the whole bathroom mirror after you shower.

There are simple and easy ways to combat fog in the bathroom and keep your mirrors as free as a whistle. You can place a towel over the mirror and let it absorb the moisture before it reaches the surface of the mirror. Simply cover the mirror with your towel or you can place clips on the sides of the mirror to hold them up. Be careful though not to cause cracks in the mirror and to handle them carefully so you will not injure yourself.

Alternatively, you may want to try using the same anti-fog cream you use on your car on the mirrors in your bathroom. They work pretty much the same and you do not have to purchase a separate anti-fog cream for bathroom mirrors. Remove the dirt and grime from the mirror by wiping it off with a clean piece of cloth or a paper towel and let it dry. Next, apply the anti-fog cream on the mirror and ensure that the whole mirror has been covered. Let it dry and after a few minutes, you can shower and not have to worry about fogged mirrors.

If you want an alternative solution, you can use shaving cream to fight the fog. First, you need to clean up the mirror by wiping it clean so the anti-fog substances can cling completely to the mirror. After cleaning, apply a small amount of shaving cream on a piece of cloth and carefully apply over the entire surface of the mirror.

After you shower, you can see that any of these three tricks will work wonders and keep your bathroom mirror fog free. It is such a nuisance and a little of a pet peeve to see fogged up mirrors and it will definitely be a refreshing new change to your day when you start facing the bathroom mirror and see that it is fog-free even after you shower. Instead of spending time clearing up the fog, you can now do something about it and actually prevent fog from forming on your bathroom mirror.

Tips for Hiring a Professional Wedding Photographer

Photographs keep the fondest memories of your wedding and they are there to be enjoyed for years to come. A good wedding photographer is not someone that just aims and clicks, but rather uses lighting, poses and emotions in every single photograph whether you are taking photos of the bride or the scenery. Here are some important things a bride and the photographer have to take note of when it comes to wedding photography.

It all starts with communication and initial approval. One must look into a photographer’s previous wedding albums to see the effect and style of the photographer. When the choice has been made, an interview with the photographer on how he or she plans to manage the event is important. They should both discuss the important parts that they both want to see and the demeanor of the photographer towards the guests.

The expense should be discussed too of course and the photographer should be able to offer packages for the convenience of the couple. Having packages means being able to offer not just photography services, but also prints and album choices. With this, the couple will just wait for everything to be delivered and not worry about having to print the photos to be able to see them or buy an album which won’t fit the varying sizes and number of photos.

During the wedding itself, the photographer must know how to handle and control the crowd but in a pleasant way of course. Some say that taking photographs at weddings should be as if the photographer isn’t even there so that the expressions can be captured purely and naturally. Directing poses, getting the right angles and maybe even setting up lighting when necessary are some things the photographer must handle by himself. Even if there are two photographers, they must each know how to handle and manage their strengths, from the formal shots to taking candid or journalistic type of photos.

For more candid photographs, you can have a photo booth where the guests can have all the fun posing candidly and even wear funny colored wigs and props and then take home the photos and place them in their wedding picture frame favors that they received at the wedding.

A wedding is not rocket science - it just starts with having a good choice of photographer and communicating with him what you want to see later on. Much like any other aspect of your wedding preparation, communicating your expectations and matching it with the skills and services that your service provider or supplier can provide is the key to a smooth and fun wedding. With this concern out of your head, your smile will definitely look brilliant in every single photo.

Fun Activities for Fun Road Trips

Going on a road trip means going up on adventure but yet there are some things that you should plan for. Safety should be one of your priorities and when going on that long drive, it definitely is better to be prepared for these hours inside the car or RV. Kids can easily get bored on long drives and at times will just sleep it off. However, when travelling with a group of adults, road trips can be hours of fun and discovery and of course, getting to know each other better.

For your next road trip, here are some fun activities you can do. You can of course play around with them and make your own road trip activities.

Playing games can entertain every adventurous road tripper out there. It’s time you bring out the child in you and play your favorite games from years back. You can play just about any game and have hours of fun. You can earn prizes or just bragging rights. You can also be creative and come up with your own games as you go along. Travel games and portable gaming systems can be purchased anywhere and can be played by oneself or with other people.

If you are not in the mood for games, you can just put your favorite CD or plug in your iPod for listening, singing along, or doing karaoke. Channel your inner comedian and bring out those jokes, preferably the new ones. This can be the best time for you to be sillier than normal with your friends. Pack your favorite snacks and chips for a fun food trip and during stopovers, it’s best to try new food choices that you will stumble upon. Sightseeing is good, but taking a photo of you and your friends is even better.

Going on an adventure can bring you so many memories. You get to discover new cultures, see new sights, try exotic food, shop at bargain and flea markets that you can visit along the way, and get shot glass souvenirs or picture frame favors to show to people back home.

Travelling will always have its benefits no matter where you go or what you do. Making the trip and the drive fun is something that you can do with these fun ideas.

Suggestions on How to Preserve your Butterfly Collection

Butterflies come in various colors, designs and sizes. You can see them in gardens and in butterfly sanctuaries and they have always been a part of almost everyone’s childhood memory. You can probably never see a butterfly and not fall in love with it. Despite their size, they can always bring life, joy, and light-heartedness in any room as they flutter and softly land.

For people who want to start a collection of butterflies, here are some ways on how to do it, and how you can preserve them to make them last for many years.

Catch the butterfly of your liking or purchase them from local stores. You can also find extensive collections of butterflies online. They can ship to almost any part of the world and you can choose between exotic or rare butterflies as well. Upon catching them or upon arrival of your order, have the butterflies rest so they will look fresh again. You can do this for 12-24 hours to let some moisture seep in.

Next, pinch the butterfly’s thorax so the wings can loosen up and you then can get to spread the wings out. Be careful not to force the wings or it might break. Do not get your fingers all over the butterfly’s wings so you don’t create spots.

After spreading the wings, mount them using pins and paper strips to hold the wings. After resting, mount them on your frame and be precise when placing them on the box or frame so you do not have to move them around again if you are not satisfied with its placing. Complete your framing by assembling the rest of the box or frame.

While it may be expensive to give out butterfly collections for every occasion or as frame favors, you can make your own personal butterfly collection and have beauty flutter inside your living room. They are best hanged on walls so your visitors can immediately focus on the collection and not be distracted by other decor.

