Recipe Suggestions for Heart Shaped Desserts

Desserts are probably the most anticipated part of every meal. Whether cakes, tarts, ice cream or just candies, desserts appeal to everyone regardless of age. There are now so many different dessert items and while it is important for these desserts to taste good, it is important that they look sumptuous as well. We even have different plating suggestions and different items we use to serve desserts. For heart-shaped desserts, here are some recipe suggestions that will satisfy not just your taste, but your eyes as well.

To make your cake a little “sweeter” than the usual without having to add sugar, make it a heart-shaped cake next time. To make this, prepare the cake as you would with any other style of cake. Make the cake a simple chiffon cake for easier molding compared to layered ones which can have cream or graham crusts that could break. Use a large square or round cake dish as the cake will be re-shaped later on. The final size will be smaller than the dish. When you are finished baking the cake and it has rested, using your kitchen knife, cut out the round cake and make the edges into a heart shape. Score the cake with the knife before cutting it and make sure that the size of the heart is proportional. Now you cover it with icing, frosting or place sweet toppings such as chocolate shavings on top. You can use heart-shaped boxes or just the regular square box for your packaging and wait until they see the surprise inside.

You can also make heart-shaped gelatins that will have everyone giggle with fun. The package instructions on gelatin packs are basically the same – mix one pack of the gelatin with two cups of hot water and pour the mixture in a shallow dish. Place it in the fridge to chill and with the use of a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out the gelatin into small heart-shapes that are bite-sized.

Heart-shaped goodies and desserts are best for family gatherings and on special lovely occasions such as heart-shaped cakes for your loved ones on Valentine’s Day or heart wedding favors like cookies at weddings. Heart shaped goodies are a refreshing break from the usual desserts and sweet pastries that you see on the dining table.

Using a Heart Theme for Your Wedding

Love is a matter of the heart. So what better image or symbol to represent love but the heart itself. The human heart gives a person his life, and for most people, if not for everyone, love truly does bring a person to life. There are so many things that love and the heart has in common so it is no wonder that the heart has always been the symbol associated with love. One look at this single image and you exactly know what the other person means.

During Valentine’s Day you can see red hearts everywhere. If you get a card, it probably has at least one image of a heart. And of course most especially for weddings, the heart is always present to remind everyone about the love that fills this special occasion. If you want love to really shower your wedding, or rather, hearts at that, here are some ideas you can incorporate on your wedding day.

You can print images of heart on your invitation. You can have it embossed or simply printed out as an image. You can also choose heart-shaped invitations or the envelopes for your invitations have edges of heart shapes. You can try looking at the draft layout first to see which placement you will like the most.

For the ring pillows, they come in rectangular, round, and there are ring pillows that are heart-shaped, perfect for your heart themed wedding. For place holders, you can have them in heart shapes for that cute but lovely touch. For your heart wedding favors, you can get key chains that are heart-shaped, small picture frames, and as well as edible favors like cupcakes that can be made into heart shapes. There are cupcake papers as well that are printed with cute heart shapes.

You can consult your wedding coordinator on floral arrangements and wedding decorations that are heart shaped. If you will place your wedding favors as table centerpiece, you can arrange them to look heart-shaped as well. Have a little creativity and you will never run out of heartfelt decoration ideas.

Your wedding is that one special event where you can truly express yourself and as well as express it through the wedding set-up. A heart wedding theme is a great theme that will truly make your guests feel the love between the two of you. Let your heart speak out and let the people see it with how you decorate your wedding.

How Your Heart and Body Suffer Through Over Exercising

The physical state of your body and your health can dictate so many things in your life. A healthy body lets you enjoy your life beyond what you thought you can. You can spend more quality time with family and friends instead of resting in your bed or in the hospital.

For some though, they are healthy and are not spending time healing or recuperating in a hospital. But they have little time for family, friends, and other important aspects of their life because their time is mostly spent at the gym or obsessing over exercise. A healthy body is indeed important because how you take care of your body will tell how much you will take care of others as well, but over exercising will not let you achieve this.

If you find yourself spending more than three hours in the gym, then you may be over exercising. People who over exercise and are obsessed with working out will not let others interfere with their workout routine. If you invite such person to an event, they will pass on the invitation without realizing that the time for that occasion is actually more important that spending time in the gym too frequently. If you are also closely monitoring your calories and inches around your waist unreasonably, then it is also a possible sign of over exercising because exercise should be evaluated based on overall results and the quality of your performance.

You will experience more injuries, more muscle cramps, and increased heartbeats when you over exercise. Increased heartbeats in itself is not a great sign of a healthy person, and of all vital organs, the heart should be the one who will truly benefit and not be harmed every time you exercise. If your resting heart rate is higher than before you started working out, then this could be a sign of too much exercise. Constant muscle pain is also a bad sign. Your body needs time to recover between workouts and heal itself.

Your body, your heart specifically, allows you to do so many great things in your love. The heart is known as a symbol for love that is very popular during Valentine’s Day and as heart wedding favors as well. Thus, keeping your heart and your body healthy will make love ever present in your life because your physical status and your emotional status will allow you to accomplish all the things that you want to. Over exercising can put a damper on so many things in your life. So although exercise is a good and healthy habit, be sure to keep your life in balance and look out for signs of over-exertion.

The Heart as a Symbol of Love

The heart has always been the top symbol to represent love. Drawing a heart and placing the symbol of the heart is limited only to those people and things we love. The heart is ever present in important romantic and love-related celebrations such as Valentine’s Day or weddings that even heart wedding favors are gaining more popularity.

The heart has always been the center of human life. Without the heart or when the heart stops beating, it signals the end of life for a person. As with love, people feel that their life only starts when love is present in their lives. When a relationship ends or when love fades, some people also feel that it is as though their life ended as well.

At the start of love, people feel as if their heart is beating faster because of the joy and excitement they feel when seeing or being with the person they love. This heartbeat of course can be linked and traced to the heart. If a relationship is ending or when a person feels hurt because of a lost love, it is also the heart that feels it among all the other human body parts. The heart feels a certain ache that can only be associated with a fleeing love, and the pain also causes the person to cry so much or feel so much that their breathing becomes shallow and fast. This sensation can medically be linked to the heart, thus the term heartache or heartbreak is used.

A person with a healthy heart can do so many things and feel as if nothing can stop him. They don’t get sick and can do all physical activities that they want to. A happy heart when it comes to love can do the same thing as well. People full of love can feel as if they can do so many things because not only are they physically healthy, but the emotional motivation will drive them to do many things.

The heart has always been a symbol of love and always will be. It would be hard to imagine associating love with the stomach or the pancreas, but the heart will indeed always represent the same things that love does. Love can make you feel as if you are on the top of the world, and a healthy, happy heart can make it possible in many different ways.

The Warning Signs of Falling Out of Love

Love is indeed a powerful emotion. It has been said that love can make a person do things he would not normally do. Love is what every single person wants and needs. But love is not without its flaws. Too much love or little can be very dangerous to a relationship. Too much love can turn you blind from reality, and too little will hinder your relationships growth. Sometimes, people fall out of love and don’t feel and react the same way to a person over the course of time.

There are warning signs that you should look for so you can remedy the situation immediately. However, one must know as well when to leave.

When a person is falling out of love, he may spend little time communicating with the other person. The person who was once at the front of his mind is no longer the priority. Thus, phone calls are sometimes not made even for special occasions and emails get less and less frequent. Communication is indeed very important in a relationship and having too little of this can create cracks in the relationship that may not easily be fixed.

