A bath is a quick and easy way to unwind. Ten to twenty minutes in the tub is a proven way to reduce tension, rejuvenate the body, and clear your head. Adding a fragrant oil or a sprinkling of salts can make for an even more peaceful environment. Here are some tips.
Calming Scents
Some aromas have particularly soothing effects. The best ones for overall relaxation are basil, grapefruit, pine, lavender, tangerine, rose geranium, chamomile, lemongrass, and orange. Use them in the form of essential oils or scented bath products.
The ideal water temperature for a tranquil soak should be between 90 and 104 degrees. Use these ingredients for added benefits: Bath salts (most of which are made from either sea or Epsom salts) can help to draw soreness out of muscles and joints. Pour in two to three cups of warm milk (basic powdered milk is fine, too); the lactic acid gently exfoliates dry skin. Treat yourself to a tub full of frothy bubbles, or toss in effervescent bath tablets -- they perfume the water while releasing skin-softening oils. For hydrating and smoothing the skin, use a few drops of oil or a bar of moisturizing soap that has a calming fragrance.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Sparkling Bridal Tiaras and Weddings Hair Accessories
Every bride should shine on her wedding day. You can do so, quite literally, by adding a sparkling GlamForLess.com's bridal tiara, hair barrette, or other wedding hair accessory to your ensemble. Let the style of your dress guide your choice. A dazzling crystal bridal tiara can be the perfect complement to a traditional gown, for example, whereas a more subtle GlamForLess.com's bridal hairpin or GlamForLess.com's wedding comb may be just the thing for a modern sheath.
Give some thought as well to how you will style your hair at your wedding and the veil you have chosen, if any, before making your decision. Knowing whether you want a piece that will become an heirloom or one that will just survive the day can help you determine what to look for and how much to spend.
Give some thought as well to how you will style your hair at your wedding and the veil you have chosen, if any, before making your decision. Knowing whether you want a piece that will become an heirloom or one that will just survive the day can help you determine what to look for and how much to spend.
How to Select Wedding Gloves
Sheath
Sleeveless or Spaghetti Straps
A long wedding glove, either elbow- or opera-length, lends itself to a slim, bare dress. For a less formal look, perhaps for an outdoor summer wedding, shorties or classic-length gloves can be worn.
Long Sleeves
With a covered arm, wrist-length wedding gloves are an option, although you may find that bare hands look better. If the sleeves have bead embroidery or wide cuffs, omit the gloves; they will only detract from the dress.
Be Consistent
To give the wedding party a unified look, your bridesmaids should all wear wedding gloves of the same length, but they needn't match yours. If you choose opera-length gloves, your attendants should wear elbow-length ones or a shorter style, depending on the length of the dress sleeve.
Ball Gown
Off-the-Shoulder or Strapless
Long wedding gloves give an elegant, formal look to a ball gown and draw attention to your arms, especially with bare shoulders. For a more subtle effect, wear shorties, as Jacqueline Kennedy did at her outdoor wedding in Newport, Rhode Island.
Long-Illusion Sleeves
It's better to keep hands bare than to weigh down sheer sleeves with wedding gloves.
Mix Modes
If your gown is elaborately detailed with beads or embroidery, stick to simple kid wedding gloves. If it's a pure froth of tulle or satin, you can wear more elaborate gloves, perhaps in lace or with a bit of decoration, such as a silk flower or a crystal trim.
Empire
Sleeveless or Small Puffed Sleeves
This classic high-waisted style, introduced by Empress Josephine in the early nineteenth century, looks elegant with elbow- or opera-length weddding gloves. For a formal winter wedding, opera-length gloves provide warmth and flair. For a summer garden wedding, shorties are fresh and light, and will give an empire gown a daintier, less formal look.
Take Ideas From Film
Period films like "Emma" and "Sense and Sensibility" offer ideas for pairing empire gowns with gloves. Sarah Bernhardt and Lillian Russell, who greatly influenced fashion during the 1880s, were among the famous glove wearers of their day.
A-Line
Sleeveless
If the dress is short and the wedding is informal, classic six-button wedding gloves or shorties are appropriate. For a longer, more formal dress, elbow-length gloves can be worn. A fashion-forward bride can pair her gown with a colored glove, perhaps an ice-blue or a lilac that coordinates with her bridesmaids' dresses.