Handle your collection with care by not placing it under direct exposure to sunlight or placing them in extremely warm or extremely moist places. Placing them outdoors along with sunlight exposure may melt the colors of the butterfly, while placing them in extremely moist places like bathrooms can allow moisture and humidity to ruin the butterfly.

Advice on How to Properly Hang Frames

Photo frames showcase wonderful memories that you will want to relieve over and over again, and some people also have framed art work and collections that truly reflect their style. These frames look best when arranged on walls. Smaller frames such as children themed frames or picture frame favors you receive at parties will work well on table tops. However, medium to larger sized photo frames will work best when hanged against the wall.

Here are some tips and advice on how to make the frame arrangements as beautiful as the framed art or photos in your home.

You can try out different layout styles first and foremost. Consider the number and sizes of the frames that you have before putting nails up in the wall. The frames are generally placed in the middle. Aside from the aesthetic appeal, frames should not go past the edges of the wall for safety reasons. You can try the chosen outline by using paper or cardboard to represent the frames. You can place tapes on the edges and this is the time where you can place, remove, and experiment among different lay outs.

Have equal distance between the frames. It will be too distracting if the frames have different spaces and it will look like as if the whole lay out is flawed. Consider the lighting too and the position of the window against the wall as well. The light reflecting from the lamps at home and the sunlight from outside the window will reflect on the glass frames, making people look away from the frames instead of looking at them.

Be mindful of items that are hanging low such as chandeliers or lamps as they can obstruct the view. The frames should be just above eye level so people can see them comfortably. Before pitting nails, use markings to determine where the nails will be placed. Remember that if you pound away and then later change your mind or make a mistake, that hole and the chipped paint will cost time and money to repair.

You can be more creative with your choice of frames and colors but make sure that the sizes and colors complement each other. The frame style, whether wooden or contemporary, and color should also complement the photo or image being framed. These are basic and simple suggestions that can make a huge impact with how you carry out hanging frames in your home.

An Architectural Feat Called the Crystal Palace

Crystals have always been associated with elegance and fortune. With its cost and so many aesthetically appealing items made of crystal, it is no wonder that crystal remains to be one of the most popular precious item. Whether it is a large crystal chandelier or small crystal favors for weddings, people do appreciate its beauty and value. So what about a structure made of crystal? Despite its name, the Crystal Palace in London that was inaugurated on 1851 was not really made of crystal but rather crystal-like materials like glass. From a distance, this architectural feat seems to shine and glitter with hundreds of square feet of glass that surround the structure.

It took Joseph Paxton years to plan and design the structure and William Cubitt engineered it. It also took additional manpower from France to complete it on time, and more than 13 million pounds to build the structure. Initially, indeed for the Great Exhibition of 1851, the building had its share of challenges until its grandeur ended on the evening of November 30, 1936.

The Grand Exhibition was the event where exhibitors around the world totaling to more than 10,000 gathered and showed their latest innovations. They had almost a million square feet to hold the exhibits and eventually the size of the structure was able to hold concerts and other public activities. The structure featured a large fountain called the Crystal Fountain that stood 27 feet tall. It was also the first structure to have a major public toilet system where visitors can pay up a penny for its use.

The structure was then moved to Penge Place where water fountains and landscaped gardens were placed. When it seemed that the public did not have the time or interest in the Crystal Palace, they started to put stalls and booths which contradicted the elegance of the place. The building faced several other problems until a major catastrophe defeated it. It started as a small fire in one of the offices inside and then eventually spread through the building. Even with hundreds of firefighters around, the fire just really seemed to be too big to handle.

The Crystal Palace leaves with it a legacy that London will always be proud of. With its innovation and luxury and many firsts that were held in it, the Crystal Palace will always be revered as one of the pioneers in architectural history.

How to Distinguish Glass from Crystal

They look the same, but are they really? While the price difference will probably give it away, there are other differences that put crystal on a higher standard than glass. They both look gorgeous but glass items are far different than crystal items – and it really is beyond what the eyes can see. Crystal items are made into more decorative items while glass tends to be more usable and practical. This is because of the composition and the difference between the two. While these materials can be interchanged, note the difference between the two and understand why crystal may at times be best. However, at times, glass will also prove to be its beautiful and less expensive counterpart.

For some countries, the difference lies in the chemical and lead composition of the item. A certain percentage will make the item fall into the glass category, while for some countries the item will be considered crystal.

It’s more than meets the eye as the sound produced by tapping the rim of an item can tell you whether it is glass or crystal. A ringing sound is produced by crystals while a more solid thud sound is produced by glass. Crystal reflects a color prism while light that passes through glass breaks and bends. Another visual distinction is that crystal tends to be thinner than glass. It is far more difficult to blow a thin glass than thin crystal. However, due to lead composition, crystal tends to be heavier despite its thickness, and glass items are generally heavier that their other shiny counterpart. Upon closer look at the rim and surface of the item, crystal casts a smoother and finer edge compared to glass which apart from being thick, tends to be less smooth and consistent.

Glass and crystal items will always impress people. Any item, whether a crystal wine glass, a glass paperholder, or crystal favors, is never out of place no matter what theme you have in your room or office. There are differences when it comes to composition and value, but nonetheless, they both look beautiful with the way they shine and how clean and sparkly they look. People will continue to love items made of glass or crystal. It will always be one of the favorite materials when choosing home or business items – whether decorative or practical. These items will withstand the elements and will last for many years.

The Real Value of Gold

Gold is a real gift in every sense of the word. Giving gold jewelry or any other precious stone is reserved only for those who are truly special in our lives. To show a sense of luxury, plated gold or imitation stones can be afforded by most people to give as gifts or favors or if they are in bulk, crystal favors are being given instead. It is probably true when they say that great things come in small packages. A small piece of jewelry can cost thousand to millions of dollars, and for some more rare stones, they are indeed priceless. Gold is indeed expensive for a number of reasons. From the mining field to the advertising and packaging and insurance, cost will pack a pound of cost before it reaches your anticipating hands.

It all starts with mining companies focusing on a specific area that their engineers have identified to have gold density. Certain permits and environmental compliance certificates are to be secured and the process can take a long time and it already costs operational expense. Manpower is a great factor in the cost of getting gold and other precious stones. Because mining areas are hectares upon hectares of land, mining companies maximize the time they invest by having many people cover the entire area as they search for gold. Contrary to what some people believe, safety is a great concern when it comes to mining. Handling explosives, the not so conducive work environment, and other health hazards in handling chemicals are all factors that mining companies deal with. To extract the gold, different expensive chemicals are used and experts are being called in so the stones will not be damaged when handled inappropriately. Insuring the stones is a great concern as well. Gold is being traded around the world in forms of bar and the physical transfer can be truly costly.

