How many times have you met someone and determined within minutes that you were in love, only to discover it was just infatuation, lust or dementia? How do you know if the mere glance of a member of the opposite sex will turn from infatuation to a stalking charge? How do you know if a friendship will turn into something more? When it comes to love, there is no way of being certain how a relationship will turn out. It is all a part of the learning process.
Falling in love is hard to predict. Most certainly we all have tales of unrequited love, broken hearts and dashed dreams of what could have been. But obviously all relationships have to start somewhere; A friendship that becomes more, an infatuation that becomes a reality. Whatever it is, somewhere along the line we have all been in lust, infatuation and hopefully love. But, by far the hardest one to define is how we know when we love someone.
Contrary to the popular belief in Hollywood, love does not appear within three romantic days on a sunny beach in the tropics. Lust, infatuation and a good tan does, but not love. Real love comes from getting to know someone and still liking him or her. Love may ignite from a first touch or kiss, when every neuron begins to tingle in excitement, but it cannot burn on that forever. There must be substance that can only come from knowing someone intimately – mentally, spiritually and physically.
Love is a scary prospect for some because it means letting down your guard. It means letting someone else in on your dirty little secrets, like the fact you collect Barry Manilow albums, or used to work at Hot Dog on a Stick. Trusting another human being with valuable information about your past, present or future is hard to do. You hope that these things won’t be used against you later in life. When you love someone you find yourself wanting to tell them sad, traumatic tales from your childhood (both serious, and in hindsight, no so serious). These are the stories that develop trust and tenderness.
So how do you know if it is love? Everyone likes to be around when things are going well, but a true test of love is how someone comes through for you in the tough times. How does that person react to a crisis? Do they purchase a one-way ticket out of the relationship or do they stick around to help you pick up the pieces. Someone who hangs in there with you is likely to be there through the ups and downs of a relationship.
Another measurement is how they interact with your family. Sure, they may think the entire family should have a psychiatric ward at the local mental institution, but they don’t let that interfere with your relationship. Despite the obvious family dysfunction, they still treat them with respect and a sense of humor. Finding someone who understands that you are a part of a family, good, bad or insanity, is important.
How someone treats your career ambitions and personal goals and dreams should be a relationship eye-opener. Even if you dream is to be the new lead singer for the Rolling Stones after Mick retires, your partner should support that. However ludicrous, if a partner belittles your dreams and goals, how can you develop a future together? A relationship should be built on support and encouragement of the individual and the relationship.
In an age when marriages are crumbling and divorce rate is sky high, it is up to us to take the time to make sure your future partner is in it for the long haul. Your partner should not only be a good companion, but someone that you can call your best friend. Someone you respect as a human being. Just loving someone is not enough. To really have a lasting union, you must really like them too!
Heidi Heller Niehart is a former syndicated singles columnist and the author of Quiche and Tell: Advice and Recipes for Singles, a compilation of articles broken down into the stages of relationships. Ms. Niehart is also the founder of the DatingHallofShame.com, were broken hearted daters can go to commiserate and share a laugh. She is also an example to singles to show that dating advice and persistence can work as she is married with three children. She is also working on a sequel to her book entitled Too Tired to Quiche: A collection of witty and somewhat horrifying tales of marriage and raising kids. You may contact Ms. Niehart via email at mystory@datinghallofshame.com
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Eventually every bride gets to the point of planning when she must decide upon what jewelry her bridesmaids will wear for the big wedding day. In addition to that task, comes spending money on a budget. Staying within your allotted budget in some areas can be a hard and grueling task.
Remember the old catch phrase “kill to birds with one stone”? Well choosing your bridesmaid jewelry can help you save money, time, and sanity. Trends are taking us towards purchasing “thank you” gifts for our attendants and groomsmen. Why not give your bridesmaid the jewelry that they need to wear for the wedding day as their “thank you for being a special part of my day” gift? It really kills two birds with one stone, you don’t need to think about another gift to give, that is already covered by your jewelry gift. The second great part of giving jewelry to your bridesmaids as their gift, is you can cut your budget here as well. If you are allotting money for their jewelry and a gift, you’re covered in one shot. Time savers and money savers are great for brides on any budget.