The time spent together and the meaning behind that time spent together also seems to decrease. You see each other less frequently or when you do, you do not have fun as much as you used to. There are now other things that are placed on top of this very important person and the urgency to please the other person will diminish as well.

What used to be cute can now be considered pet peeves. What you didn’t mind then is now being highlighted, causing conflicts where there used to be none.

Remember that at the center of a growing relationship is love. Falling in love is something that you should feel with both heart and mind every single day. Love that comes from the heart can be expressed in many different ways. What the heart feels is ultimately what will show. The heart has been a sign synonymous to love which is why heart wedding favors are growing increasingly popular. And with the love that comes from the heart, the relationship has to be nurtured every day.

Get the Perfect Hair Color Just for You

Your hair can tell a lot about you, and more importantly it can make you look good or look bad depending on how you wear it. Using hair color is an expression of one’s personality and can be fun as well. Ultimately, people use hair color to feel good about themselves and look good.

However, just like most things you wear, whether jewelry, make-up or clothes, there are some important considerations before you use and wear something. Otherwise, the wrong choice can make you look worse than you might expect.

In choosing a hair color, make the color complement your skin tone and the color of your eyes, not match it. A complementing color can give richness to your look instead of looking monochromatic. Some people have warm skin tones that go well with cool hair color shades, while there are some people with cool skin tones that will benefit well when they choose warm colors for their hair.

If you have subtle shades of peach or blue in your skin, go for cool hair colors such as gold or red. For undertones of pink or paleness in your skin, use black or brown colors for your hair.

If at first try you are not as pleased or ecstatic about your hair color, try making gradual changes on the color’s shade. Do not change it drastically or change the general category of shade that you are using. If your first choice in the warm hair color shade didn’t work, try using another softer or darker shade but still in the same category. Moving to a cool shade instantly will bring you unflattering results.

If you are still in doubt, consult a hair color expert at your favorite salon. A hair stylist may be your best friend, but a good hair stylist isn’t automatically a hair color expert. Hair color experts have worked with different hair colors and eye colors and skin tones as well, giving them great experience and learning what hair color would be best for you. Just like in clothes, there are some things that work well with another person, but on you, they don’t look as good as you expect them to. When choosing your hair color, it is the same as well.

Choosing your hair color requires thought and a vision as you would when choosing your paint color for your bedroom or choosing wedding colors for that special day. And for hair color that people will see on you every day, it is important that the color can make you feel good and look good at the same time.

Home Decorating Tips: Color Suggestions for Small Bedrooms

Colors have special meanings and some colors may be best for one occasion but can be tacky or inappropriate for another event. Even in simple tasks such as signing your name, most people will not use a red pen for their signature. So for special events like weddings or birthdays, your choice of wedding colors or birthday colors should be appropriate. The color black may be best for a formal business occasion, but that color is considered inappropriate for a joyful celebration such as a wedding or a birthday.

For rooms, especially if you have a small room, you can create the appearance of a larger space also with the use of the right color. There are indeed colors that can make your room feel even smaller, but there are colors as well that can make your room appear bigger.

The use of light colors, pastel colors, or natural hues is best for small rooms. Light colors such as light blue, soft yellow, or light green can make your room appear bigger than it really is. This is because these colors are naturally associated with nature, and when people think of nature, they first and foremost think about wide open space, and the same illusion happens to your room. Light colors will open up you space and a white ceiling can improve the visual height of your room. Same with the concept of opening up the room, a white ceiling can make your ceiling appear that it is farther than it really is.

Monochrome is also suggested because the use of two or more colors in your room can make the walls look small. They can see the exact size of each area (because of the division) and it lets them see the real size of your room.

For a flowing look, use the same shade as that of the walls if you are to paint your floors as well. This can make your room feel as one and the division or partitions between them will be invisible. What will be obvious is that there is only one color present and the lightness of this color creates an illusion of more space.

The use of the right color can make you achieve great results without having to tear down your bedroom wall. This is a great way to make your room bigger and at the same time the pastel, light, or natural tones can make you feel relaxed inside your own bedroom.

Spring Wedding Color Ideas

The seasons of spring and summer are considered to be the best seasons for an outdoor wedding. Without having to worry about the wind’s chill or snow, spring and summer casts the sun’s vibrant life and energy to any occasion, especially weddings. When choosing colors for your wedding, your preference will be the final deciding factor. However, if you want to go for the popular and fool-proof colors that will truly make the vibrant season blend with your romantic celebration, here are some spring wedding color suggestions that you can use.

Because of the vibrancy of this color and being the same color as the sun, yellow is the most popular choice as a spring wedding color. Especially when having an outdoor wedding, yellow centerpieces, yellow wedding favors and other wedding items in yellow will truly light up the ambience of the wedding. Yellow is one of the bright colors that may not be great with a winter wedding, but is a fool-proof color for spring. Light blue is another popular spring wedding color as the sky is cast in this color during spring. The sky’s horizon casts a light blue shade and adopting this color for a spring wedding will guarantee a coordinated look. As with the fresh green leaves you can find during spring, green, both in dark green or light green shades is another great pick for your wedding color. Symbolizing a new life for the newlyweds, this color will indeed represent the new chapter in your life that you can look forward to.

Other wedding colors that you can choose should be of pastel or bright colors. Pastel hues are great because the soft, gentle colors will blend with the colors of spring especially for great photographs when having an outdoor wedding. Bright colors are best if you are having an indoor wedding and would want your reception venue to be as bright as the sun outside.

Your choice of wedding color will be used from the invitation, to the centerpieces, to the wedding favors. Make sure that your color will reflect not just your personality, but will look good on photo, at your venue, and complements your overall theme. Your wedding color is a major aspect of your wedding and what you choose will definitely affect the not just you but the guests as well. But with these vibrant colors, your guests will bask in the sunshine as well as your wedding colors.

Wedding Decorating Tips: Choosing Your Wedding Colors and Flowers

A person’s favorite color can be because it is considered a lucky color for them, or their astrology points to that specific color as their birth month color, or it can be just one’s personal preference. No matter what the rationale behind it is, every person has their own favorite color that influences the colors of the clothes they wear, the shoes they buy, or even the car that they drive. As with flowers, most women have their favorite flowers because it has a special meaning for them or for some, it can be just because the flower looks amazing to them.

For weddings, it is important that the wedding colors and flowers are coordinated with each other. You can choose one or more colors just as long as they look good as a pairing. You can choose a specific shade and then find a flower that is available in the same shade as well, or you can choose the flower first and use the color as the primary color for the other details. No matter what you do, what is important is that the colors and flowers reflect your own personal style.

You should also choose colors that complement each other. You can use two different colors, or just one color available in a lighter and darker shade. You can follow the color wheel or the color palette to see whether you are using complementary colors or whether the pairing looks odd and distasteful.

If you choose the color first, pick at least two colors before heading off to your florist. If you only have one color in mind, you might be limited to the choices of flowers in the same shade. If you have two colors, you can see a wider range of flower options and you can now choose a color and the flower both in the same shade that is to your liking. With more options, it means you can choose flowers that are in season and have low prices instead of having a specific flower to be flown over to your place to suit your wedding. Remember that your choice of flowers should match your budget as well.

Choosing your wedding colors and flowers can be fun, and your desired look can be achieved with the right use of color combination and flower choices that complements the ambience as well.

How Wine is Produced

Wine is a regular inclusion in fancy dinners, in lavish parties, or given as gifts or favors such as wine wedding favors during such lovely occasions. It is fascinating how ordinary grapes can turn into such an exquisite drink that only gets better with aging.

