Fun and Easy Holiday Wedding Ideas

Christmas is the most magical time of the year for most of us; sparkling lights, Christmas spirit and effortless décor are everywhere. This is actually the ultimate season for effortless planning and fairytale wedding ideas; wedding flowers, wedding decorations and your menu will be a snap if you simply take your cues from the “most wonderful time of the year…”
Wedding Dresses
Choosing a wedding dress for your Yuletide nuptials should be the same process as any other time of the year. You should choose a dress that complements your shape, your skin tone, the tone of the wedding and the season. Christmas is the perfect time of the year for a little extra sparkle on your dress, or with a gem-studded head-piece. Cream, and ivory dresses are wonderful choices as are gowns with metallic accents and fur trims for bolder brides. Holiday weddings are also the ideal time to break out those fairy-tale accessories that may seem a bit much under the hot summer sun.
Try these wintry additions to your perfect dress:

• Elbow length gloves
• Fur shrugs
• Fur muffs for cold hands
• Colourful sashes for your waist

Wedding Colours
Holiday and winter weddings call for deep, rich holiday colours. Burgundy, forest green and deep jewel tones are beautiful choices when accented with other lighter colours and vice versa. Some popular colour combinations include: Cream with gold, silver accents; reds and burgundy with cream, gold or silver accents; deep jewel tones (plum, royal blue) with silver and gold accents. If you are thinking of using more traditional Christmas time colours - red and green – they are best used in your décor with flower arrangements and other decorations, not as your main theme.
Wedding Décor
Flower arrangements, bridal bouquets and decorations that are tres chic are tres simple in December. For your Christmas floral arrangements and winter wedding bouquets, florists recommend: red roses, white chrysanthemums, baby’s breath, stargazer lilies, holly, pine boughs, amaryllis, paper whites, carnations, calla lilies. Potted poinsettias are a great choice added flare, and mistletoe placed strategically around your room will add romance as well.
And to top it all off, add some holly sprigs or a few beautiful Christmas ornaments to the top of your wedding cake for a jolly, cheerful look.
A warm Christmas glow is another obvious but necessary choice for easy ambience on your special day: twinkly white lights and candles will keep your event festive and Merry.
Other ideas include:

• Popular Christmas tunes playing every fourth or fifth song
• Arriving in a sleigh or horse drawn carriage
• Serving hot cocoa as a beverage choice
• Strategically placed candy canes in your centerpieces
• Small decorated and lit christmas trees placed around the venue (or just place some lights on existing bushes!)

Wedding Menu
With the temperatures cooling down outside and snow on the ground (or brown grass at the very least) comfort foods are a perfect choice for your wedding menu. Roast beef or chicken with rich gravy, pared with root vegetables and mashed potatoes are an easy and cheap choice for your day – and a guaranteed hit with the kids.
Wedding Favours
Charming Christmas ornaments with the date of your special day will be a wonderful thank-you to your guests. Unique holiday gifts are always preferred and easy to incorporate into their own décor at home. Special cookie and holiday drink recipes written on keepsake cards are also a unique favour. Copper or silver Christmas cookie cutters bundled together for each family is a clever idea – just attach a cute little marriage announcement along with a candy cane and you’re set!

Holiday weddings don’t have to be a source of added stress at one of the busiest times of the year; on the contrary. With the natural merriment, festive Christmas background and these holiday wedding tips, your winter ceremony will be a delight and a joy for everyone involved.
Lilly Gordon is a freelance web writer and publisher. She is an avid gardener and is fascinated with wedding trends, and Calgary Flowers.

Things Men Really Need to Call a Professional For (Really.)

We all know the scenario: something breaks down, Dad’s in the basement swearing and pounding on something metal with a wrench; Mom’s on the phone with the plumber / electrician / furnace guy. It’s a classic story. Fixing things with tools seems to be a statement of manliness and to tell the truth, that’s how we like it to. Women don’t want to take the power away – we just want to direct your energies to more important tasks. Tasks that we really hate doing: mowing the lawn, taking out the garbage, shoveling snow. These are tasks that you are an expert at, and we get a certain sense of satisfaction seeing you do them. It makes us appreciate you even more.

But when we see you head into the bathroom with your “plumber’s pants” on because the toilet is making a god-awful noise, it strikes fear in our hearts. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule: some hubbies know what they’re doing. And most are handy enough to handle replacing light fixtures, unclogging the central vac and replacing the trim that came off the floor. But when it comes to certain fixes, we want, nay – we need you to call in the professionals.