With so many options on jewelry out there, you can personalize each piece of jewelry for your bridesmaids, making it not only a great gift, but a very special one as well. Purchase your bridesmaids jewelry that will not only look great with their bridesmaid’s dresses, but will work for another fancy or special occasion. In many cases, the jewelry that your bridesmaids wear, can even be worn for “going out on the town” or for any occasion.
So brides, choose wisely and you will get more return for your budget money allotment and a really great and personal gift for the special ladies in your life.
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Wedding accessories are so important when it comes down to adding the finishing touches to the bridal attire. If you think the bridal look is complete without wedding accessories then I urge you to think again. Wedding gowns need garnishing with elegance and this is achieved by choosing the right essential wedding accessories.
Wedding veils
Watch how the veil sets the scene and speaks volumes as it is nurtured onto the head expelling radiance and beauty. An amazing transformation transpires for the bride once the veil is positioned
Design/style of your chosen gown will help you decide on what veil is best suitable. Traditional veils normally measure approx three and half yards long, in saying that remember this is your day and if you want your veil trailing along the floor then so be it.
Shoes & stockings
Crucial elements are shoes/stockings for the overall look on your wedding day. Before deciding on a pretty shoe because it looks good be sure to try it for comfort as you will be wearing them for the best part of the day. Shoes made of velvet, satin or silk are materials which once again are a common choice made by brides.
Jewelry
Aside from the wedding band/ring consider Jewelry pieces like Grace Kelly pearl peepers with a matching string of pearls to compliment the gown, Jewelry selections as such just oozes and injects elegance, in fact adding glamour in a tasteful feminine way.
Headpieces
Diamante headbands and Juliet caps are generally used to hold the wedding veil in place. All brides’ requirements have been catered for when looking for essential accessories in bridal shops from plain to bling bling. Crystals/pearls hold strong in a brides mind therefore dominating her way of thinking on designs and styles for her wedding gown and accessories.
Star attraction headpieces has to be the tiara all of a shimmer and glimmer.
Gloves
Another accessory that must not to be ignored especially if the wedding gown is off the shoulder/sleeveless, is gloves. Word has it the shorter the sleeve the longer the glove.
Gloves simply conjure up an air of sophistication to any bridal outfit.
Wedding accessories are just as important as your gown so the right choice has to be made to look a million dollars
An honest friend is the best companion to have with you when out shopping for what to wear on your wedding day; it can also help ease pressure.
Just a little friendly warning, make sure the friend you have chosen to help in your bid to look beautiful is not one of your boyfriends old flames.
After hours of research I found this fabulous site and hey what do you know everything you could possibly need is all here to make your wedding day special. Well worth a visit don’t just take my word for it http://www.your-wedding-planning-help.com
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Las Vegas is the known as not only the Entertainment Capital of the World, but also the Wedding Capital of the World. Over 120,000 couples now flock there every year to say I do. There are many reasons so many couples choose to take the plunge in this glitz and glamour city. Let’s examine some of them:
1. Where else can you get the exciting wedding options that Las Vegas has to offer? The wedding packages Las Vegas offer are vast and unusual and many of them can’t be found anywhere else. Drive thru wedding chapels, Elvis ceremonies, and a wide variety of themed wedding packages are just some of the unique wedding opportunities you will find if you choose to say I do in Las Vegas.
2. The ease of obtaining a marriage license is a big draw for many couples. There are no blood tests and no waiting periods making it easy to be spontaneous. You can wake up one morning and decide you want to get married, hop a flight to Vegas, and be married by that evening.
3. No time consuming wedding planning. Chapels all over the city offer pre arranged wedding packages that include everything you need for your wedding. This takes the stress out of having to plan your nuptials. No having to coordinate the minister, site, photographer, florist, etc. They do it all for you. The biggest decisions you will have to make is deciding which Las Vegas chapel or location to wed at and then choosing the wedding date, time, and package that you want. The wedding coordinators at the location you choose will help you with the rest.