The process starts by carefully selecting the grapes that will be used for the wine. The grape has to be right for picking and has to be moved from this process to the next in a timely manner so the grapes will stay fresh. Some vineyards use machines to harvest the grapes so that the task can be finished faster. Because everything in the planting process was controlled, they know which ones to harvest even without checking them manually one by one.

Before the grapes have a chance to spoil, the fresh grapes are now de-stemmed and crushed. An accidental inclusion of the stem in the wine-making process can spoil the end results because the stem can add a pungent taste to the liquid. After all the stems have been removed, the grapes are now crushed to extract its juices. Yeast is now added to the liquid to start the fermentation process. Yeast converts the juices to alcohol and carbon dioxide, giving the wine its distinctive aroma and taste.

After fermentation, it will take years for the wines to age. Ageing is done by placing the wines in a stainless steel barrel or for some, in oak barrels, and they are kept in a controlled environment for years. The proper ageing years should be kept and the wine must be monitored because keeping them shorter or longer than the time required will produce either a simple grape juice or vinegar in extreme cases. Next, filtering is done as well to ensure that the wine will remain clear and free from any sediment that may form.

When the wine has undergone all these steps, the wine is now ready to be bottled. The empty air space in a bottle should actually be free from air because the presence of air can affect the taste and quality of the wine. Proper care during transit is needed as well especially for bottles that are capped with corks because smell and taste may penetrate and thus affect the wine.

The wine is now available to be sold in markets and to be enjoyed the world over. There are only some countries that produce wines extensively and wine distributors make sure that wine is readily supplied to every market possible.

How to Serve Wine and Cheese at a Party

Wine has always been associated with everything classy, elegant, and passionate. We share candlelit dinners with wine with that special someone, give wine as gifts for special people in our lives, and give wine wedding favors for that very romantic celebration.

A wine and cheese party is the same, but made more fun. If you want to have a wine and cheese party that will bring out the inner elegance that you and your friends have and have a break from the usual pizza and beer party, here’s a quick guide to be the perfect host for such a party.

If you have your favorite wine, make the wine as the primary dish and choose your cheeses according to the wine. Or if you have a special cheese in mind that you definitely want to serve, make this the focal point and have the wine suit the cheese, and not the other way around. Either way, the key here is to make your preference stand out when choosing the wine and cheese to be served.

For the pairings, here are some of the well-loved wine and cheese groupings: Pair Swiss Cheese or Brie Cheese with Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir. If you want Reggiano or Gruyere, it is best to pair them with either Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Shiraz. Another classic pairing is Cheddar with Shiraz, or Monterey jack with Riesling or Merlot. Pair soft or semi-soft cheeses with a light wine variety and hard or semi-hard cheeses with a harder blend of wine.

Place cheeses at room temperature 3 hours before consuming them. Cheese tastes its best in this temperature than when cold. Serve at least 2 to 3 types of cheeses per wine. An ideal allotment is 4 ounces of each type of cheese per person. It would be good if you can have extra cheese on hand, but having less cheese can definitely spoil the party. Chill wines before serving them and use the right wine glass. Having a great wine is not enough because despite its taste, if you place them in the wrong glass, the true taste and quality of the wine will not shine through.

Now you can invite your friends over to a great-tasting wine and cheese party. Complete your party with a fun crowd, great music and make this the start of many wine and cheese parties. With many cheese and wine pairings that you can choose from, you can definitely have one party after another.

Your Guide to Red Wine

Wine has always been a symbol of fun and elegance at the same time. It doesn’t matter whether it is just a simple dinner or a grand wedding celebration. Wines will always bring out a touch of elegance yet fun and festive atmosphere at the same time. Wine can be enjoyed on its own, paired with a meal, and has always been one of the top choices for elegant gifts or exquisite favors such as wine wedding favors. Wines are not cheap, so giving them away means that the receiver is truly someone special.

Red wine particularly has been known to symbolize romance and passion. Because of the red color, it is representative of blood which means life, and others prefer red wine due to the color that is closest to its raw ingredient which is grapes.

Drinking red wine is not just delightful, but it also packs a lot of benefits for your health. Particularly for the heart, studies have shown that drinking red wine on a regular basis can greatly improve your health. According to studies, men and women who consume two glasses and one glass of red wine respectively can cut their risk of heart disease by as much as 30%. This is because red wine, particularly the grapes that it comes from, is loaded with antioxidants and natural agents that keep the heart healthy.

Resveratrol, a natural component of grapes, is known to reduce the level of bad cholesterol and raise HDL or the good cholesterol to a higher level. It has been said that they help prevent blood clots and remove plaque formations in the heart. Resveratrol also helps speed up metabolism, so pharmaceutical companies say that drinking red wine can help you lose or maintain your weight.

If you have no problem drinking alcohol, then slowly incorporate red wine into your lifestyle and pretty soon you can enjoy the benefits. There is a warning though for those who do not drink regularly. Don’t start drinking too frequently at the onset, but instead, start by drinking occasionally and increase consumption as time goes on. Let your body adjust to the alcohol intake. If not, your body will pack up empty calories from the red wine resulting in unwanted weight gain.

Popular red wine grape varieties are Barbera, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each has a different texture, taste, and characteristics, as unique as their country of origin. Red wine will always be popular for so many reasons, but topping it all is the taste and enjoyment that you get in every single sip of your favorite red wine.

Suggestions When Cooking Seafood with White Wine

Cooking can be as simple or as elaborate and complex as you want it to be. For most chefs, adding wine can mean that this is a very special dish and this ingredient can definitely make the dish have a very distinctive taste. Wine, when enjoyed as a beverage, can complement the dish and cleanse the palette at the same time. In cooking, the alcohol content in the wine is heated. Thus, the flavors are released into the dish and the right choice of wine can mean that the flavor of the wine can be absorbed by the meat.

One must be careful though with the amount of wine that will be added in the dish. Too little can have very little effect as well and may not be enough to achieve the desired taste, while too much can overpower the taste of the dish and may in turn make the dish taste too strong.

White wine is best enjoyed with seafood. Whether during eating or combining it in the dish or while cooking, white wine can bring out the taste, texture, and flavors of the fish. It can complement the saltiness of fish and the wine will not overpower the flavor of the dish (as compared to red wine).

For soups recipes with seafood and tomatoes, you can use Rose and other wine variants in this category. But specifically for shrimps, whether boiled in soups, grilled, or sauteed, Dry Fino Sherry will be the best wine to use. This dry wine will really bring out the sweetness and the saltiness of the shrimp. When working with a seafood stew, it is best if you use Pinot Noir in the dish, while you can use Albarino for lighter seafood dishes and sushi dishes that use fish. For seafood cocktail, most chefs would recommend the use of Pinot Blanc, and they would recommend Chablis or Champagne for oysters.

Wine can definitely raise your meals to a whole new level. Wine can indeed be enjoyed in so many ways. You can mix it in your dishes, make it your beverage while dining, or even give them out as gifts or wine wedding favors to symbolize a very romantic and elegant occasion. Next time you’re cooking fish, try out a recipe that calls for white wine, get the right white wine, and you will definitely be cooking up some more.

Dining Tips: Food and Wine Pairing Basics

Wines have always been and will always be something that symbolizes romance, love and elegance. You can enjoy wine on its own, when you are having a party, give it away as a gift to a special friend, or as party favors like wine wedding favors to cap off a romantic wedding event.

However, as with any other beverage, it is best if you can find the perfect food pair for the drink. A cold can of beer is great with pizza, and a plate loaded with nachos and chips is perfect with a can of ice cold soda. For wine, there are some factors that you have to consider so your food and wine pairing will be perfect as well.