PLUMBING
I fully trust my husband to unclog the toilet, fix the leaky faucet (a maximum of three times before I get on the horn to the plumber) and put the chain back on the toilet plunger. Heck, I can do these things as well, but I know that these are things I can count on my man to take care of – things my kids can help with too. But leaking toilets, hopelessly clogged pipes and strange noises warrant a trip from the plumber. For instance (honey I love you but I have to break the silence…) this writer’s toilet has been, for lack of a better word, screaming when we flush it for a few months. Every few days my husband scratches his chin, makes a small adjustment, and the noise stops… for a day. And then we all have to sit through the melodic strains of Ode to Toilette once more; time to call a professional. The general rule of thumb for plumbing is: anything that can’t be fixed within 30 minutes warrants a plumber. Unless you ARE a plumber, 30 minutes plus worth of work is out of your league!

FIXING THE CAR
When it comes to the family vehicle, only extremely minor repairs are allowable. Changing the battery or the tires is something we can stomach you doing. Bumper repair, dent removal and pretty much anything under the hood lies in the realm of the mechanic’s job. We really don’t feel better when we notice you’re under the hood trying to replace brake cables or spark plugs – it makes us fear for our lives. And just for the record, black Sharpies do NOT hide scratches. (Sure, it may have been me who scratched the car, used the Sharpie, then blamed it on the kids but that’s not the point.) Even small damage repair needs to be done by professional – it’s the rule.

ELECTRICITY
This category is the scariest for women. Perhaps because we are afraid of losing our husbands and the fathers of our children… Perhaps because we are afraid of our houses burning down due to an unforeseen inner-wall fire which we all know can happen because we watched it on that animal show where the lady’s cat acts weird all night and wakes her up by licking her face because there’s an unseen fire in the wall. Anyway, the point is, even if you are not super-paranoid, the dangers of messing around with electricity are real, especially for amateurs. Fellas, we know you can switch the light bulbs and change light-plates. Heck, I let me husband install our light fixtures. But when it comes to any major rewiring, it’s time to fork over the dough.

GAS
We know you think you’re experts in this subject (insert laugh-track here) but the rule when it comes to gas is this: Yes, I CAN smell gas and yes, I have called someone in the time it took you to argue with me that you can’t. It is not permitted for husbands to tackle anything in this category.

ROOFING
I have to admit, I don’t have much experience in this category as my uber-man is afraid of heights; I have never had any arguments happen due to loose shingles. There have, however, been enough stories floating around the school-yard and enough videos on Youtube of Dads falling off the roof or getting stuck in the chimney. We are of two minds on this subject. While we believe that repainting the window sills is most definitely a job you can do and save some money at, we want to make sure you’re steady up there. Small repairs are allowable, such as replacing ONE shingle, repainting or clearing out a vent. But anything that goes beyond that, especially anything to do with the chimney or major leakage on the roof, needs to be paid for. Sorry guys – you’re too valuable alive to us – you’ll have to make the call.

So, when it comes to these hopefully infrequent because they are bloody-expensive fixes, pick up the phone and call someone who’s trained to do it. We honestly think it’s sexier to see you call Dan the Plumber than it is to see you in the hospital or staring at your house while it’s burning down.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance web publisher and writer. She is a Mom of two, stellar wife (most of the time) and enjoys writing and researching on a variety of topics including her wonderful husband, the joys of parent-hood and sincerely apologizes for thinking car painting can be done with a Sharpie.

Carpet vs. Hardwood: Which is Better in New Homes?

St. Albert, Edmonton, Calgary – you name the city, new home buyers everywhere across Canada are having the debate: Carpet or Hardwood? Both types of flooring can be beautiful and both can be somewhat cost-effective. The question is: which is right for you? New homes in St. Albert and across Alberta have followed the home decorating trends over the years. In the late 1960s, carpeting in homes became increasingly popular. Then in the 90s, hardwood flooring started making it’s comeback. The comfort and warmth of carpet seemed comparable to the ease of cleaning and clean lines of hardwood flooring. The popularity of hardwood overtook carpet easily (especially in bathrooms – yuck!) but now has evened out again, and the debate rages on.