4. It can be very inexpensive. A marriage license costs $55 and a no frills Vegas wedding package starts at about $40 (not including the minister fee) so you can easily say I do for around $200. Figure in the cost of airfare and other travel costs and you can still get by with spending between $1000-2000 which is well below the average cost of a wedding which is now somewhere between $20,000-30,000.
5. After the wedding is over, you can take advantage of the fact that you are in one of the most exciting cities in the world and enjoy some of the wonderful entertainment and attractions that Las Vegas has to offer.
So if you are contemplating Vegas nuptials, know that you can have an easy, affordable, and exciting wedding ceremony if you decide to say your vows in the Wedding Capital of World.
Rebecca Johnson is owner of the Las Vegas Wedding Informer, a website that provides Las Vegas wedding planning information. Visit is to learn more about Las Vegas wedding chapels and Vegas wedding packages.
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The guy has finally popped the question and the big day is almost here. Everything is in place except for hiring someone to take the wedding photos. You want great wedding pictures, but you don’t have a lot of money. What can you do to save money and still get great wedding photos? If you go too cheap on your wedding photography it will be obvious. Keep in mind that this is the day you have been waiting for your entire life, and you will want to remember it forever. If you follow a few simple ideas you can still get great wedding photos and save money.
The first thing is to get a professional wedding photographer. There is only one chance to get these pictures right. Becky Jenkins wanted to get the best Athens, Georgia wedding photographer she could find, but her uncle offered to do the pictures for free. He had been dabbling in photography and seemed to take good pictures. When she finally got the pictures back they were either too dark or over exposed. Becky was devastated, but there was nothing she could do at that point. You can cut corners in a lot of areas, but if you go cheap on your photos you have to be very careful. You can find professional wedding photographers with packages in every price range – including yours.
A popular trick for getting good candid shots is to place disposable cameras on each table. This is a fun way to get good pictures for cheap, and to get pictures that the wedding photographer would miss. The problem with disposable cameras at weddings is that two or three dozen rolls of film are very expensive to develop. Instead of putting them on the table, maybe just hand them out to select people at the wedding.
Another way to save money is to be selective with what pictures you want. Maybe you are fine with only a few professional pictures being taken at your wedding reception. If you use the disposable cameras as mentioned above you won’t need as many professional photographs and this can save you money. Decide early what is most important to you and make sure the wedding photographer gets only those pictures. Quality is better than quantity.
There are so many ways to save money on your wedding and still throw an event that everyone will remember forever. With a little ingenuity you can save thousands and still have a wedding that looks like a million bucks. Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and when it comes down to it the only thing that’s important is that you are marrying the person you love.
The author Rhonda Thompson is a professional photographer in the Athens and northeast Georgia area specializing in wedding, family, portrait, and pet photography. You can view her photography at http://www.RhondaThompson.com
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Let’s think of love not as a word but an action. Instead of saying “I love you.” Show you wife that you love her. Be more loving! How can a man show his woman he loves her? By doing!
Forget about the box of chocolates and flowers. Any man can go buy these things. But any man cannot show love to his wife on a whim. The chocolates get eaten and make your wife fat and cranky; the flowers wither and die in three days. What about showing your love by doing things that you know your wife will enjoy?
~How Should A Husband Love His Wife~
When was the last time you wined and dined your wife? What about a mini-vacation? Are you the romantic type? If not find out how you can amaze your wife by being a romantic guy. What would that involve?
A woman likes a man who can cook. How about cooking her an intimate candlelit dinner for two? Don’t know how to cook? Get a cookbook and do it anyway. Have some fun in the kitchen and enjoy yourself.
Don’t forget, you wife likes to be touched and hugged without the pressure of sex looming in the near future. Sometimes the hugging and coddling is more important to her than the actual sex act. Not that she doesn’t like to orgasm but that she wants to KNOW that you love her more than the sex act itself. Hug her and cuddle her and you’ll most likely get what you want later.