Generally, white wines work well with seafood and meals with cream sauce or mild cheeses. Red wines on the other hand works well with meats, grilled food and other equally heavy meals. The basic rule of thumb is, light wines go with light food choices, while heavy wines go with heavy food choices. Wines are definitely not your appetizers or side dishes. Wine tends to be the star once it is present in any meal so it is important to note that any meal that is to be paired with the wine should not overpower the flavor of the drink.

The use of the right wine glass is also important. For such elegant occasions, presentation is important as well since taste is often influenced by perception. The right glass for the right wine will truly show the quality and intensity of the wine. By placing it in an ordinary glass or in the wrong wine glass, you will cheapen the image of the wine for your dinner guests.

A fun and fool proof way create the perfect pairing is by heading off to your local restaurant because some of them offer menus that are already paired with the proper wine choice. You can also learn and it will really be informative when the waiter explains to you the pairings and gives you ideas you can use at home.

Most of all, wine and food pairings are meant to be enjoyed. When you get to learn the basics, you can just whip up any meal and instantly find the best wine to go with it. With this information at hand, you can easily create romantic candlelit dinners with the perfect food and wine pairings.

How to Properly Store Wine

Storing wines can be tricky. It is not as easy as storing a bottle of beer and is definitely more complicated and demanding than storing your favorite can of soda. Wine needs to be stored properly or you will destroy the possibility of reaching its maturity and eventually it will lose its taste and spoil. There are professionals who do wine storage as their profession or business, but instead of paying fees for them to store your wine, here are some suggestions that you may want to try.

The storage environment plays a crucial role in the proper storage of wine. Whether you have an extensive wine cellar or a makeshift room in your basement that can serve as a cellar, this has little effect but the overall condition of the environment is important. Remember that almost every aspect of storing wine should be controlled and monitored as closely as possible and not just left in the back of an ordinary refrigerator.

First of all, the storage environment should be a cool, dark place. Allowing sunlight to penetrate your wine bottles, especially if you have clear bottles will make your wine develop an unpleasant smell. Of course once this happens, it is close to impossible to reverse this condition and when that special occasion arrives that requires you to open that bottle of wine, it will be too late.

The temperature also plays a crucial part as the taste and quality of the wine is largely dependent on this. Remember that almost everything in a storage place must be controlled and temperature must be one of them. Monitor the temperature and avoid sudden changes. The temperature must be constant for the entire duration of the wine storage.

You must also avoid moving the wine bottles. Shaking the bottle, even through just changing its position, can affect the wine. Even during shipping, wines need to rest after the transportation for it to settle and regain its taste and quality.

For businesses, it is important to keep the wine storage place as controlled and monitored as possible. If you are storing large numbers of wines at home, such as wine wedding favors that you intend to give away soon, have a makeshift space in your closet or an allotted space in your fridge, depending on the temperature required, where you can store the wines safely and properly.

Celebrate Your Wedding with the Right Wine

Wine can make any celebration livelier and one can say that wine is a signal to just go and have fun and enjoy the party. For wedding receptions, wine is generally served because wine is synonymous with romance and celebration just like chocolates. However, before you head off and buy boxes upon boxes of the cheapest wine on sale or your favorite white wine, there are some things that you have to consider.

First of all, determine whether your guests will totally enjoy having wine around or if the crowd consists of mostly people who don’t drink. Serving wine should make your guests truly happy. If you think they will not be overly ecstatic about it, then maybe you just pass on serving wine. If it is something they expect, then you should have boxes of wine ready. Look through you checklist and see if most of the people are wine drinkers or not. If in doubt, ask around or get some just in case.

Another consideration is the time of your wedding. If you are having a morning wedding, then you can either totally pass on serving wine or you can serve everyone a glass during the toast or another part of the reception party. If you are having an afternoon party, you can have a few bottles ready and for evening weddings, be prepared to have wine on hand for the rest of the evening.

Of course another consideration is your wedding budget. There are premium and expensive wines around, but there are also cheaper versions. The key is being able to allot time, have a wine-tasting session, and determining the number of bottles you need. That way, no bottle will be put to waste and every single glass served will be enjoyed and worth the expense. For a great wine experience, you can choose between Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, or Chardonnays. There are many varieties under each type and you can choose depending on the type of food you will be serving. The right pairing will truly elevate the taste of both the food and the wine.

Finally, you should take into account the type of food being served. Generally, white wine goes well with cheeses and fish and red wine is good with meat dishes. Be sure to get wine that complements the food choices or better yet, have both red and white wine available for your guests.

If the serving wine at your wedding reception is still not enough, you can give wine wedding favors to your guests such as miniature bottles or half-bottles of wine. Remember though that the cost of these will be added onto your total budget.

Diaper Cakes and Other Fun Gifts You Can Make from Diapers

These products of creative genius are called diaper cakes and are a perfect blend of form and functionality - they’re pretty enough to be used as table decorations and yet, their contents are exactly what a mom to be needs in order to take care of her little one.

With diaper cakes, the possibilities are limitless; if the baby is a girl, why not choose butterflies for your theme? Butterflies are colorful and easy to work with as they do not limit you on the things you can put on your cake. So go ahead and take your pick from all the forms butterflies come in.

Once you have selected your theme for your diaper cake, do some rolling and tucking, even some pinning if you wish to make the layers of your diaper cake. As with real cakes, your bottom layer will be the largest, followed by the smaller second layer and if you fancy, a third layer which should be the smallest. After that’s done, decorate the cake with a sprinkling if confetti here and there, maybe throw on some glitter, add some ribbons, add your paper or fabric flowers and some silk, plastic, nylon and rubber butterflies. The materials mentioned above are pretty easy to find and are available in most craft and toy stores. Think outside the box and go to the bookstore where you can find materials for your diaper cake as well. If nothing in the store catches your eye, you can always check online for ideas and even order your materials from an online store, just make sure you order them well before the party date to give ample room for the delivery time, returns and exchanges.

When working with a tight budget that leaves no room for pricey shopping, work with what you have. Rummage around your house for some clothespins and coffee filters. You can use the coffee filters for the butterfly’s body by splitting it in two while, being careful not to rip the folded area. Take some pieces of tissue paper and roll them, once done, glue them along the fold. Now you have the body. Next, just use your coloring materials to decorate the wings and with the use of the clothespins, attach to your diaper cake.

If you know the baby’s name, you can also include it in your cake using letter cut-outs; include some bottles of baby shampoo, oil, maybe even a bar of baby soap. Whatever you put in your diaper cake, any tired parent will be sure to appreciate.

You can also make diaper teddy bears, ducks, or dolls. Just roll up the diapers and tie them up with rubber bands or ribbon. These will be the units that you will use to build your crafts. You can roll the diapers long or shape them into spheres.

Finally, the diaper wreath is another popular diaper craft, especially around Christmas. Roll the diapers lengthwise and tie them together with ribbon, tape, or rubber bands. Avoid using staples and glue but instead use fasteners that are easily removed so that the diapers can easily be reused. Lastly, feel free to add other useful items to your diaper art like pacifiers and baby bottles. The new mom will be sure to appreciate this creative gift.

Party Tips: Deciding Between Disposable Tableware and Household Tableware

As far as party planning goes, the tableware issue always pops up, shall we use the disposable tableware or not? This issue appears particularly in planning baby showers wherein getting the green light from the future mom to use disposable baby shower tableware is crucial.

Some people are okay with using disposable utensils during a party. On the other end of the spectrum, you have people who are opposed to using plastic spoons, forks and knives. To help you decide, here are some things to consider.

