My dad passed away March 11, 2008 six days shy of his 73rd birthday. His body wasted away in the final year, his mind gradually retracting from the things he loved. This was a vibrant LARGER THAN LIFE man who was succumbing to the affects of a lifetime of smoking, the lung cancer wrapping like tentacles around his breathing organs, spine and brain. Through this all labored my step-mom, caring for him the best she could as his journey began to...more
Once spring and summer rolls around it's time to hit the garage sales and find the best deals. Here are 7 tips to get you started:1. Map it out. The night before you go garage sale shopping, check Craigslist and the classified ads of your local newspaper and penny shoppers. Make a list of the addresses of the sales you want to go to and note the items available at each sale. Go to Google Maps or your favorite map site and print out the directions...more
I've heard some married couples say that if their house was on fire, one of the only things they'd try and save is their pictures. Pictures of the kids, family vacations, and of course, their wedding. Makes sense to me!One could only hope that your wedding photographer feels the same. But do they?You see, there's this window of time between your wedding day and the moment you actually receive your pictures. And the only one looking out for your investment and protecting your memories during this time is the wedding photographer. So how are they doing?I don't know. I don't have the stats. But one thing I do have is concern.New wedding photographers are popping out of the seams. They get a digital SLR for christmas and by New Years they're ready to become a wedding photographer - probably to pay off the debt from the new toy. Soon thereafter, they create a web page and place ads on Craig's List with a price that's tough to beat. With the first contract, it's official. They are now professional wedding photographers!As they are downloading the pictures from their first wedding to their computers, I wonder if it crosses their mind that one in seventeen new computers have their hard...more
Parents are the greatest gifts any child can have. Just as our childhood and life thereafter, the word 'parents' is also incomplete without a father. As we celebrate the love, care, and support of our mothers on the Mothers Day, the idea of Father's Day was also to love, respect, and honor the ever present love, support, guidance, and teachings of...more
Your wedding breakfast is one of the most important parts of your day. However, deciding if a formal sit-down meal or a relaxed buffet is most appropriate can be a difficult choice. Here we look at the benefits of both options to help you decide which will work best for you.Help yourselves the benefits of having a buffetWhat immediately comes to...more
Are you a parent keeping a teenager who is at risk? What is the solution to the problem of your children? How can you help them? At what cost? Will your child get assistance elsewhere apart from home than home? Will at risk youth programs make a difference?This is just a tip of an ice berg as parents caring for at-risk youths have more questions than answers each brighter day. With the everyday life challenges that are rife in our society, like separation and divorce, people are exposed to temptations that more often than not young people have no choice but to face problems at whichever places they visit. However, impressive programs for at-risk youth are taking center stage. Under privileged parents are beneficiaries of wilderness camps where they are supported with all the necessary facilities they need. Photos of the venue are widely posted on the site for you. While at the site, course details are blared to give you tips and more information about the youth facility. More over, the camps act as a major brainstorming opportunity where partners exchange knowledge through emails and telephones. However, it's nice to write down a list of your questions before the actual debate...more
Don't you find that men always seem to have everything? This may be great for them but puts us at a distinct disadvantage when we're trying to find something meaningful to give them on special occasions. As for our dads, it's hard to know what to buy...more
The months of May and June are for graduation and commencement exercises. Graduation represents completion of a stage of educational growth and accomplishment, and comes only a few times in our lives. It is a joyous gifting occasion, especially when...more
When small gifts are called for it is not so easy to decide what will be suitable. You cannot go for anything ostentatious and yet you want to get something that will be useful to the recipient. Gifts involving someone's hobbies are always a good...more
Fathers Day will be here soon! Just in case you're having trouble thinking of a gift I'll share my Top 10 picks for my husband this year #1. A Fedora Oh yeah and this one might just be for me. I love the way a fedora looks on a man and now that...more
Pirates of the Caribbean Party SuppliesIf your are planning the perfect Pirate party or any type of large celebration. Pretty party place is one of the largest and best party planning sites available. From pirate telescopes and Treasure chests to...more
A wedding is one of the most memorable days that you have in your lifetime. These days most couples are choosing to have their weddings in exotic locations. They prefer the natural setting that a beach offers. Some of these exotic locations have...more