Any experienced new home sales team will tell you that right now, hardwood flooring is easier to find in a house. The majority of carpeting in houses right now is going to be fairly old and in need of replacement. So, when you and your real estate agent are searching through the MLS listings in Alberta, take a minute to look at the home’s features and decide whether you want existing carpet or hardwood; or whether you’d rather spend the money replacing your flooring with a material of your own choosing. Any high quality flooring chosen and installed properly is going to add value to a home – new or old; both carpet and hardwood have advantages and disadvantages so weigh them carefully when making your decision.

CARPET
Carpets are considered to be more of a dated choice when choosing flooring for homes, but at one point so were hardwood floors. Trends come and go and if you are planning to stay in your home for any extended time frame, trends should not be the only factor when making your decision.

Advantages of Carpet:

• Price: Even high-end carpeting can be less expensive than hardwood.
• Noise: Carpet absorbs sounds and helps keep the noise level to a minimum.
• Foot Health: Carpet provides a necessary padding that your tootsies will appreciate.
• Health: With allergen and pollutant levels on the rise, carpet manufacturers have finally seen the light and started making hypo-allergenic carpets available.
• Installation: Carpets are usually easier to install than other types of flooring.

Disadvantages of Carpet:

• Price: If you are tearing up new carpet and find hardwood underneath, it is probably more cost effective to refinish your hardwood, rather than installing new carpet.
• Overall Health: Carpets are notorious for harbouring harmful bacteria and emitting toxic vapours. Even the carpets touted as hypo-allergenic can be more harmful than the new stains used on hardwood.
• Life Span: Carpets will probably need to be replaced every 10-15 years, whereas hardwood can last a lifetime with proper care.
• Endurance: Carpets are easily stained and patterned carpets can be easily damaged as they usually have loops that can pull.

To reap all of the benefits of carpet, be sure to plan a maintenance schedule for cleaning. Infrequent cleanings will leave dirt in your carpet which will eventually leave immovable stains. To avoid staining, blot up liquids immediately, and place mats on high-traffic areas (entranceways, exercise areas, etc.)

HARDWOOD
Hardwood, when stained correctly, can be a beautiful addition to any new home. Sales agents across Canada can attest that buyers’ ears seem to perk up when they see that the specs for a new home contain “hardwood flooring”. The popularity of hardwood has been steady over the past century with some noticeable peaks over the years. Hardwood flooring, however, is not necessarily better than our fuzzy friend, the carpet, just better in different ways.

Advantages of Hardwood Flooring:

• Price: With the invention of engineered and tongue in groove hardwood, the price for materials has come down significantly.
• Health: Hardwood floors are a much healthier option, as long as a water-based stain is used to avoid other, toxic fumes. They obviously cannot hide any bacteria or dirt as everything stays on the surface of the floor and can be easily vacuumed or swept up.
• Maintenance: Hardwood is extremely easy to maintain on a regular basis and should only be re-stained every 10-15 years.
• Lifespan: As stated earlier, hardwood flooring can last a lifetime with proper maintenance and stained in a variety of colours should you get bored with the appearance.

Disadvantages of Hardwood Flooring:

• Price: High quality hardwood flooring is generally very expensive as are the installation and staining costs.
• Endurance: Hardwood floors may last a lifetime but they are quite easily damaged. Even a fine layer of dust and dirt can cause the finish to scratch. Little ones can be tough on this floor as well with trucks, strollers and frequent un-noticed spills. Hardwood can also warp, stain, splinter, dent and break with heavy use.
• Health: Some stains and sealants can emit toxic fumes when used in your home. Try to choose water-based products whenever possible (your choice may depend on the type of wood you choose.)

To keep your hardwood in fine form, clean up wet spills A.S.A.P.; liquids can warp and stain your floor. Use hardwood floor cleaner and place mats or area rugs in high-traffic areas.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance writer and web publisher. Lilly is a real estate enthusiast and loves to stay on top of decorating and real estate in Edmonton, where she currently resides.

Let’s face it: celebrities' kids are born into a different world. A world filled with lights, cameras and… well, you know the rest. But just because they’re born into privilege doesn’t mean they don’t have the normal urges that every kid has come pumpkin day every year. Whether they’re famous or not, kids’ Halloween costumes all over North America are bound to be similar. Here are some surprisingly normal costumes for some freakishly famous tots.