Pros of Disposable Tableware
First pro to consider is the cleaning time. Using disposable tableware during the party cuts your clean-up time considerably once the celebration is done. Your choice of plastic tableware could be plain or fancy, but once everyone has left it’s the person in charge of the cleaning who will be stuck with the tedious job of tidying up the place and make sure all traces of the party are gone. With your choice of plastic tableware, there is no need for washing as these can go the recycling bin right away.

Second thing to take into account is the party theme. Plastic tableware comes in a plethora of colors some of which are sure to fit your chosen theme perfectly like Disney’s Little Mermaid which calls for some funky green, blue, yellow and red cutlery that only the disposable plastic kind can deliver.

And thirdly, disposable tableware is inexpensive.

Cons of Disposable Tableware
Number one on this list is the environmental concerns some folks may have, especially as people become more environmentally aware. If your guests are environmentally conscious people, then using regular dishes might be a good idea to consider.

Next point is some of these cheap utensils are not too sturdy. Sometimes the plastic prongs on forks can break off into the food and if people are not careful, then these parts can be ingested. Also, it is sometimes harder to use plastic utensils than silverware to eat with.

Ultimately, whether you use disposable tableware or not is up to you. If the thought of cleaning up afterwards is stressing you, then by all means go ahead with the disposables. For smaller parties, regular dishes will do just fine.

If children are present, an adult can be asked to keep an eye of the little ones who aren’t quite used to feeding themselves yet to make sure they don’t break their plastic forks and spoons in their food. Also, remind the older children to be careful lest they become too excited and start running around with plastic forks and knives.

What ever your party plans, don’t dwell too much on the tableware issue as the constant worrying might dampen your mood. Talk to the other people that are planning the party with you and decide on which is the best choice for your party.

Budget Conscious Decorating Ideas for a Baby Shower

When it comes to choosing baby shower decorations, it all comes down to how much money you have and are willing to spend. The organizers need to agree on a price range so that they can each start coming up with the cash to be pooled until they reached the agreed-upon amount. The details of the amount limit can be discussed among the organizers. How the baby shower turns out comes down to the organizers’ budget.

The Penniless Budget!
Cease your panicking, there’s a way to this. You might not have the big bucks to spend for decorations but you may still have your party and still enjoy yourself. This means a lot of creativity and economizing on your part. Use decorations that you already have around you whether it’s at your house or at your other chosen venue. Why, even the gifts and food people bring can be used as decorations. Consider asking people to bring unwrapped gifts if they are to be used as decoration anyway. If they do insist on wrapping said gifts, request them to wrap them as festively as they can manage. They’re sure to brighten up the room when placed on tables as centerpieces.

A Small Budget
When the organizers are able set aside a small amount for the budget, then go all out and buy balloons, candles or colorful disposable tableware. Gone are the days of boring paper plates and equally as boring clear plastic cutlery. Today’s paper plates have colorful prints - spoons and forks come in every color of the rainbow and even glasses and cups are brightly colored and come in some really fun shapes. Even disposable paper napkins come with cartoon characters printed on them. Also, bring in some of your smaller flowering shrubs from the garden. Balloons are cheap and can either float or stay on the floor. Sprinkle in some confetti and string some ribbons made of crepe paper to add an extra kick.

The Rockstar Budget!
This is for people who don’t have a limited budget and just want to throw a great party. Why not hire a decorator and or event coordinator to do all the work. You can leave it up to the professionals to decorate it anyway the host or mom-to-be wants it. Remember though, it is still wise to keep an eye on the event planner just so you get the results that you want and no surprises.

Wherever you fall among the three categories, always remember that the point of your party is to have fun. You don’t need megabucks to enjoy a party and not spending a ton on decorations is okay as long as they are nice looking and tastefully done.

How to Find Supplies and Decorations for a Baby Shower

Baby showers are a great way to celebrate the coming birth of a new baby. Gathering together to surprise the about-to-be mommy will involve all the planning and the decision making on what to serve, how to decorate and more. People who have never thrown a baby shower before may not know where to start looking for all the necessary baby shower supplies.

Supplies needed for a baby shower are very easy to find if one were to know where to look for them. Party planners already have a directory full of names and numbers of suppliers to make their lives easier. Most of these suppliers have websites that can be easily found online. Ordering and paying online is easy to do and the delivery can be done within a matter of days, some as soon as overnight.

The invitations are the easiest. They can be ordered from the printers and they could also be bought off the rack. There are also those who can make a custom made invitation just for the baby shower party. Remember though, when choosing custom made ones that some places will have minimum orders. If you only need a few, then it might be economical to print them yourself or use a local print shop.

For party souvenirs, again online shops are the easiest places to go to. There are literally thousands of these e-supply stores and they operate 24/7 so even going through them in the middle of the night or the wee hours of the morning is not an issue. Again, ordering, paying and delivery are easy. Talk to the mother to be and show her the choices that had been narrowed down for her. Let her have the final say on the souvenir and order ASAP so there would be no question of delays.

The local bakery is the best choice for a cake to order, but then again there are also online bakers which can have the cake delivered unscathed and in edible condition. There are really some fantastic choices out there so it is worth taking a look around. However, it is still safest to order from the local bakeshop since there is no risk of the cake being damaged in transit or arriving late due to shipping issues. Also, there is always the choice of making one yourself for the party.

Decorations for the party will greatly depend on the theme and the budget. There are some themes which are cheap and then there are others which can be very expensive. Choose items that are inexpensive like colored plastic and paper tableware. Disposable tableware is easy to clean up as well. Other baby shower decorations include streamers, balloons, and a diaper cake or some other baby shower centerpiece.

The food can be catered, homemade or pot luck. The choice really depends on the planners and how many people are invited. If there are too many people coming in from all over the place, catering would be the simplest solution.

Finding supplies needed for a baby shower party is easy, if you know where to look for them. You might even enjoy searching for these and browsing through the many ideas for hosting a baby shower party.

Ideas and Recipes for Chocolate Drinks

Women and chocolate are hard to tear apart, and men often like chocolate as well. For years, chocolate has been used in ordinary candies, Girl Scout cookies, baby shower chocolate cakes, and many other cooking recipes.

However, asides from chocolate milk, most people rarely think to use chocolate in their drinks. Here are a few mixes for popular drinks that have chocolate as the main ingredient.

Irish Cocoa Drink – this is similar to Irish coffee, but using vodka and chocolate instead. Mix chocolate yogurt with vodka, Bailey’s, and chocolate liquor in a blender with lots of ice. Blend till smooth and serve immediately in a tall glass. Do not let stand or it will just get grabbed by someone else!

Choco-tini (spicy) – spice up the chocolate martini by blending together in a shaker coffee, cinnamon sticks, vodka and chocolate ice cream. Shake until the shaker frosts and pour into rimmed glasses that had been dipped in a mixture of cocoa syrup and cinnamon liqueur. Chili powder can be added for an extra kick. Careful, this spicy chocolate drink can be addicting and is an appetite stimulant.

Choco-tini (sweet) - some do not like spicy chocolate and would settle for a good old sweet martini. Again, mix in a shaker the following: creme de cacao, chocolate vodka or plain vodka, cream and chocolate milk. Pour a little molten chocolate or syrup around the rim of the glasses. Shake and pour the mixture into the glass.

Choco-Banana – if you like both bananas and chocolate, then this is the drink for you. In a mixer, blend in banana liquor, crème de cacao liqueur, cocoa powder, vanilla syrup, milk and a chopped banana. This will come out more like a smoothie so add a lot of ice. Serve in a glass and top with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.

Cherry Chocolate – this is a really good cherry drink flavored with chocolate. Mix up amaretto, grenadine and cocoa syrup with some cream. Serve in a shot glass.