The most important way to show your love is through your acceptance and validation. Are you the kind of guy that discounts his wife’s choices, desires, and needs through invalidation? This kind of behavior will cause all kinds of trouble in the marriage. Let me tell you why.
By invalidating your wife in whatever manner, you have essentially rejected her. She will feel as if her opinions, decisions, and beliefs don’t count and shouldn’t be regarded with importance. She will hold this within her consciousness and it will come back to haunt you later on in the marriage. This won’t be on purpose but mostly because you have hurt her. She loves you and when you invalidate her feelings, thoughts, actions, beliefs, views, and opinions, she gets hurt!
Let me tell you a big secret about woman, which also includes your wife. Your wife may ask you for your opinion on something because it is in her nature to get a second opinion but that does not necessarily mean that she will go with your opinion or your opposing viewpoint.
I’m not talking about the submission thing here either. What I’m talking about is just everyday thoughts and actions of your wife. If for some reason you really feel that it is best that you disagree with her thoughts and feelings, do so AFTER you have said something positive about the way she thinks and feels. Be understanding! If you actually validate her she will see it your way on her own, even if she won’t admit it.
Your wife may also like to vent her feelings more then you, not because she needs for you to find a solution so much as just being a sounding board. Give her validation in what she has to say, and then ask her if she is looking for an opinion and or solution first before giving her one. This doesn’t make much sense to you, but to us women it makes a lot of sense.
~How A Wife Should Love Her Husband~
It is my firm belief that it is easier to make a man happy than for a man to make a woman happy. I believe this because men really don’t ask for much. If they can camp out on the hard ground with the ants and other bugs how hard can they be to please? Yes, I know this sounds superficial but think about this for a moment. Have you noticed how much happier, and less stressed out your man is when he has his two most important needs met, sex and food?
It is also semi-true that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. They love to eat and they love to eat good tasty meals. When their stomachs are full, and they have been taken care of physically, a man doesn’t ask for much else.
Don’t forget, the home is a man’s castle. Knowing this, make every effort to keep his castle tidy and free of stressful situations that could upset his equilibrium. He has worked all day long and wants to come home to a loving and sweet wife, not a grouch and a TV dinner
Be appreciative of every little thing your man does around the house. Make your man feel like a man by being a woman. Give him a hug and a kiss where it counts, talk about your day together. Don’t reject your husband sexually. Make him feel good about himself by telling him so. Respect him for who he is and what he does!
Basically, a woman needs validated and intimacy, and a man needs sex and good food. Find ways in which you can give of your self in the marriage by being more loving in these areas.
And men, after you have shown your wife how much you love her, then you can buy her the chocolates and flowers.
Angie Lewis offers spiritual enlightenment tips for couples in marriage, and is the author of new release book JOURNEY ON THE ROADS LESS TRAVELED. This unique book is about love, life, marriage, addiction, temptation, and understanding the power of spiritual awareness for your marriage. In her book, Angie reveals her own journey of overcoming addiction and battling with her negative emotions that she allowed to embrace her life and marriage.
To find out more about this new book click here, http://www.spiritual.journeybooks.4t.com/
ISBN 1413788904
Avaliable Amazon online!
Angie Lewis counsels couples and writes a monthly newsletter where she reveals her secrets on how YOU can stay happily married for life! Subscribe to get your FREE monthly newsletter so you can stay happily and forever married!
http://www.heavenministries.com/
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GONE are the days when the second time bride known as the “encore bride” has to settle for scaled down ceremonies with fewer guests.
With over 45% percent of all weddings today involving one or both partners who have been married before, it’s difficult to tell from the attire whether the modern bride is marrying for the first or umpteenth time. In fact, the modern bride who is lucky enough to find love again is trampling on the old traditions. Now their wedding is based on their taste and their budget. With the motto being: “This is the last time, and it’s got to be the best.”
The “encore bride” is in a different place than when she had her first wedding. They are confident, they have more money to spend, and they know what they want. Their focus is on “simple elegance”.
Whether it is your first, second or third wedding the focal point is still the wedding dress. These brides are seeking dresses that are tailored rather than poufy – a sexy, sophisticated look with the emphasis on quality fabrics.