1. My spidey senses are tingling… I sense that Ruby Maguire, daughter of Spiderman’s leading man Toby Maguire and Jennifer Meyer had a lot of fun dressed as a big orange pumpkin on Halloween night.
2. Real-life princess Suri Cruise dressed as (drum roll) a princess last Halloween! A pretty standard costume for such a little lady. Oh, did I mention her costume cost over $6000…?
3. Max Bratman, son of Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman, was spooky dressed as a bony skeleton.
4. Alyson Hannigan went the cute route for her daughter, Satyana’s first Halloween with a kangaroo outfit.
5. James Wilkie was a bird – no – a plane… He flew threw NY in his Superman costume with mom Sarah Jessica Parker.
6. Gewn Stefani and Gavin Rossdale’s little boys, Kingston and Zuma sure looke ferocious in their dino costumes! (Ferociously Cute that is.)
7. Little Apple Martin (Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter) really embodied her Alice in Wonderland costume last Halloween.
8. I hope they cleaned up after themselves! Brooke Shields and hubby Chris Henchy’s girls sniffed and begged their way into doggie costumes. Rowan was a dalmation while Grier preferred a pink poodle costume.
9. Russell Crowe’s son, Tennyson put out fires and broke tiny hearts in his heroic Fireman costume on a past all hallow’s Eve.
10. Following in mom’s fashionable footsteps, Lola, daughter to talk-show queen Kelly Ripa, danced her way through the city as a wholesome Disco Queen.

So, this year skip the trashy, skimpy and bloody costumes for the little ones. Take a hint from these kids who have it all and stick with traditional, fun kids’ costumes. This year, fill the streets with little pigs, train conductors and superheros!

Lilly Gordon is a freelance web publisher and writer. She is a Mom of two, and enjoys writing and researching on a variety of topics, especially shopping for children and Canadian baby boutiques.

Unique Flower Designs: September’s Aster

September’s birth flower, the Aster, is a delicate flower that enhances any bouquets or garden. Used as a frilly filler in florists’ unique flower designs, the Aster is known for its daisy-like petals and fringed texture.

MEANINGS & USES
The exact origin of the name Aster is debated. Some say the name for these beautiful flowers is direct from Greek mythology: Asters were said to have grown from the tears of the Goddess Asterea. Others say they were named for their abundant growing patterns (like the night sky) and their star-like shape.

Asters have long been given to symbolize love, daintiness and afterthought. Gentlemen and ladies in the past used to present them to people they hoped to draw affection from. Placed on the graves of French soldiers, Asters were used as a symbol of a better life to come. They can also be used to symbolize a 20th Wedding Anniversary and are a wonderful gift in a bouquet for any occasion.

The petals of the Aster used to be smoked to ward off evil serpents, but could also be used to help with headaches, colds, back pain and muscle spasms.

CULTIVATION
Asters are most often used now as filler in bouquets and as a delicate accents in gardens. They grow best in rich, wet soil in direct sun – partial shade, and should be thinned and replanted every two years. Because Asters grow in thick bunches, they can be separated and replanted in gardens in the spring. Asters bloom from mid summer – early fall and are a perfect choice for a fall wedding bouquet.

The Aster grows in over 600 species and can also be found in a variety of colors: white, pink, lavender, red, purple. They are a popular choice for gardens due to their ability to attract butterflies, bees and birds. They grow to be less than a foot tall and are a good choice for filler or accent flowers in gardens.

Perhaps the Greeks had it right, Asters may have grown from a goddess’ tears… or perhaps September's birth flower is just are simply a lovely, delicate choice for any unique flower design or a gardener’s delight.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance web writer and publisher. She is an avid gardener and is fascinated with floriculture and Calgary Flowers.

How to Choose Your Wedding Day “Do”

Not sure how to style your hair on the big day? Choosing your wedding hairstyle shouldn’t get your veil in a bunch! You want to look your best, and we want to help, here are the top tips to turn your mane into a wedding-day do.