For those who don’t like alcoholic drinks but still love chocolate drinks, don’t add any of the liquors. Why not just do the traditional cocoa drink in a hot pan and add lots of marshmallows instead of sugar. Once the ingredients are melted pour in natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup. Serve in a mug and top off with more marshmallows. This is a great drink that can be enjoyed any time of the day.

There are other more chocolate drinks that anyone could search for online or in books. Choose non-alcoholic chocolate drinks to serve to children and non-drinkers while other adults can indulge in the alcoholic ones.

Tips for Using Candy in Your Baked Goods

It is tiresome to have to always rely on expensive caterers for a party as they always serve the same things. It is also a challenge to have to think up unusual foods for the party to make it more memorable for everyone who attends it. A good idea is to have an edible baby shower candy cake or birthday cookies with candy imbeds that can be either ordered from a baker or made at home.

One way that bakeshops sell their goods is through their sample baskets and displays on the counters and windows. If one were just starting out on a business involving these then giving samples to friends or making the souvenirs for the baby showers is a good way to sell the talent.

People don’t often use candy in their baking because they aren’t common cooking ingredients, but they are a unique way to make some delicious sweet treats for family and friends. Because candies are heated before they could be made to completion, they are usually safe inside the oven as well.

Candies can be used as effective cake decorations and embellishments. If you have a plain white cake with frosting, you can easily decorate it with candy. Grab hold of some gummy candies like gummy bears, insects, ribbons or other shapes and use these to decorate the perimeter and the center of the cake.

Choose colors that are complimentary to the color theme chosen for the occasion and choose the forms of the gummies that match the theme you have chosen for the cake. Gummy ribbons and licorice sticks come in several flavors and colors and these can be plain fruity flavors or sour ones.

To make a basket, arrange the ribbons alternately to get a basket weave effect. Surround the sides of the cake with these ribbons, do not be scared they will fall apart for the icing can hold on to them like glue and if there is doubt just pin a lollipop or a thin toothpick to keep the ribbon in place. To make handles, simply thread a ribbon with floral wire and shape.

Once the basket is done, get all sorts of candies, wrapped individually or not, and just place them inside the space of the basket. Any candy will do, even lollipops. There are also gum paste flowers that can be used if you want to achieve that exotic look, or just look for floral shaped candies to stick inside. Add green gummy ribbons and cut to shape leaves and stick in the spaces as accents.

This floral basket is a great cake that is easy to make and delicious to look at. If that is not the look that you want to achieve, just decorate a plain iced cake with any candy that you desire and you will still have a great delicious looking cake.

You can also use chocolate to give your baked goods extra flavor. Cut up some baby shower chocolate cigars or some peanut butter cups and you can use these to sprinkle around the perimeter of a chocolate or cream based cake. These can also be used in place of chocolate chips in cookies, particularly as the chocolate from chocolate cigars are usually of higher quality. Other fun baked treats to experiment with using candy are muffins, pastries, and even pies.

Baking Tips: Turning the Crunchy Cookie into a Chewy Cookie

Cookies are always a tasty treat that everyone loves, both kids and adults. There are so many recipes for cookies to choose from and people are always coming up with new ideas all the time.

Cookies are also a great gift idea. People often bake their own wedding cookies or baby shower cookies. But the question of what kind of cookie to make can be dictated by the following three considerations: the occasion or party theme, the choice of flavors for the cookies and the desired texture of whether they are crunchy or chewy or something in between?

A baker will usually know all kinds of recipes and can bake specialized cookies for any event. They should be able to make the cookies either crunchy or chewy. Most people who bake at home don’t know how to do control the texture and softness of the cookie, but it is not difficult to do. Here is a simple cookie baking tip that you can use to control a cookie’s texture:

Cookies are usually made from butter, shortening, eggs and sugar and then there are the added ingredients. Look at the recipe first and take note of the sugars used in it. There should be two ingredients that are commonly found: white and brown sugar. The secret of the texture is in the sugar and simply changing the ratio between white and brown will easily make a crunchy cookie into a chewy cookie.

To achieve a crunchy cookie, white sugar should have the heavier concentration than brown sugar. If the recipe calls for brown sugar, eliminate it completely and substitute with white sugar. For example: an oatmeal cookie recipe might ask 2 cups of white sugar and 2 cups brown sugar. To achieve a crunchy cookie, do away with the brown sugar and simply use 4 cups of white sugar. This is going to be a really crunchy cookie.

Semi-chewy/crunchy cookies will need another sugar measurement ratio. Again, going back to 2 and 2 between white and sugar, to make it a little more chewy use three cups brown sugar and one cup white sugar, but if you want it more crunchy than chewy then reverse the ratio to three cups white and one cup brown sugar.

The chewy cookies are going to be achieved by doing away with the white sugars altogether. So if the recipe calls for the half and half do away with the white and use the same measurement but this time using brown again. So use 4 cups of brown sugar and the gooey chewy cookie will be achieved easily.

Now, an added secret: to add more of the gooeyness to the cookies by adding honey, molasses or maple syrup. Use the same amount of brown sugar minus 1/4 cup. Use that amount for the substitute. That should make the cookie gooier than ever before.

Great Gift Ideas for an Adult Christening

For the adult who is just getting baptized into the religion of choice, this is a memorable day, much like getting married. It takes a lot of thinking and decision making to finally settle on getting baptized into a religion that one was not born and raised into. The baptism is usually held in a church while the celebration after it is usually held somewhere else. Of course, just like any christening, the guests usually bring in christening gifts to welcome the new member and receive baptism favors in return from the hosts. But that is easier said than done as it is easier to get a gift for a baby than it is for an adult. Here are some gift suggestions for adult baptism gifts:

A Sacred Book – no matter the religion there is always a sacred book and it is always a welcome and expected gift. There is no baptism that is without a sacred book given and if there is any, and then someone will rush out to get just to make sure there is at least one given to the celebrant.

A Holy Symbol – this is usually given as a pendant, a brooch or a ring. These symbols are also usually blessed by the celebrating official during the christening. Do not get one that will not represent the religion. In some cultures, receiving such a gift would mean wearing of the item at all times for at least a year.

Prayer Beads – there are several prayer beads used by the worshipper no matter what religion it is. Prayer beads help the worshipper to focus on their prayers and to also guide them through a set or series of prayers. These are usually used everyday especially on holy days.

Holy Oils – these are a little more expensive for these are pure essential oils which are later on blessed by the officiating priest. For Catholics, Frankincense oil is highly valued as much as oil of myrrh both of which were given to the infant Jesus by the Three Kings. The holy oil is used to guard against any form of spiritual warfare and is also used in the last rites.

Decorative Item or Symbol – this is similar to a pendant or a brooch but these are larger and are supposed to be placed on the altar or on the wall. These images may be antique or not, but the most valued are the antique works of art usually made of hand carved wood. The usual images are that of the Virgin Mary and some Saints. They are used as a reminder of the holiness and sacrifice made by the individuals that they represent and to guide the new member to emulate their holy lives.

Blessed Cloth – there are some cloths considered for holy use as they are usually placed on altars. Usually families have an old altar cloth that had been handed down from generation to generation and it is customary for a new member to be welcomed with one or two so they could start their own traditions.

Choosing a gift may be tough, but when one is pointed to the right direction, even getting gifts for newly christened adults can be easy.

Making Your Own Healthy Baby Food at Home

When you are blessed with a newborn baby, it is important to get the child off to a good start by feeding them with the most nutritious baby food that you can find. Baby food is readily available at your local grocery store and although some brands claim to be healthy, most bottled baby foods are processed and contain chemicals and preservatives that are not ideal for a baby’s consumption. One of the best ways to ensure your child gets the nutrients that he or she needs and avoids unnecessary additives is to make your own baby shower food.