Three-Quarter Sleeves
Wear a wrist-length glove or leave your hands bare to avoid detracting from the sleeve.
Flatter Your Arms
If you have short arms but love the look of a long glove, choose an elbow-length pair rather than opera-length. If you have heavy arms, gloves will call attention to them, rather than camouflage them. Stay away from gloves that cut your upper arm at its heaviest point.
Suit Jacket with Skirt
Gloves should be classic and simple. Forget wide cuffs and embellished trim.
Long Sleeves
Either shorties or classic-length gloves are appropriate. If your suit is long and tailored, gloves make the ensemble more formal. If the suit is short and the wedding is informal, a pair of short white kid gloves looks lovely. Or you can skip gloves entirely.
Three-Quarter Sleeves and Shorter
Classic-length wedding gloves look best.
Color Counts
If you are wearing wedding gloves, match them to your suit or choose a complementary color. If you are wearing a white suit and white kid gloves, it isn't necessary for them to match, but they should harmonize. Leather can be worn year-round, but save velvet gloves for winter.
Sleeveless or Spaghetti Straps
A long wedding glove, either elbow- or opera-length, lends itself to a slim, bare dress. For a less formal look, perhaps for an outdoor summer wedding, shorties or classic-length gloves can be worn.
Long Sleeves
With a covered arm, wrist-length wedding gloves are an option, although you may find that bare hands look better. If the sleeves have bead embroidery or wide cuffs, omit the gloves; they will only detract from the dress.
Be Consistent
To give the wedding party a unified look, your bridesmaids should all wear wedding gloves of the same length, but they needn't match yours. If you choose opera-length gloves, your attendants should wear elbow-length ones or a shorter style, depending on the length of the dress sleeve.
Ball Gown
Off-the-Shoulder or Strapless
Long wedding gloves give an elegant, formal look to a ball gown and draw attention to your arms, especially with bare shoulders. For a more subtle effect, wear shorties, as Jacqueline Kennedy did at her outdoor wedding in Newport, Rhode Island.
Long-Illusion Sleeves
It's better to keep hands bare than to weigh down sheer sleeves with wedding gloves.
Mix Modes
If your gown is elaborately detailed with beads or embroidery, stick to simple kid wedding gloves. If it's a pure froth of tulle or satin, you can wear more elaborate gloves, perhaps in lace or with a bit of decoration, such as a silk flower or a crystal trim.
Empire
Sleeveless or Small Puffed Sleeves
This classic high-waisted style, introduced by Empress Josephine in the early nineteenth century, looks elegant with elbow- or opera-length weddding gloves. For a formal winter wedding, opera-length gloves provide warmth and flair. For a summer garden wedding, shorties are fresh and light, and will give an empire gown a daintier, less formal look.
Take Ideas From Film
Period films like "Emma" and "Sense and Sensibility" offer ideas for pairing empire gowns with gloves. Sarah Bernhardt and Lillian Russell, who greatly influenced fashion during the 1880s, were among the famous glove wearers of their day.
A-Line
Sleeveless
If the dress is short and the wedding is informal, classic six-button wedding gloves or shorties are appropriate. For a longer, more formal dress, elbow-length gloves can be worn. A fashion-forward bride can pair her gown with a colored glove, perhaps an ice-blue or a lilac that coordinates with her bridesmaids' dresses.
Three-Quarter Sleeves
Wear a wrist-length glove or leave your hands bare to avoid detracting from the sleeve.
Flatter Your Arms
If you have short arms but love the look of a long glove, choose an elbow-length pair rather than opera-length. If you have heavy arms, gloves will call attention to them, rather than camouflage them. Stay away from gloves that cut your upper arm at its heaviest point.
Suit Jacket with Skirt
Gloves should be classic and simple. Forget wide cuffs and embellished trim.
Long Sleeves
Either shorties or classic-length gloves are appropriate. If your suit is long and tailored, gloves make the ensemble more formal. If the suit is short and the wedding is informal, a pair of short white kid gloves looks lovely. Or you can skip gloves entirely.