Today’s trends in bridal gowns are all about you. Your second wedding gown should reflect your personal style, your fashion sense and what kind of wedding you want to have.
When shopping for that perfect dress it helps to know your body type so you can choose the gown that highlights your best features and downplays the areas you wish you could forget.
Here are some of the latest fashion trends to help get you started:
Trains are fine, but keep them simple, again matching the formality and style of the wedding.
Show some skin: At this year’s runway shows, many designers decided to go bare. Creations featured mostly strapless gowns that place the emphasis on the bodice: gently weaved, beaded, or simple with demure jeweled straps.
Body-Conscious: Designers are very body conscious these days, with shape taking precedence. This is good news for any bride: most of these dresses have a slimming effect. The ever-popular A-line (also known as princess) is a long cut that draws the eye downwards, and often has a built-in train. This does not mean that designers have abandoned the classic traditional gowns…the skirts still float but the cut is meant to flatter the body.
Embroidery and Lace: These two mainstays of bridal fashion never go out of style and let’s not forget beading. Today’s bride wants the opulence in beadwork with many designers choosing crystals over glass beads.
Color: This component of a gown has never been so popular. Brides are actually thinking outside the box these days choosing jewel tone gowns in gold, silver, and a variety of pearl tones. However, second time brides still are confident enough to wear white, after all “white symbolizes commitment and faithfulness” so why not!
Where to Look: Magazines are the traditional way a bride begins her gown search, but why not look for a gown online? Most designers now have WebPages, and a collection of name gowns can be found on a number of websites. And if you’re wondering, “Will the gown of my dreams fit me right?” there’s help to be found on a multitude of websites which determine your body type and then suggest the dress type that is best for your figure.
Finally Hit the Runways! The latest fashions needn’t remain a trade secret. Bridal shows, which feature live runway presentations of the current trends and designers, are an excellent way to view a variety of gowns.
A wedding is a celebration of love so indulge and take your time finding that perfect gown. The number one comment I receive from second time brides is…”this is definitely it, I’m not getting married again”.
Gail Young is a co-founder of The Bridal Chalet, an online bridal boutique selling designer style couture and traditional wedding gowns and bridal accessories. A second time bride herself, Gail combines her extensive knowledge of the industry with her passion for designing couture bridal fashion. The Bridal Chalet has a collection of exclusive designer wedding gowns geared to the second time bride – the Sara Houston Collection.
Visit her website at: www.bridalchalet.com
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Your groomsmen will be donating their time to your big event. They will appear at the tailor or rental store to be fitted for that formal wear. They will hear your arguments with your beloved over the wedding arrangements. They will celebrate your last night of being a single man. They will cheerfully escort your guests to their seat. And some will offer toasts in your honor at your reception. So how do you show your appreciation for all they are doing for you? Take a look at some of our suggestions.
-A key chain with a four leaf clover embedded into a plastic circle.
-A monogrammed leather money clip with their initials on the front.
-Silver cuff links with their last initial engraved on the surface.
-For the man who travels, a monogrammed leather travel valet.
-For the ones who are still single, give a silver paperweight of a frog with a crown on his head.
-A set of silver pen and pencil set with their last initial as an emblem on the clip.
-A Silver-plated yo-yo with the words “thanks” and the date of your wedding engraved on the side.
-For the golfer in your group, a silver plated key chain with a golf divot tool attached.
-Someone in your group loves to BBQ. Give him an branding iron with his initials so that he can brand every steak that comes off his grill.
-For the hiker, give him a set of “off trail” binoculars.
-For the guys in the baseball team, give them a personalized bat. You can add 3 lines to the bat to express your appreciation.
Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don’t blow the bank. Gift Baskets for Baby, Birthday and Beyond, are just some gift ideas you’ll find at her site: http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com. Want regular reminders on gift-giving? Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gift-news-signup.htm.