Making your own baby shower favors like baby food is not hard. Actually, it is very easy to make and with a little experience, it will become a simple part of your daily routine. Homemade food is not only cheaper, but more delicious as well. It has no extenders and is definitely healthier than the bottled variety. Here are some simple to follow recipes that your baby is sure to love.

When doing any of these recipes, please do not use mineral water or bottled water with mineral salts in it. Always use distilled sterile water for this does not usually have sediments. The sediments may be harmful to the immature intestinal tract of the child. Note that the GI tract is immature until two years of age so use the right water.

A great vegetable to start with is the carrot as this is full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Simply wash the carrots clean and peel. Cut up into small pieces and place in saucepan. Make a batch as this can last up to three or four days in the fridge. Add bottled clear water to level off with the carrots and set to the lowest flame. Eventually, it will simmer and the carrots will soften. Remove from heat and mash. For finer results, push the mashed carrots through a metal sieve, but do not moisturize! This will release a gummy consistency and the taste could change. For babies four to six months the consistency should be really fine at first to gradually rougher in texture as the child gets older. The older child should be able to chew some tiny bits with their baby teeth if they already have them.

Apple sauce is usually a favorite among babies. Simply peel and core two or three Red Delicious apples, cut up into small pieces and put water to the level of the fruits. Simmer gradually on lowest heat until the apples are soft and easy to mash. Mash thoroughly through a sieve if need be and remove any pits or peel that may have been overlooked. This apple sauce should stay four days up to a week in the fridge.

The same system can be used with peaches. Do exactly the same thing as with the apples for the fresh peaches. Do not use canned peaches if the child is below six months of age. If the child is around six months the making of baby food is easier. Simply grab a can, drain the light syrup and place in clean container. Get the peach halves and push through the sieve and serve to the child.
Again, the finer the texture the better for younger babies, but gradually introduce the different textures so they learn how to chew.

You can even make your own baby food as gifts to other mothers or if you want to make your own baby shower favors for a baby shower party. As can be seen from the simple recipes above, healthy baby food does not have to be bought off the shelf. It can be made in a snap over the stove and will save lots of money.

Tricks to Get Children to Sit Still During Family Photos

One of the best ways to capture the memories of your family is to have a family photography session. People often like to have these photographs taken while their kids are young as a remembrance that the whole family can look back on after the children grow up. Photos are such a great way to capture the beauty of the moment and to remember the past.

There are also some who think that they have to let their kids pose for pictures so they can frame them, however, making a baby or kid sit for a picture can be quite a challenge for everyone. Word of warning though, picture taking sessions with kids can be stressful if you cannot get your children to sit still for the pictures. If you are planning on taking many pictures and having a lengthy photo shoot, keeping your kids from becoming restless can be even more challenging. Here are a few tips and tricks for keeping children and babies still while taking photographs.

The focal point has to be established so the child will have something to concentrate on. That is the one spot or object that the child will look to so they look good on the picture. However, making them hold that point is the challenge. Fortunately, it only takes seconds or less to click that shutter.

It is easier for older kids as they have a longer attention span. However, there are also some kids that may need to be bribed to hold still. One trick to get kids on their best behavior during these important photo shoots is to give them something to look forward to after the photography is complete, like an ice cream outing or some other fun activity that the kid will enjoy. Remember, the photographer can shoot the picture but a great picture has to be taken and there is no chance in doing that if the child does not sit still.

Babies are easier sometimes for they can just look to their mother and at their favorite toy. Then someone could also hold them still from underneath while the photographer snaps the picture of the baby. Make sure to schedule the photo shoot for a time of day when the baby is likely to be awake and well rested.

The mother could also dance in front of the child or make funny faces to bring the children into good spirits. Sometimes just setting a positive mood will help you get the results that you want. Others simply wave the baby bottle or the ice cream cone. If for a second or two the child reaches out and smiles for the treat, then go ahead and take the picture then.

Of course experienced family photographers have more tricks up their sleeves to make the photography session more entertaining for children and to get the results that you want. Before you know it, you will have photos that you can proudly display at the office, in your home, or even in baby picture frame favors for a party. The point is to take a great picture which is good enough to frame and show off to everyone.

Soaps, Shower Gels, and Bath Salts – A Quick Comparison

Bath and body products are essential in every household because just about everyone needs to stay clean. Although soap is the most common product used in bathing, shower gels and bath salts are two other popular items that people like to use.

These items can also make great gifts for any occasion. Soaps are always a great idea and good thing that almost everyone uses them. Shower gels and bath salts are also popular. Here are some of the pros and cons in choosing between bath gels, regular soap and bath salts.

Soap Pros and Cons:
Soap comes in several shapes, sizes, colors and they are great as gifts. There are even soap chips which could be just bottled and given as is. For someone who is constantly on the lookout for soaps that may suit the theme of the party, online shops offers a lot of choices, there are even shops that can custom design the soaps. So for example, the theme is all about nuts then peanut shaped soaps can be given away. For those who are into all natural items, glycerine soap with herbs in them could also be a great gift. Glycerine soap is especially treasured for they are hypoallergenic compared to some customized soaps which may not be made from natural ingredients. There are some that are so strong that they are only good for washing some clothes. Then there are those soap leaves which come in boxes or are shaped like flowers. These are great decorative yet functional soaps displayed on the bathroom sink.

Since soaps can be shaped into various things, they can make themed gifts and wedding favors or soap baby shower favors. Soap is generally inexpensive as well. The downside of soaps is that sometimes they contain harsh chemicals that may not agree with people who have sensitive skin and also the thin slivers that result when the bar is almost depleted can be an annoyance.

Gel Pros and Cons:
Gel soaps are easy to store and they can be taken around without fear as they come scented. These come in attractive colors and scented and they can be bottled or put in small plastic bottles as well. No one can really truly say that they do not like gels as the presentation is always attractive. They also have a soothing texture when applied to the skin. The only thing that can go against it is if the container used is really thin and breaks resulting in leakage. Also, the bottles have to be discarded, which is less environmentally friendly than soap.

Bath Salts Pros and Cons:
Bath salts are especially treasured for put in a hot bath it can leach away the aches and pains of the body after a really stressful day at work. There is even no need to keep them in a cabinet as they come stored in pretty sealed bottles that could be decorative as well. Receiving one as a souvenir is always welcome even if the need is not immediate. Bath salts can stay for a long time in a sealed bottle. These are useful for luxurious bathing experiences and to pamper oneself. The cons are that undissolved salts can clog the shower drain and the dye can also cause stains if too much is added to the salts.

Making Business Card Magnets at Home

Just about everyone who has a job or their own business has business cards. These are a good way to keep your contact info handy for potential clients, partners, and other people. Not only are they portable and inexpensive, but they are also a very convenient tool to promote yourself or your business.

Unfortunately, however, people are often bombarded with business cards and it is easy to get lost in the pile, particularly when meeting people at networking events. To make your business card stand out, it is important to try to make it as unique as possible. This can be done with professional designs, unusual shapes, and shiny or reflective elements on the card. However, one simple way to make you card unique is to make a magnetic business card.

Making the magnets is really simple and it only takes a computer software program and some materials. First, make ready the design on the computer. Use Microsoft Word or Adobe Illustrator which are software that are not only popular but are also very user friendly which produces great results.

Get into a Business Card Template and start from there. Choose the color, design, text and design based on the theme of the party. Once the design is made, make sure to edit and print out a copy on a piece of paper to check what the finished product can look like. Once all the editing is done, there are two ways to have the magnets made.