The stone in itself will undergo several stages before it becomes the beautiful stone that people see now. Because of its rarity, gold and other stones are somehow reserved only for those who have the fortune to own them. Money probably does make the world go round and gold is somehow considered money in its purest form. Gold will always symbolize power and fortune, so when giving gold jewelry, reserve it for those who deserve them as these heirlooms will stand the test of time and be passed along generations after generations.

Cool Drinks for Hot Summer Activities

There are so many great things you can do at the beach – whether water sports, building sand castles, attending parties night after night – but whatever you do, summer drinks should always be present, whether alcoholic or non-alcoholic. This may not be the perfect time to enjoy a hot cocoa drink with some cookies, but there are equally or probably even greater and tastier drink and food choices available during summer. Here are some alcoholic drink ideas and to complement your drink selection, read on for some summer party tips that you can do to make your summer as hot, or as cool, as possible.

Pina Colada is a classic favorite and no summer party should be without it. Whether during daytime or during the evening, pina colada is great when you get the right mix of light rum, coconut cream, crushed pineapple and served with a generous amount of crushed ice. You can also combine Jagermeister along with pineapple juice and coconut rum to make Surfer on Acid. Another classic favorite, margaritas, there are plenty of versions and mixes for this one but for the ultimate margarita mix, use any margarita mix and combine tequila, grand marnier and fresh lime juice. For a punch that will give you a kick and make you totally lose it, or at least be confused by the name, mix dark rum with coconut rum and half part of orange-pine concentrate. Blue Hawaiian is a refreshing drink with a kick made up of combined light rum, cherry, cream of coconut, pineapple juice and a pineapple slice – a total Hawaiian overload. Mojitos are good as they are straight off the bottle but you can also add more lime leaves, sugar, lime juice, spiced rum and soda water for a great new twist.

Complete your summer feast by having refreshing non-alcoholic treats like fruit shakes and pure fruit juices. For a poolside party, you can bring out your best cutleries and china and probably even some of your old but elegant wedding coasters to complement the wine glasses.

Make every summer something to look forward to not just for some beach summer fun but also the best time to experience the different drinks the liquor world has to offer. There will definitely be more innovations and more mixes available and do not limit your choices, great drink mixes are being made all over the world and it would definitely be fun to try those out too.

Dinner Party Etiquette Tips and Suggestions for Everyone

When attending any social celebration, it is important that you bring with you proper etiquette so you will not offend the host or any guests. Proper etiquette and behavior means that you are cooperating with everyone and want the event to be successful. Without the proper behavior, the guests and the host will not enjoy the party, and of course, they will not enjoy your company either.

Proper etiquette amounts to simple things that have great impact. It involves common sense and respect for other people. Generally, if you have them, proper etiquette will naturally follow. Here are some helpful tips as well that can get you in party mood in no time. Remember that these things apply to all dinner parties, no matter what the occasion may be.

Food should be served only when all the guests are properly seated on their right place. This means that everyone is present and has settled in at their table. No one is still lost or uncomfortable. When everyone is seated, start serving the food.

Since you have already decided on the seating arrangement, you can expect everyone to be chatting it up during dinner. If you have a guest that most of them have just met for the first time, introduce him or her in such as way that the other guests would want to engage in a conversation with that person. Note a good thing or something that the person has in common with the other guests.

Be sure to set the table properly beforehand. For weddings, for example, have a wine glass, wedding coasters, dinner plate and good silverware set in a formal place setting. For other occasions, like baby showers or birthday parties, you do not have to be as formal with the table setting. In fact, you can just have plates, napkins, and plastic utensils at the food table. Just be sure to have enough utensils, plates, cups, and napkins for everyone.

If you have received edible gifts from the guests such as fruits, chocolate or wine, it is up to you if you will serve them as part of your party. Check the quantity of the food items so that if you have an especially-baked cake, everyone can get a share and not just a few. Remember that the food item will look like a part of the meals served, hence, no select few should just be enjoying them. The same goes with wine and other food items. You should check on the quantity and the quality as well, whether they go with your menu choices – if you receive special kinds of sushi, they may not be applicable to be served during a full Italian pasta meal course.

Make Your Own Glass Coasters

Any arts and craft hobby are not just good creativity or stress outlets but rather, they can create very functional everyday or special items, can be great gift items, or for some, these are income generating activities as well. Glass coasters can either be used by your family, be given as gifts or favors such as elegant wedding coasters, or can be sold to create extra income. Creating coasters can be fun and there are many ways on how you can make them.

Used tin cans can be used as coasters. You can cut the top cover and then just create a softer edge by placing, cord, cloth or lace on the edges to avoid cuts by the thin aluminum. You can also cover the entire tin coaster if you think that the tin will not be able to hold up water repeatedly. The cover can disguise any trace of rust that it might develop.

Another funkier alternative would be floppy discs or CDs. You can cut them up as well into smaller sizes since they are also already round anyway, and you should cover the edges. For a more personalized coaster, you can use a CD sticker label to cover up the CD and then cut them out just on the right size to show the print. The print can either be the photo, the name or any image representative of the person who will use it or who will receive it.

Used cork or vinyl that you can find laying on the stock area can be used as well. Cut them up into small round shapes and you can either cover them up using lace or ribbon, or you can use acrylic pain to hand paint them.

Creating your own coasters need not cost you much and it is no rocket science either. It is actually one of the easiest arts and craft activities you can do. In fact, the items and materials mentioned here are readily available in most homes and you just need a few minutes to measure them, cut them out, and design them.

All you need is just a little creativity, ingenuity, and maybe a few minutes finding recyclable materials in your home to create art that’s beautiful and functional. Coasters can protect your table top and at the same time it can beautify it as well. Make sure your colors complement your table and other cutleries and test the coasters against accidental slips and water spills.

Fun Cookie Ideas for Any Occasion

Making cookies can be as fun as eating the cookies itself. You can add different ingredients, cut them out in different shapes and it takes just a few minutes to prepare them, bake them, and definitely less time to eat them. For some, making cookies is a delicious hobby, while for some this is an incoming generating business. Whether you will be feeding a brood of five or a community of a hundred, there are many ways on how you can make your cookies more delectable, more exciting, and tastier.