1. Don’t do anything outrageous! Sure you’ve always wanted to try a Mohawk – a  month before your wedding is not the time for a big change. Save the daring look for when the ring is on your finger.
2. Go with a natural colour. If your hair is brown, this is probably not the best time to go platinum. Highlights: good. Bleaching whole head: bad.
3. Do test runs! Make sure you book those hair appointments for test runs a minimum of 6 weeks before your wedding. Hearing “Surprise” from your hairdresser the day of won’t be pleasant.
4. Compliment your dress, don’t compete with it. Your hairstyle should be an extension of your dress, not a whole new showpiece. If you are sporting a ballgown, an updo is the way to go; if you are looking romantic in soft flowing layers, wearing your hair down in loose curls looks dreamy.
5. Come to terms with your hair’s personality. Everyone’s hair has a nasty side. Whether its flaw is frizziness, crazy curls or cowlicks, be sure to make peace with it and choose a hairdo that will finesse, not fight, with your hair’s worst enemies.
6. Choose a hairdo you can handle. A mile-high beehive may not be the answer if you plan to dance the night away… Choose something you are prepared to keep in check all night.
7. Respect the elements. If your hair tends to frizz at the slightest hint of moisture and you’re marching down the aisle outdoors, leaving it loose on a rainy day may not work in your favour. If you’re outdoors, consider Mother Nature as a consultant to your style.
8. Veil or no veil… Your veil, tiara or headdress is essential to your style. Make sure it accompanies you on your test runs and that is can be easily and naturally worked in to your hair. Also, be sure that your headdress’ fasteners will stay in place all night.
9. Go with the flow… Did you write “Black-tie” on the invite? Make sure your hair reflects your wedding theme.
   Formal = updo
   Semi-formal = casual up-do or hair half-up
   Casual = just make sure you take the rollers out of your hair!
10. This is the most important rule: do what you feel comfortable with! It’s your day girl so have fun! (Just remember your wedding pictures will be ion your wall forever…)

Lilly Gordon is a freelance web author and publisher who enjoys writing on a variety of topics. She currently resides in Edmonton and is researching budgets, brides and Edmonton spa services.

From Flowers to Diamonds: The Smart Man’s Guide to Apologizing

So… You screwed up again. It’s okay to admit it. In fact, if you actually admit it, you’re farther down the right track than most men. Kudos! Unfortunately, admitting you’re wrong is often-times not the “best you can do.” Chin up fella, she’ll forgive you, with some encouragement – which in this case means some form of bribery.

Here is your basic guide to apologizing for normal, everyday occurrences:

What You Did	Gift Required	Recommended Apology
Left your clothes on the ground	Flowers: a small arrangement with at least three red roses.	“I’m sorry babe – when will I learn!”
“Lost” your wallet, keys, watch, etc. somewhere in the house (in plain view but she had to find it.)	Flowers – small arrangement with lilies should do the trick.	“I’m sorry about that hon – I’d lose my head if it wasn’t screwed on tight!”
Left your expensive phone in the pocket of your pants. She washed it but it’s still your fault.	You pay for a new phone – and don’t ever mention it again.	“I’m sorry that you washed my phone - I will NEVER leave my phone in my pants again!”
Broke item that once belonged to a dead, obscure relative of hers.	Night out with the girls: tell her you’re staying at home with kids Friday night (DO NOT use the term “babysit”.)	“Dang that was stupid of me. I really miss your Great-Great-Aunt / Cousin / Grandma too…”
Broke item that once belonged to a dead, obscure relative of hers then lied about it, then told the truth after she found it in the garbage.	Jewelry: You can probably get away with some funky silver jewelry here.	“I don’t know hay I did that – I guess I just love you so much I couldn’t bear to see you in pain.”
Gave her your “honest opinion” about something she was wearing.	Romantic dinner made by you including fancy dessert.	“I’m sorry hon - I think you look better naked…”
Get caught not listening	Top to Bottom House cleaning while she’s out shopping at your encouragement, with your cash.	“I’m really sorry honey – I know what you were saying is really important to you and therefore it’s important to me.”
Went to strip club.	Hotel room, dinner and flowers. (Not to be booked for at least one week after offence.)	“I’m sorry honey – I just had to go with (insert name here) because he’s been having a rough time lately. You know I think those girls are nasty.”
Looked at another woman while with your wife.	The whole package: hotel room, babysitter, diamonds and bouquet of roses or her favourite flowers. (Not to be booked for at least two weeks after offence.)	“I’m sorry I just thought she looked a lot like my sister / mom / aunt. But I was wrong - my sister / Mom / Aunt is much prettier.”
Doing any of the above while she has PMS.	Massage and foot rub after she’s had a bath and you’ve cleaned the house and put the kids to bed.	Don’t say anything, just run. Take the kids. Don’t come back until you’ve had a lengthy visit with your Mom.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance web publisher and writer. She is a Mom of two, stellar wife (most of the time) and enjoys writing and researching on a variety of topics, especially topics on marriage, weddings, Calgary flowers and the way to a woman's heart.