You can always send the electronic file to a professional printer which can do the project in a matter of days, complete with lamination and delivery. However, know that the printers have a minimum order. Some don’t accept projects with less than a hundred of these magnets and if you are only asking them to make 5 or ten, then they could refuse or if they don’t the price can be really expensive.

You can also print these out on your home printer. Simply get some ready to use business card magnets which come in several in a pack. Print out the design you made on cardstock from your own printer. Once the print is out, cut out neatly. Place each card on the magnetic metal by fixing it on firmly on the peel off sticker that comes with the magnet. Once it is bound check for any bubbles and then laminate it if desired.

You can also purchase magnetic sheets that you can print the magnets on directly. In fact, you can make your own unique shapes if you want. Stencil the design on the sheet and cut out with an exacto knife. Laminate the card and the project is done!

Making business card magnets is really simple and it can be a great hobby. You can even make save the date magnets, homemade refrigerator magnets, or baby shower magnets. Turn your hobby into a business or just make a gift for all the friends using your new skills.

Ideas for Unique One of a Kind Favors for Baby Showers

For parents who have been waiting a long time to have a baby, having a baby shower planned for them will make them happier. Getting together with friends, family, and loved ones can be a time of re-bonding and acknowledgement for the couple at this special point in their lives.

There are times when the friends either give a group gift or simply bring in individual gifts for the baby. The excitement of opening up the gifts in front of the friends and the delight of the new parents-to-be is a time for taking more pictures and having great fun.

For the one planning for the party favors this can take a lot of time to think and plan on. However, one idea for unique baby shower favors is to add a unique item, personally chosen for each guest that attends the shower. This is especially possible if there are only a few close friends are invited.

First of all, prepare something that can be commonly given to all the girls. Prepare the usual items like bath gels, bath salts, candy and whatever else. And then add something totally unique in the loot by placing something that will be special to that one person who gets it.

If you have a friend who likes to garden or simply adores flowers and is known for her green thumb, include in the bag or box several packs of seeds of her favorite flowers and plants. Imagine when after she sows the seeds and they start growing and blooming – what a delight to see that the gift gave her such pleasure. Seeing her flowers bloom will remind her of the day of the baby shower.

If you have a friend who likes to sew stuff, then consider including a quilting kit or design. Quilters are known for their fanaticism with fabric and getting an unusual fabric makes their artistic mind open to all sorts of possibilities. She will forever remember where that material came from when looking at her finished quilt.

How about adding a recipe book for someone who really loves to cook? It doesn’t have to be something expensive. Get something that has great pictures in them that it is good enough to be placed on the coffee table for her to flip through.

What about adding a pack of melting chocolate that the baker friend loves to use for her chocolate creations? She can always invite the gang over to sample her latest creation and everyone can laugh about the inspiration from the loot bag of party favors.

How about that friend who likes pasta? Why not send her off with a recipe, some fresh Italian noodles and parmesan cheese? She can mix up her favorite pasta dish for herself alone or for the group.

Coming up with something unique for a friend is easily done if one knows who the friend really is. Any party favor can be unique and much appreciated if people get something unique for themselves.

Making Your Own Tea light Candles in the Kitchen

Some people really like tea light candles as they are inexpensive, small, and are a great home decor item. These are both handy and functional and can be used anywhere around the home, especially the kitchen. Tea lights can be used as gifts, party favors, or even baby shower candles.

Tea light candles lend an aura of mystery and romance when lit in the bedroom or the bathroom. Surprisingly though, the most use it has is in the kitchen especially when cutting onions and garlic. The lit tea light will successfully remove that crying ingredient that comes from cutting onions. When cooking fish, it can also successfully dispense with the fishy odor that can permeate through the house.

Tea lights are sold everywhere and there are lots of choices out there that will satisfy the whimsical needs as well as the more practical ones. There are even some shaped into cartoon characters and animals. The colors are simply delightful and sometimes come glittered and embellished to fit any occasion. However, buying them can also cost a lot even when the cost of making them is really low.

Tea light candles also are a great gift idea and there are a couple of ways to give these as a gift. One does not involve much work, the other takes a little bit of time and patience. One is to simply pack a tea light making kit complete with instructions on how to make one easily in the kitchen. The next way is to make the tea lights in the kitchen and the finished product can be given to the guests and the parents. The choice really depends on the guests’ attitudes toward do it yourself projects. As a friend, the decision can be easily made to give a kit or a finished product.

If the choice is to make the candles then it is pretty simple. Simply go to an arts craft store and get a kit which includes all the materials in candle making. Buy several to reach the number of tea lights needed for the giveaways. Also, get some tea light cups or cups of any shape to hold the candle in. Gloves, tongs, hot pan holder, hot glue gun and apron should complete the preparation.

Choose the flattest surface in the kitchen and begin by melting the wax. Melt on low heat so that the wax doesn’t scorch the pan. If the kit does not include dyes, simply get some crayons and shave off some into the melting wax until the desired color is reached. There are also powdered dyes available for candles as well.

While the wax is melting, prepare on a tray the tea light cups. Set the wick in the center and secure with a hot glue gun. This is important as the wick may move around once the wax is poured and effect would not come out as nice.

Once the waxes are all melted, slowly lift the pot and gently pour into the cups. Use the potholder and make sure to use an apron when doing this. Sometimes there might be splatters and hot wax burns. Do not fill the cups to the brim. Allow the wax to cool by leaving it alone.

After half a day, the candles should be cool enough to handle. If they are cool, embellish the cups with ribbons, glitter dust, decorative clips, etc. Either place in boxes that is similarly decorated or simply give as is.

A Few Great Keepsake Gifts for Babies

When a child gets older there will be questions about what happened before their birth. As they grow up, children eventually want to find out where they came from. When they find out that their mother had a baby shower, they will also be curious to see the pictures and souvenirs of that special party.

Personalized keepsake gifts are the simplest way to record the name of the child and the date that the child was born or that the baby shower was held. Having it done in a specialty shop or online is easy enough done, but it can always be done at home as well. This lends the personalize item more importance for it was not just ordered, it was made for the occasion by an important person – a friend or even the mother herself.

Baby Shower Favors – Be sure to save a few of those personalized baby shower favors that you handed out at your baby shower. These will make cute mementos for a child when he or she grows up.

Sweats for the Baby – There are always cool and cold days and babies should be kept warm. Simply buy the sweats and have them personalized with the name of the child. The theme of the baby shower or child’s nursery theme can also be printed along with the baby’s birthday or baby shower date.

Rattlers – Babies adore rattlers, especially those with teethers on one end. Have the rattlers personalized by tagging them on the handle with the name of the child.

Towels – Choose from the different sizes of towels or get a towel set. Have them custom-stitched with a unique monogram with the child’s name or initials.

Towels are really appreciated by all who receive them as these are the most useful and functional of all types of gifts, for the adult or the baby. What’s more, imagine the child’s wonderment when they realize that the towel they were using was a gift to them even before they were born. Warning: always reserve one for posterity’s sake as towels can suffer through wear and tear.

Diaper Cloths – There are diapers of cloth material that are super soft and gentle on the baby skin. These are great gifts for the mothers who are environmentally conscious and through the years will also result in lots of savings from not having to buy disposable diapers.

Baby Scrapbook – This is one way to keep all the photos of the party and can even include the invitations and a CD holder glued on to one page. The child could just flip through the pages and see for themselves what went on at the party and who attended it. Personalize it by placing the name on the cover of the scrapbook and the date of the party. The mother could then just add on more pictures as the child gets older.

Ideas for personalized party gifts are just too many to list, but at least the above list is enough to give someone a good place to start.