If you have your basic cookie recipe, try adding walnuts or almonds to make your cookie nutty. That bite that you get form the cookie will definitely leave you wanting for more as the saltiness of the nuts complements the sweet taste of the cookie mixture.

If you’ve had your fill of nutty cookies, try having fruity or chewy cookies next time. You can add raisins or dried cherries or grapes to your mixture. Have these small fruity treats give an exciting new twist to a plain cookie. For a healthier alternative, oatmeal cookies are not just tasty but they have a different texture altogether. It has a clean taste as well and is truly delectable if the cookie is buttery.

Give your cookies a new look. While most would expect round brown cookies in transparent plastic containers, give your cookie treats a makeover. Use a special cookie cutter such as wedding cookie cutters or a Christmas cookie cutter to give a whole new look to the plain round cookie. Cookie cutters are available in various shapes that can please the young and the young at heart. Cookies that are shaped as hearts, stars, or elf hat or elf boots will be more fun looking and therefore more appetizing than your average round shaped cookies. You can also place your cookies in tin cans that you can design with ribbons, lace or sticker labels. Cookie cutters can be used to create wedding cookies, baby shower cookies, or cookie treats for just about any event or occasion.

Making these baked goods can be fun with the kids too. They can help in mixing the ingredients, in cutting the cookies into different shapes, in designing or putting toppings on the cookies, or in placing them in their containers. Because baking cookies is a lot simpler than any other cooking or baking method, cookies can be a real treat from baking them to eating them.

Fun Food Ideas for Kids

With so many candies, chocolates, pizza and other unhealthy foods in the market, kids are now eating less healthy. Because of their taste and looks, unhealthy foods are the ones preferred by kids. While it may be okay to have them occasionally, a healthy balance of food intake can help decrease the number of kids having tremendous weight gain. Obesity is one of the biggest challenges among kids and teens today and by starting with making them eat healthy earlier in life, the better chances they will have for making wise food choices and decisions later on in life.

Give one of their favorites a healthy twist – make a veggie pizza that the kids can make on their own. Prepare the ingredients beforehand so the kids need not have to worry about cutting them. Instead, they can spend time having fun putting different toppings and even designing their own pizza. You can get to know your kids more as they show their behavior and temperament in making the pizzas.

For their everyday snacks, place them in colorful and designed plates to make them look more enticing. Even for adults, food presentation means a lot. Having these yummy and healthy snacks placed in colorful plates or bowls will entice even the pickiest child to eat healthy food that may otherwise seem boring.

Everyone loves cookies, and you can discreetly make your cookies healthier by adding oats and whole grains in them. Add their favorite flavor, whether vanilla, chocolate or honey and your healthy treat will be gobbled up in no time. For different and special cookie treats, you can make your own cookie cutters or bring out those old wedding cookie cutters you have in the cupboard so you can create specially designed cookies. It will be fun as the kids get to see cookies shaped as different fun shapes like stars, snowman or gingerbread men. Cut down on the sugar and butter if possible and use healthier substitutes like stevia instead.

Have healthier but fun alternatives to their all time favorite snacks. That lean and healthy sandwich you can be made into a yummy pita sandwich that’s fun-looking and fun to eat! Give it a dollop of cheese melt, then sneak in veggies as well. Use whole grain or wheat pita bread to add in fiber and other essential minerals in their meal. Vary the fillings so they get to enjoy the pita sandwich every single time.

Different Types of Cookie Cutters

Cookies are everyone’s favorite and the homemade ones are truly the best. For some people, baking comes naturally for them, and for those who want to try out baking, there are easy recipes such as cookies that you can try as you start out your baking hobby. The ingredients in baking are not expensive. Some of them have long shelf life as long as you store them properly. The equipment and materials are also inexpensive and you need not have the whole range of baking equipment. There are some that you can leave out especially if you are just starting out and is not yet into advanced baking recipes, and there are some that you can make on your own. Cookie cutters make for fun cookies. But for novelty, fun, and a coordinated look if you are having a themed party, cookie cutters bring your cookies to life. There are different types of cookie cutters according to make and purpose.

Cutout cutters are the most common type of cookie cutters. Made of food grade aluminum, you can easily purchase them from your local bakery supply store or you can make it on your own as well. Cutout cutters are the simplest cookie cutters around, even kids can work with this cookie-making tool. With cut-out cutters, the shape of the image is used as an outline. The lines or design inside this outline will not be visible. All that can determine the image is by looking at the outline, for example, Christmas bells or stars. Simple images work best with this cookie cutter.

Cookie stamps make cookies that have a general outline or shape but images or shapes are ‘stamped’ on the dough. Think of rubber stamps when considering this mold – the details of Santa Claus’ face can be seen even on top of the cookie, instead of just having the outline of his face as the cookies’ shape.

Cookie molds produce three-dimensional cookies. With the tedious job of creating a life-like three-dimensional cookie, this is considered the most labor-intensive and cookies that are more artistic and not for mass production, so it is really not a good idea to make them if you are just wanting to make homemade cookies as it would involve a lot of work.

Cookie cutters are great for making cookies for occasions and parties. Using wedding cookie cutters is a great way to make your own wedding cookie favors for your guests. Themed cookie cutters are also popular around Halloween and Christmas time.

Cookies should taste good, and be good to look at as well. Everyone enjoys cookies and having them specially made, whether cut-out, stamped or molded, these cookies will truly bring warmth to your hearts.

Suggestions for Baby Shower Food

Baby showers are fun parties and as a host, it is your duty that every aspect of the party will satisfy your guests. The time, venue, activities, games and food should be well thought out to ensure that everything will go smoothly. For your menu, here are some ideas on what to serve during a baby shower.

Finger foods and finger sandwiches are your best bets for a fun party. Easy to hold, easy to make, fun to eat, and great-tasting, these foods can be the only ones you can serve in a party so that no one will get hungry. Other food additions in a baby shower are for variety, but for satisfying food, you can never go wrong with finger sandwiches and other finger foods.

You can also serve the baby shower cake during the party to satisfy the sweet tooth of your guests. Baby shower cakes are generally large in size as they come with different themes or shapes. This cake should then be enough to be served to everyone, or you can have lovely cupcakes which guests can help themselves with as well.

Take out your baby or wedding cookie cutters and grandma’s secret recipe and work it out in the kitchen. Cookie cutters for wedding, birthdays and other themes can be used for baby showers as well, such as butterflies and hearts. Nothing can be more special than homemade cookies, but if you don’t have the time, or the skills, just head off to your local bakery to get some. Pizza can be considered as a staple or one of the official food for fun parties. They will never be out of place for your baby shower.