Three-Quarter Sleeves and Shorter
Classic-length wedding gloves look best.
Color Counts
If you are wearing wedding gloves, match them to your suit or choose a complementary color. If you are wearing a white suit and white kid gloves, it isn't necessary for them to match, but they should harmonize. Leather can be worn year-round, but save velvet gloves for winter.
Paying for Your Wedding
Tradition calls for the bride's family to pay for most of the wedding, but lately this seems to be the exception rather than the rule. Now that more couples are waiting until their mid-20s and 30s to marry, they're also likely to pay for part or all of the wedding themselves, even if it means having a longer engagement or a less elaborate affair.
To be sure, a wedding is no minor financial undertaking. According to the Association for Wedding Professionals International, the average wedding costs $28,000. This figure varies depending on where you live, when you get married, and in what fashion you celebrate. In large metropolitan areas, the average is closer to $30,000. With numbers like these at stake, the first step in planning a wedding is creating a budget and, likely, a savings plan, too.
Some engaged couples look at how much money they have and how much they can save before the wedding, and then they try to plan an event that works within that budget. Others first decide what type of wedding they want and then save and set a date accordingly.
For many couples, the process of weighing wedding plans against their finances is more nuanced. One of the first things you and your fiance will probably want to do is brainstorm a bit about what style of wedding you would like to have, when you might get married, and how many people you hope to invite. Around the same time, you'll also want to sit down and talk about how much money each of you has available and how much, if any, your families plan to contribute.
If the amount of money you have on hand is not enough to create the wedding you want, you'll need to save more. First look at what each of you earns every month and determine where that money goes. Then decide what you can cut back on, such as travel or dinners out. Also discuss how much of your paychecks you'll each be able to contribute.
Next, open a joint account to pool your savings for the wedding and set up an automatic savings plan. (With these plans, you specify a set amount to be transferred regularly from your checking or savings account to the joint account automatically.) Keep your savings in a low-risk interest-bearing account -- not in the stock market. Because a lot of wedding expenses will need to be paid long before the big day, you'll want easy access to the money. Your best bet is likely a high-yield money-market account at a bank or credit union. Deposits are insured by the government and earn between 1 percent and 3 percent interest.
Avoid making up the difference with credit cards or a loan from your 401(k) plan. You could ask family members for a no- or low-interest loan, but such arrangements can be tricky to set up, and don't be surprised if your relative voices her own opinions about the style of your wedding and whom you should invite. If you must borrow, consider a home-equity loan (assuming you own your home) or a personal loan from a credit union, where rates are typically lower than at banks. Just keep in mind that if you borrow to pay for your wedding, you may have to delay other important plans, such as buying a house or having children.
Just because you shouldn't borrow with credit cards doesn't mean you should not use them at all. In fact, it's a good idea to pay as many wedding costs as possible with your card. Not only can you earn frequent flyer miles (perhaps to use toward your honeymoon), but if you have the right type of card, you may also protect yourself from vendors who don't deliver. (Check your card issuer's policy.) Just make sure you have the money to pay your credit-card balance in full every month.
Despite your best efforts, you may still not be able to afford to have a lavish cake and eat caviar, too, so take time to think about what's really important to you. Ask yourselves how important it is to have your wedding in a specific month, on a particular day of the week, or at a certain time of day. Is a fabulous location more important than inviting everyone you know? By compromising in some areas, you can afford to splurge on the things that you truly value. And remember, your guests will never see what you did not include.
First, consider the most expensive part of the wedding: the reception. This category, which includes location fees, food, alcohol, and rental equipment, is likely to account for at least 50 percent of your budget, depending on the site and the number of guests. Have a good idea of the size of your guest list when shopping around for locations. Some venues charge extra to accommodate a larger-than-usual guest list. Others may offer deals for groups of a specific size.
While you're working out the details of your reception, you'll need to think about the other aspects of your wedding as well. In general, you can expect to spend about 10 percent of your budget on each of the other major categories -- attire, bridal jewelry, flowers, music, photography, and miscellaneous costs, such as invitations, favors, transportation, and any unexpected expenses that might arise. Adjust these percentages as you go; when you spend more on certain items, make up the difference by spending less somewhere else.