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Has timing always been an issue for you no matter what you try to do? Maybe you’re someone who can be creative, but you’re not sure when would be the perfect time to surprise your husband or wife. Timing can be crucial depending on the sort of romance you have in mind with your spouse. Sometimes you must plan romance while other times you have to always keep a watchful eye out for the right moment to present itself. You might think you are blind to those moments or you simply don’t have any instinct for timing, but here are a few ideas to get you started and hopefully find your own groove.
Guys, when you arrive at home with your wife, you can take this opportunity to ’sweep her off of her feet’- literally! Have you ever carried your wife over the threshold of your house? Well, it’s a gesture that never gets old. The timing can be tricky with this one, though. Don’t do it while either of you have a bag or bags in your hands or while she’s on her cell phone. While the women may feel that this is an appropriate action to take with their men, it most likely won’t work. If you feel you must give it a try, more power to you!
Create a home that is your romantic getaway location for both of you. Always keep a number of items that you can use in order to transform your home into a romantic hideaway. Keep a box filled with romantic scented candles, music, flowers and wine and keep some sensuous foods in the kitchen at all times. These can include strawberries, grapes, whipped cream and anything else that sparks your imagination.
When one spouse leaves a trail of clothes from the door all the way to the bedroom where they are waiting, it is always acceptable and a hit! You can also use a different version of this classic by leaving a trail of lit candles that lead to the bedroom. As always, the brightest burning flame should be that of the person waiting in the bedroom. Don’t be surprised if your spouse’s flame matches yours by the time he or she reaches the bedroom!
For romantic moments at the workplace, simply take the time at work to stop, call your spouse and tell them that you love them. Copy your face or a part of you body on the copy machine and send it to him or her with a funny or suggestive note. Send him or her flowers at the office or to the restaurant where he or she is having lunch. Mail him or her your contact information on a Rolodex card with a memo saying, “Love Source. Call when lonely or horny.”
Finally, make sure you check his or her schedule ahead of time before attempting this next move. Pack a pillow and a blanket in a picnic basket and go to his or her office during the lunch hour. Tell his or her secretary to hold all calls, lock the office door and turn off every source of outside communication. Make love on the desk. It will most likely be some of the best sex you both have had in a long time and could become a habit!
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Today’s marriages are on the rocks…there is need like never
before for women and men to renew their faith and look unto God
for the help to cherish and respect one another in marriage. The
Christian marriage should be full of life, hope, and peace. So
how do we reveal the Fruit of the Spirit in our marriages? I
mean, it’s one thing to talk about being loving and
longsuffering toward one another…but boy is it a whole
different ball game to actually walk the talk. I have found that
seeking God daily, staying in His word, and remaining close to
Him has proven to be an awesome solution. Understanding God’s
heart on a particular matter that may be bothering you and
seeing things from God’s perspective may make a huge difference
in the way you respond to a situation. I have found that in my
marriage, if I respond quickly and out of an immediate response
to my emotions, I oftentimes overreact. But if I wait just a
little while longer…no matter how upset I may be…I can talk
to God about it, and then I feel better. It’s only then that I
can respond in a manner that won’t be upsetting to everyone in
the house! Do your best to guard the treasure of love in the
institute of marriage that our Heavenly Father has granted you.
If you are single and desiring a mate, trust the Lord to grace
you the strength and desire to wait for His perfect will, and to
serve Him and make wise choices during your wait for a husband.
Overall, marriage is a beautiful institution in which God
connected man and woman and He shows us how to abide with each
other in love and peace. Marriage should be a reflection of the
fruit of His spirit. I encourage all married couples today to
reflect on your attitudes and conceptions of marriage, and to
especially reflect on how you are treating your spouse. Are you
seeing your spouse through the eyes of Christ? Do you have a
positive purpose and mission in your marriage? Are you treating
each other as friends and companions? Remember the scripture
that says “love overlooks a multitude of sins”. Are you able to
overlook each others’ faults and idiosyncrancies? Guard your
hearts’ in your marriage, and cherish what God has given you.
And DEFINITELY, don’t let the last time you show your spouse how
much you love him or her be on Valentine’s Day! Love ALL year
long. — Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of
www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which
specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print
designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the
founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog,
and podcast for Christian women.
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