Vegetables and fruits can be cut in bite size pieces and are great and refreshing treats. You want something that can appeal to the health conscious people.

In planning a baby shower, you first start off with the important details of the party such as date, venue, and guest list. After these details, you can now work on your menu. Adjust your menu according to the time and place of the party, and not the other way around. Opt for a pineapple shake when get to finalize that you’ll have an afternoon shower outdoors, but do not change your venue or time only because of your menu. There are other alternative yet fun menu options that you can have.

Popular Baby Names for Boys

Giving a name to your baby may be almost as exciting as the day you found out you were pregnant. Apart from the other details of your pregnancy and due date such as your current health, your diet, and which hospital you’ll give birth, another aspect of great importance is your baby’s name. As soon as you find out the gender of your baby, seriously think about the name you will be giving him.

Of course you want this name to be unique and special, and not funny or weird enough that other kids will make fun of him. Remember that the name you choose for your son will be with him for the rest of his life. Here are some popular names of boys and further suggestions on how to narrow down your choices.

Some names have religious origins and some popular names from the bible are Ethan, Elijah, Matthew and Samuel. Other biblical names that used to be popular are Abraham and Saul.

There are names that are popular based on geographical area. While the names Alejandro, Fernando, Ramon, and Enrique are not popular in Japan, they are the most popular and common names in Latin countries.

Updated and shorter versions of popular names are now more popular now than the original names. Jonathan is now being commonly given as John, Andrew is often shortened to Drew, and now we have Dave, derived from the earlier popular name David.

Popular politician names can also be a basis for your child’s name, or if there are ethnic names that your child can adopt (since most of them have special and meaningful translation behind them as well), you can use this and opt for those names instead.

Sometimes religions and meanings can affect the choice of name, along with other practical considerations. There have even been instances where shorter names were chosen so that the name could fit on the baptism favors being given away at the child’s baptism. The meanings of names can be found online or in baby name books that you can buy at book stores.

Besides, from his birth to his wedding day and the rest of his life, this decision of yours can affect him and ultimately, his legacy for his own family. The most important thing to remember is to take your time in selecting your baby’s name because this will be the name you will utter everyday. We can do nothing to change the name you call other people, but for your child, where you have the liberty to choose it, choose a special and meaningful name you will be proud of.

Gift Ideas for Baptism

Sometimes, it is a lot easier to give gifts to grown-ups because you already know what a colleague likes or what the husband needs. Sometimes, they even have their wish list. But for babies and kids, giving gifts may be a little tricky because you may end up giving the same overalls or sweaters as the other guests because you bought them from the same local store. Your next baptismal gift should be cute, fun, yet useful as well – and by useful we mean applicable for baby’s play too. Here are some gift suggestions for baptisms.

Bed and baby bath items are both cute and practical. Blankets are cute and especially memorable when it’s the same blanket they use until they grow up. There are different cute and playful designs readily available in your local department store. Pillows also come in various designs and different shapes as well. You can give regular pillows or the ones shaped with a stuff toy animal head and the body would be the pillow. Baby oil and toiletry sets are also readily available. Opt for the trusted brands and check ingredient labels as there are some items that may be harsh on the baby’s sensitive skin.

Keepsake gifts will be received well too. A keepsake box to store all of baby’s special and memorable items is something that will be useful even until he or she grows up. Photo frames can be displayed in any home so that can work well too and a stuffed toy is considered great gift idea as well. You can give baby CDs such as Barney or Baby Einstein for a meaningful and educational gift.

You can also consider getting small keepsakes as reminders of the special day. Sometimes you can browse through baptism favors and gifts online for even more ideas.

Be careful with edible gifts as well such as baby food or formula unless you are close to the mother or you know exactly what the baby is being fed. These items are readily available and while you can have them wrapped at the store itself, you can have your own personalized gift wrap to make it more special. You can place the gift in another gift bag or you can place it in a special box and hand paint it. Sometimes it is a nice idea to get something for the parents as well as the child, especially if you are close to the family.

Significance of Baptism for Catholics

Baptism is an important ritual in the Catholic community. This is the start of the child’s journey in his spirituality, and his or her parents, godparents, relatives, and friends are there to welcome him and support him. Beyond this welcoming ritual, baptism carries also with it other deep spiritual meanings and symbolisms that reflect some important aspects of the faith.

In baptism, the Holy Spirit gets to dwell in the child. Thus his spiritual life will be guided by the Holy Spirit, bringing him closer to Christ. This sacrament is a public proclamation that they acknowledge God in their life, and that they need Him in order to get through the challenges in their spiritual life and in other aspects of their life as well. Through baptism, God is honored because the sacrament in itself shows that God is the one powerful and loving enough to cleanse us from our sins.

It was mentioned in the bible that Christ was also baptized in River Jordan to show that being renewed again is possible only through God. Another mention of baptism in the bible is at Colossians 2, where it is said that the child, as he begins his life, can be freed from the sin he was born with, only through Christ. That’s why early on in his life, he should be baptized. Another deep significance of baptism is that during the ceremony, everyone is reminded of their baptism vows to turn away from sin and to acknowledge that sin brings us to death, and that the only way to be resurrected is through faith in Christ.

When the water is poured three times to the child’s forehead, it symbolizes that the child is one with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This special occasion is marked by a whole day or half-day celebration complete with a reception, and all party necessities such as invitations, program and entertainment, baptism favors, and games. While the whole ceremony can be considered simple, the meaning of almost each activity, and every word used, is used to show that public proclamation of the child, and his involvement in the Christian community by becoming a person free from sin, saved only by God, denounces sin in his life, and the Holy Spirit dwells in him.

Baptism is important, sacred, and meaningful as its meaning goes beyond the one hour ceremony. The Catholic community is one with every child during baptism to show their love, support, and belief in one another.

Girl Name Choices for Baby Girls

Some baby names, especially when you look at celebrity baby names, can range from sweet and cute to weird. Baby names always change, depending on what’s new, trendy, and just popular. The names Elizabeth and Judy were common at some point in time, but now, they are not as popular. At some point, Drew, Alison, and Beth were also popular. However, the popular choices of names vary by geography, and while they may still be popular in some areas, they might not be as popular in other areas. Parents have different ways on how to come up their child’s name.

For some, they would name their daughter Amidala (as Star Wars fans), May (if the child was born on the month of May or if a special occasion such as the proposal or wedding was held in May), or some would name their child Liberty (if the child was born on July 4th, or for reasons similar to the previous one).