Get estimates in writing so you can account for every expense when you make your comparisons. To avoid going over your budget, keep detailed notes and a running tally of your total bill.
Any time you notice your estimates approaching your budget limit, remind yourself of your priorities, both for the wedding day and for life happily ever after. Certain details that might seem indispensable at first may never be missed in the end. Moreover, there's something to be said for beginning your lives together without the burden of added debt -- or even with cash to spare.
To be sure, a wedding is no minor financial undertaking. According to the Association for Wedding Professionals International, the average wedding costs $28,000. This figure varies depending on where you live, when you get married, and in what fashion you celebrate. In large metropolitan areas, the average is closer to $30,000. With numbers like these at stake, the first step in planning a wedding is creating a budget and, likely, a savings plan, too.
Some engaged couples look at how much money they have and how much they can save before the wedding, and then they try to plan an event that works within that budget. Others first decide what type of wedding they want and then save and set a date accordingly.
For many couples, the process of weighing wedding plans against their finances is more nuanced. One of the first things you and your fiance will probably want to do is brainstorm a bit about what style of wedding you would like to have, when you might get married, and how many people you hope to invite. Around the same time, you'll also want to sit down and talk about how much money each of you has available and how much, if any, your families plan to contribute.
If the amount of money you have on hand is not enough to create the wedding you want, you'll need to save more. First look at what each of you earns every month and determine where that money goes. Then decide what you can cut back on, such as travel or dinners out. Also discuss how much of your paychecks you'll each be able to contribute.
Next, open a joint account to pool your savings for the wedding and set up an automatic savings plan. (With these plans, you specify a set amount to be transferred regularly from your checking or savings account to the joint account automatically.) Keep your savings in a low-risk interest-bearing account -- not in the stock market. Because a lot of wedding expenses will need to be paid long before the big day, you'll want easy access to the money. Your best bet is likely a high-yield money-market account at a bank or credit union. Deposits are insured by the government and earn between 1 percent and 3 percent interest.
Avoid making up the difference with credit cards or a loan from your 401(k) plan. You could ask family members for a no- or low-interest loan, but such arrangements can be tricky to set up, and don't be surprised if your relative voices her own opinions about the style of your wedding and whom you should invite. If you must borrow, consider a home-equity loan (assuming you own your home) or a personal loan from a credit union, where rates are typically lower than at banks. Just keep in mind that if you borrow to pay for your wedding, you may have to delay other important plans, such as buying a house or having children.
Just because you shouldn't borrow with credit cards doesn't mean you should not use them at all. In fact, it's a good idea to pay as many wedding costs as possible with your card. Not only can you earn frequent flyer miles (perhaps to use toward your honeymoon), but if you have the right type of card, you may also protect yourself from vendors who don't deliver. (Check your card issuer's policy.) Just make sure you have the money to pay your credit-card balance in full every month.
Despite your best efforts, you may still not be able to afford to have a lavish cake and eat caviar, too, so take time to think about what's really important to you. Ask yourselves how important it is to have your wedding in a specific month, on a particular day of the week, or at a certain time of day. Is a fabulous location more important than inviting everyone you know? By compromising in some areas, you can afford to splurge on the things that you truly value. And remember, your guests will never see what you did not include.
First, consider the most expensive part of the wedding: the reception. This category, which includes location fees, food, alcohol, and rental equipment, is likely to account for at least 50 percent of your budget, depending on the site and the number of guests. Have a good idea of the size of your guest list when shopping around for locations. Some venues charge extra to accommodate a larger-than-usual guest list. Others may offer deals for groups of a specific size.
While you're working out the details of your reception, you'll need to think about the other aspects of your wedding as well. In general, you can expect to spend about 10 percent of your budget on each of the other major categories -- attire, bridal jewelry, flowers, music, photography, and miscellaneous costs, such as invitations, favors, transportation, and any unexpected expenses that might arise. Adjust these percentages as you go; when you spend more on certain items, make up the difference by spending less somewhere else.
Get estimates in writing so you can account for every expense when you make your comparisons. To avoid going over your budget, keep detailed notes and a running tally of your total bill.