Others would name their daughter after their grandmother, mother, or a special relative that played a significant role in their lives. It serves as a show or respect or honor to that person in their life.

Other people will combine the names of the parents, or adopt the name itself and just put Jr., II, III, and so on. Combining names may seem like a good idea, but check first if the name will come off as cute or just plain weird.

And for the rest, name directories work as they also give the translation or the meaning of their chosen name for their child. Some websites even offer trends and ranks which names are more popular, per decade or per geographical location.

For baby girls, here are you top name choices: The name Madison means good daughter; the name Abigail, means father’s joy; Hannah means gracious; Samantha means listener, and finally, Sophia, originating as a Greek name, means wisdom. Other more popular names include Emma, Michelle, Olivia, and Isabella.

Finally, a lot of parents just go with a name that they like. Many people at certain points in their lives have thought about what they might want to name their children one day. And when the day finally comes, little thought is required in picking that perfect name.

Some websites offer listing per country, so you might want to check them out too if you do not want to go for Western names. When you have finalized your baby girl’s name, what’s next is you have to prepare for your due date, and the baptism coming in a few months. With the lovely name, you will want to personalize everything, from the invitations to the baptism favors, to include your girl’s sweet little name.

Creating Baptism Invitations is Cheap, Fast, and Easy

A baptism nowadays can set you hundreds to even thousands of dollars back as you need to purchase everything – from the invitations, to the decorations, food, and the baptism favors. However, while you will still be purchasing the raw materials, you need not purchase your baptism invitations from suppliers as you can make them on your own. Making them is cheap as the basic supplies are just simple paper products. You need not pre-order anything, and what’s best is you can make them as personalized as you want them to be. Here are the quick and easy steps to making your own baptism invitations.

First of all, find a good baptism invitation template. There are a lot available online or you can load up Microsoft Publisher for templates. You can still further personalize and customize these templates as you’ll find out later. Set it on a blue background if you are celebrating the baptism of a baby boy or use pink if it’s your cute little girl. If you want to play with the colors, other trendy colors include orange, yellow, and light green.

Next, personalize the template by putting in your own wordings, a photo of the baby, or placing images that are either fun or religious. Do not put too many photos though as you will still be needing white space to put in the wordings. For the wordings, keep it to a minimum as well so the invitation will not look too crowded with so many images and too much text. You can use just one side of the invitation as putting text and images on either two or all four sides of the invitation will indeed make it look very busy.

Use a fun and childish font, or you can have a formal font to show the solemnity of the occasion. When printing, especially if you are printing more than 50 pieces, check your cartridge regularly so that even up to the last piece, you have good quality and readable print. Buy envelopes that will fit your invitation perfectly. You can put stickers on them, print images on them, or just buy pre-printed envelopes.

Most importantly, have fun making these and consider this not just a hobby or any other task but rather, an accomplishment in terms of savings and in making your child’s baptism truly special with your hands-on approach.

How to Make Bath Salts

Bath salts make bathing a truly rewarding activity. It can make you feel as if you can see old cells being washed away, giving way to clearer and more beautiful skin. Scented salt baths are also a treat as these soothing scents can also wash away tension and stress. Bath salts are great, but they can burn your wallet if you purchase them regularly. Or they might cause you allergies or dry skin if you have poor quality bath salts. On the other hand, you can make your own bath salts that are natural and will cost you even half the price of regular bath salts.

For basic bath salts, combine one part Epsom salt with two parts regular sea salt and store in a dry jar. You can use this bath salt in itself, but if you want to add fragrance, you can put at least 5 drops of your favorite scent into the mixture for a mild fragrance. If you want to make it stronger, put 10 drops of the essential oil. Do not exceed this amount if you are using a medium sized jar as too much will cause the scent to be too strong.

Another easy recipe is by combining one part regular salt, one part baking soda, and an equal amount of Epsom salt. Combine the ingredients and store them in a dry and tightly closed jar. Again, you can opt top have these scented by putting a few drops of aromatic oil in them.

For a very earthy and natural bath salt, fill a jar by layering salt and chopped herbs alternately. Start off with a layer of salt at the bottom of the jar and then put chopped lavender or rosemary on top. Continue laying up to the top of the jar, cover it with plastic before sealing them in with the metal jar lid, and store them in a cool, dark, dry place for at least 15 days.

With these simple steps, you can easily make bath salts for your own personal use, sell them as a homemade gifts for special occasions or you can make mini bottles and give them away as bath wedding favors. Complete the look by placing sticker labels and putting other accessories or embellishments on the jar. This can give it that upscale look and make them look more soothing instantly. Store the jars of bath salts away from heat and avoid getting water droplets inside the jar.

Warm Baths to Relieve Sore Muscles

Sore muscles can affect every one of us at some point in our lives. If you are into sports or have any routine physical activity, the likelihood of getting sore muscles will increase. But for most of us, these occasional moments can be outright inconvenient and can even be excruciatingly painful. Even the simplest activity can be hindered by the pain. Bathing, apart from its other health benefits, can help you feel better and relieve muscle soreness and tension. Here are some benefits that a warm bath can have for relieving muscle soreness.

Your sore muscles can get the same relief you get from pressing a hot compress on the affected area. What’s better is your whole body gets this special treatment. Your sore muscles needs continuous warm temperature so the muscles can loosen up and the blood can flow easily as well. A warm bath can open up the pores of your skin, allowing toxins to be flushed out easier and faster. Less toxins in your body, means better health for you overall.

While you are enjoying this immediate relief, remember to get out of the shower quickly once you shut off the water. Water and air touching your skin will eventually make you feel cold, which is not good when you are trying to keep your muscles warm. Go easy when scrubbing your body. Apply only enough pressure to get the soap and water mixed up. Do not scrub excessively as this can further aggravate your already sore muscles.

You can also add drops of aromatherapy oil to further relax your body. Adding just a few drops of chamomile or sandalwood in the water can help you feel and think better. If you do not have aromatherapy oils, get aromatherapy candles, light them up on one side of the bathroom, turn off the lights, and you instantly get that spa atmosphere right in your own home. Its aromatic benefits will be the same as that of adding oils to your bath. You get the full benefits of a warm bath, the health benefits of aromatherapy and the relaxed ambience that can help you feel relaxed and relieved all the more.

You can give the gift of relief to a friend or someone special. You do not need to bathe them personally, but you can give bath related products or maybe even bath wedding favors as there are always new and exciting bath products in the market. A warm bath and soothing words from a friend or someone special can get you back on your feet in no time.

How Bathing Can Improve Your Health

Taking a cold bath in the morning can prepare you for a whole day’s work. Taking a warm bath in the evening can prepare you for a good night’s sleep. More than the temperature and cleansing of the body, do you know why your body reacts this way from bathing and do you know the other benefits of bathing?

Taking a warm bath can open up your pores and help the body easily flush out harmful toxins. These open pores can also cleanse your skin and when you put on moisturizers, your skin will be more receptive to them. According to studies, soaking in a warm bath for at least 20 minutes can help you lower your blood sugar level by up to 14%. A warm bath can also help relax your muscles and joints and relieve you of the common symptoms of flu and stress.

You can have an aromatherapy bath by adding drops or aromatherapy oil in your bath. Adding a few drops of jasmine can relax your mind while keeping it focused at the same time. A few drops of chamomile can relieve you of anxiety and stress and consequently let you sleep better. To double the skin care benefits of bathing, while your skin is more susceptible to accepting nutrients, infuse milk in your bath to get baby soft and baby smooth skin.

Soaking your feet in cold water can drop your blood sugar levels as well as your overall body temperature and prepare you for sleep. The changes in the bath products manufacturers are selling obviously show that bathing does much more than cleansing. There are soap bars that offer moisturizing benefits, some offer skin whitening benefits, some offer antibacterial properties, some include milk content in the soap, and others have scents that offer different benefits – whether to calm and soothe or to rejuvenate.

With exciting products, bath related products are also considered trendy yet practical to give as gifts such as for colleagues during Christmas or during special occasions such as weddings as bath wedding favors. Expect this industry to continuously offer more innovations as bathing and its health benefits are becoming more and more known to people. So next time you take a bath, know that its benefits are more than skin deep, and that bathing daily can improve your skin, your looks, your health, and ultimately, your overall well-being.

Tips for Starting Your Own Soap Making Business

Beauty and bath products have kept up with the modern times. These items have been under constant innovation– there will always be demand for these items anywhere you are in the world. Whether liquid hand soaps, bath soaps, germicidal soaps, anti-acne soaps, or bath items as gifts or bath wedding favors, there will always be people buying soap.

There are also many suppliers but if you know your niche in soap-making, you can make soap making a profitable business. With inexpensive material, and low production cost, soap making can truly be a source of good money for you and your family.

When you are set to have your own soap business, first, look into getting the necessary licenses and permits from your local office. Otherwise, your business might be deemed illegal in the future. Having a business license will also help establish you as a legitimate business, which will be useful when dealing with suppliers. Next, you have to finalize deals with your suppliers. When production starts, ensure that you have a reliable stream of suppliers. Source them properly so you can get the best deals.

Know your niche and competitors in your area. If you are going to sell locally, notify your friends and relatives to help spread the word about your new business. Study the rest of your market and pay attention to which products seem to sell the best. You might start to see some trends, and if one product is already dominating, then perhaps you can offer something similar or complementary to that product.

Become a household name and created an email or mailing list to keep in touch with your customers so that they can become repeat buyers. Hang up flyers, have demonstrations, and create a website where people can order online. Do every means of advertising that you can think of to see what works.

Distribute your products and considering wholesaling them so that other retailers can sell your items. Have regular distribution areas so eventually your customers will know where to get your soaps regularly as well.

You should also continuously innovate. When a product or two is in demand, make this product offering stronger but still offer other variants so your customers can either try them out as well as they already know that you have good products. By expanding your product line, you can potentially increase your customer base as different people will like different things. Add in your recipe persistence, hard work and discipline and you are well on your way to carving your name in the soap making niche.

Effective and Fun Bridal and Wedding Registry Tips

Bridal registries, when done effectively, become an opportunity to get all those items that you want and need as you start off your life anew together. After all those wedding expenses, from the personalized invitations to that exotic Caribbean menu to those personalized bath wedding favors, the gifts that other people get you can be a great help.

Bridal and wedding registries are fairly commonplace nowadays and it is accepted etiquette to create one to help your guests choose useful gifts. Although you do not want to list the registry items on the actual invitation, it is useful to include it as a separate attachment. The wedding registry will help your guests find you a gift and also prevent them from getting duplicates of the same things. Through the registry, they will know exactly what you need and what you want. Check out these tips to make your bridal registry a pleasant and effective experience.

-Organize your list – Instead of taking back or regretting gift choices you receive, take the time to sit down and organize your list, putting in the most important items. Do not send your entire laundry list as a lot of items can be overwhelming and you may end up with the least important ones. Make the registry big enough so that everyone can get you a gift, but not too big that important items are overlooked.

-Register a few months before the wedding – Registering too soon may mean that some of the items may no longer be available in the store’s inventory or waiting too late may make it difficult for your guests to get the item in time.

-Check up on the progress – Once you finish your bridal registry, ensure that you can have a day, preferably 3-4 weeks before the wedding, to check which items have been purchased. You may be surprised to see that only one or a few of the items have been selected. If only one item or one category is popular, you may want to expand your item choices. Consider the brand, the appeal and the price range of these items as they may look acceptable to you at first, but may be too expensive for your guests.

-Bridal registry services – Beneficial to both you and your guests, ask if they have shipping services so guests can have them sent directly to your place. Ask if guests can do online purchases as well. Plan ahead and know that some guests may purchase gifts after the wedding so ask if your bridal registry will still be active by then. Ask as well for choices on gift-wrapping.

Health Benefits of Steam Baths and Saunas

Even in the world of medicine, medical practitioners support the use of saunas and steam baths for many physical and mental benefits. Every sauna experience absolutely brings immediate feelings or relief and improved mood for every person. However, apart from the beauty benefits of saunas for your skin, there are other benefits. These effects can range from glowing skin to improved sleep to production of healthier cells. Here are some of the great things saunas can do for you.

Breathing the clean and humidified air in the sauna helps in proper breathing as the temperature can help clear any decongestant in the air passage. This clears the way for healthier lungs and improved breathing and thus, improved mental focus and concentration. The relaxed ambience will help you get a good night’s sleep and has proven to help people deal with insomnia. If aromatherapy is added to the treatment, this doubles the relaxing effects of the sauna.