Any time you notice your estimates approaching your budget limit, remind yourself of your priorities, both for the wedding day and for life happily ever after. Certain details that might seem indispensable at first may never be missed in the end. Moreover, there's something to be said for beginning your lives together without the burden of added debt -- or even with cash to spare.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Selecting Bridal Wedding Tiaras and Hair Combs
Every bride wants to feel like a princess, but you don't need a large bridal wedding tiara to do so. Bridal wedding hair combs and the new forms of bridal wedding tiaras are small and light so they won't weigh you down. Consider the style of your dress. An ornate bridal wedding tiara is best with a simple gown; delicate bridal wedding hair combs go well with other beading or lace.
Bridal Hairpins & Wedding Headbands
Even the bride who initially resolves to wear nothing in her hair may enjoy the subdued look of crystal-studded bridal hairpins; they look striking in a loosely gathered bun.
Crystal bridal hair pins can be worn a number of ways: across the head as a headband, circling a tight bun, or wrapped around a ponytail. It comes with silver plated bobby pins to hold it in place.
The slender crystal and rhinestone bridal and wedding headband by GlamForLess.com is delicate and pretty. The crystal and pearl design of GlamForLess's bridal headband resembles a piece of glamorous jewelry.
GlamForLess.com's bridal hairpins provide just the barest hint of sparkle; whether you wear one or several, they work well in many hairstyles.
Crystal bridal hair pins can be worn a number of ways: across the head as a headband, circling a tight bun, or wrapped around a ponytail. It comes with silver plated bobby pins to hold it in place.
The slender crystal and rhinestone bridal and wedding headband by GlamForLess.com is delicate and pretty. The crystal and pearl design of GlamForLess's bridal headband resembles a piece of glamorous jewelry.
GlamForLess.com's bridal hairpins provide just the barest hint of sparkle; whether you wear one or several, they work well in many hairstyles.
Find Bridal & Wedding Jewelry
It's a wonderfully disarming moment, the first time you see yourself in bridal & wedding jewelry. But shopping for your jewelry can also be intimidating and overwhelming. After all, it is probably the most important -- and most photographed -- jewelry you'll ever own. It helps to know how to begin and what to expect.
Before You Shop For Bridal & Wedding Jewelry
Don't start trying on jewelry until you've selected your wedding dress. This will keep you from buying a jewelry that won't feel right on your wedding day. But don't wait too long to begin shopping. It can take up to six months to find the right bridal & wedding jewelry. If you start shopping four to six months in advance, you won't feel rushed -- or encounter rush charges.
Setting a Budget For Bridal & Wedding Jewelry
With the price of traditional bridal & wedding jewelry starting around $100, it is also important to establish your budget before setting foot in a store. Without a price range in mind, you risk overspending or falling in love with something you can't afford.
Most brides buy their bridal & wedding jewelry at a bridal boutique, whether an intimate shop or a bridal emporium, part of a department store, or a store owned by and featuring one designer. But if you envision something other than a traditional jewelry or if your budget is restricted, take a creative approach to shopping and consider online discount bridal stores like GlamForLess.com. Consider bridesmaids' jewelry and evening jewelry, which are less expensive and formal but can still be appropriate.
Before You Shop For Bridal & Wedding Jewelry
Don't start trying on jewelry until you've selected your wedding dress. This will keep you from buying a jewelry that won't feel right on your wedding day. But don't wait too long to begin shopping. It can take up to six months to find the right bridal & wedding jewelry. If you start shopping four to six months in advance, you won't feel rushed -- or encounter rush charges.
Setting a Budget For Bridal & Wedding Jewelry
With the price of traditional bridal & wedding jewelry starting around $100, it is also important to establish your budget before setting foot in a store. Without a price range in mind, you risk overspending or falling in love with something you can't afford.
Most brides buy their bridal & wedding jewelry at a bridal boutique, whether an intimate shop or a bridal emporium, part of a department store, or a store owned by and featuring one designer. But if you envision something other than a traditional jewelry or if your budget is restricted, take a creative approach to shopping and consider online discount bridal stores like GlamForLess.com. Consider bridesmaids' jewelry and evening jewelry, which are less expensive and formal but can still be appropriate.
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