People are encouraged to keep quiet inside a sauna to help themselves and others relax and meditate. This mental benefit is of great help for people who are deeply stressed and need to quiet down their minds. The heat inside the sauna improves blood flow and is helpful to people for relaxing their muscles and joints. This then becomes an overall body massage that relieves strain from all parts of the body. It also increases the production of white blood cells – the cells that naturally fights off illnesses in the body.

A session in the sauna enables you to release toxins from your body. With the heat, your skin pores open up and are consequently cleansed as toxins are cleared out through the sweat. Immediately after you leave the sauna, you can see your skin glowing for the next few hours as it is rejuvenated.

There are a lot of spa and sauna centers everywhere you go. At times, these services are given as gifts for mothers or a family member to relieve their stress. If a spa treatment is expensive, especially if you plan to give them to a lot of people as gifts to colleagues or bath wedding favors, you can give sauna related items instead such as salt scrubs, soaps or lotions.

Every sauna session brings about a lot of health benefits. So even if you spend only a few minutes in the sauna, know that it has many health benefits to make you feel good inside and out.

How to Make Your Own Homemade Soap Bars

Making soap can be done in the comfort of your own home. Most people use soap making as a profitable business, as a means to give personalized gifts or bath wedding favors without having to break the bank, or simply for personal use with the ingredients and scents that are specially created to their liking. Here are the procedures in making soap bars:

First, prepare your materials. They should include goggles to protect your eyes from the chemicals, a stainless steel pot, a stainless steel pan, thermometer, wood spoon (use this spoon when mixing the ingredients and not ordinary dining spoons), knife, and a mold for one big block of soap.

To start, mix the vegetable oil and fat in the pot and heat it evenly. When they have combined, take the pot off the stove and leave it to cool off. In a jug, combine one part water with one part sodium hydroxide and constantly stir them until the sodium hydroxide has dissolved in water. With the heat produced by the chemical, check the temperature using the thermometer and wait for it to get to 55 degrees C (130 degrees F). If it has reached this temperature, you can now combine this mixture with the cooled mixture of vegetable oil and fat.

After combining them, consistently mix them as you will need to thicken up this mixture. If it is thick enough to be poured into the mold, pour it slowly so no bubbles will form. Do another check by tapping it on the sides to release the trapped air that might produce bubbles (or hollows) inside. Have it solidify for at least a day and keep it wrapped in a towel during this time. When it has hardened after a day, you can cut the block into small bars of soap. Have the soap bars rest for at least 4 weeks so that the chemicals and oil are thoroughly mixed.

If you want to add aromatherapy oils for that added special effect, add the essentials oils after you have combined both liquid mixtures, i.e., before pouring them in the mold. The process that big manufacturers of soap use is only slightly different and their use of other harsh chemicals may even be bad for end users. Use these simple steps and you can make your own soap bars that are gentle on the skin and have the look and smell that is just for you.

Essential Information about Candles

Candles can be found in most households around the world. Whether for practical purposes, decoration or religious purposes, candles have far outlived their image of being used only to light the way of people before electricity had been invented. They are still used widely even today.

It is easy to find a great use for candles no matter what size, color or shape it is. A decorative candle can have practical purposes, while a simple candle can be given more meaning and symbolize hope when used in religious ceremonies.

Despite their simplicity, candles have a very colorful history. While in some cases the Egyptians are being credited for having used the first candles, the Romans were actually the first ones to use the candles that we know of.

Before wax, tallow (from sheep suet) was used in making candles. But because these tallow candles produce a foul odor and dark smoke when lit, people in the Middle Ages learned to use beeswax and favored its clean flame.

Beeswax supply was scarce at one point in time. Thus, the use of these candles were limited to the upper class.

People also tried using spermaceti and paraffin in candles, but today, paraffin is the still being used and spermaceti has been discontinued.

Candles are now being used in aromatherapy sessions (in burning oil), in religious celebrations, during birthdays, when going through dark pathways, and they are also being used to create an ambience of romance and passion during candlelit dinners.

Candles are sold in various designs, colors and scents to cater to different needs. They are commonly used for decorating and special occasions and events, including holidays.

You can even skip buying these candles as candle-making can easily be done at home. Using beeswax (available in hobby stores), wick and a mold, you can easily make candles that you can personally use, give as gifts or as candle wedding favors. They are also easy to package as gifts or favors as you can simply tie a ribbon around them and attach favor labels. You can also place them in boxes or even small bags tied with ribbon.

Do take precaution as well when using candles. They can cause damage when left unattended, particularly if something around them catches fire. Handle them with care, and candles can bask you in their warmth as they light up your rooms and brings light to your senses.

Use Aromatherapy Candles to Fight Stress and Relax

Scented candles are not just used to mask the regular smoke scent emitted by regular candles. Rather, these scents are being used for a wide variety of use such as relieving stress and even alleviating some symptoms of certain illnesses. Just like acupuncture, aromatherapy is widely used to complement the medical procedures and healing of a patient. Even on a daily basis, aromatherapy is used by regular people who just simply want to feel better.

The use of aromatherapy traces back centuries ago as they are being used by royalty to help make their areas smell good and at the same time, they use certain scents to heal certain illness and its symptoms. It is called aromatherapy when the candles are infused with oils from certain plants and herbs that are known for their therapeutic properties.

When these oils are heated, their molecules are released into the air and when it inhaled, these molecules settles in the bloodstream of the person allowing its healing and therapeutic benefits to take effect. Aromatherapy is used to relieve people from the unwanted symptoms of cold, flu, sinusitis or even life’s daily stresses.

The most commonly used scents are jasmine, sandalwood, chamomile and lavender. While they have different effect, they generally help uplift a person’s feeling and even help put a person in a good mood. The soothing effects of aromatherapy can be felt almost instantaneously.

When it comes to medicine, there are a lot of different fields that people explore and try for themselves. Apart from the medical procedures from a licensed medical practitioner, these fields, while not yet given thorough scientific study, are also being used widely because of the positive effects they can bring. Aromatherapy can be a complement to traditional medicine and therapy but is effective for making people feel better. Additionally, it makes the room smell great. Aromatherapy should not be used by itself and cannot be solely relied on to treat certain medical conditions. It is good on a daily basis for a healthy person as it can maintain the balance in his mind, body, and spirit.

These candles are also popularly being used as gifts or as candle wedding favors as their purpose can easily be appreciated by anyone. In today’s hectic life, we could all use a little time to just sit back, relax, and breathe deeply. The natural healing and relaxation effects take over your body through the use of simple materials such as candles and oil. That is the allure of aromatherapy.