Engagement Party Games

The engagement party is a time when the families of the couple will get to know one another. In some cases, this might be the first meeting between the two families or groups of friends and any icebreaker activity will be a welcome event.

In that light, whoever plans the engagement party (likely the bride's family, but it can be the engaged couple or anyone else who wants to plan the party) should plan a few games and activities designed to help everyone get to know everyone else.

First up is a trivia game. Create a "Trivial Pursuit" type game with questions about the bride and groom's lives. You might contain the questions to just facts and events relating to both the bride and groom (such as how long did it take her to say "yes" when he asked, where did he propose, where did they meet, etc), or you can include questions pertaining to their lives outside of each other and before they met each other. Not only can this be fun, but also it's an entertaining way for people to get to know each other and the engaged couple better.

One popular icebreaker that's used at corporate functions and company parties can also work really well at engagement parties. Tape a card to each person's back and encourage him or her to work the room, mingle with everyone and particularly try to get to know someone they have never met before. Before moving on to someone else, be sure to make a comment about the person on the card on his or her back. Partiers write an impression of that person, such as "she seems sweet" or "he knows a lot about the weather".

This icebreaker ends when the mingling session is over. The cards are then read one by one and people not only get to know each other better, but enjoy hearing all the comments people made about them. Try to ensure that comments are complimentary or somehow presented in a positive light. Hurtful comments, obviously, are not appropriate.

If this is truly the first time many of the guests have met, then another fun game involving the wearing of cards might be in order. In this game, each guest wears a card on their front that has their name on the front and a number on the back. They don't share with anyone what their number is. Guests mingle and chat and get to know each other over the course of the evening.

Toward the end of the evening, the cards are flipped over and the number side is shown. Everyone gets a piece of paper and writes the numbers on the paper, then tries to correspond the name of someone with their number. This fun game can be hard for people who are bad with names, but it's fun nonetheless.

For an activity that doesn't put people on the spot quite so much, consider letting the already marrieds help out the to-be marrieds. Place two pieces of posterboard on the wall and mark them "advice from women" and "advice from men". Now is the time to offer advice about wedding planning, not about being married. That advice can come later. Encourage guests to offer their own wedding planning advice. The advice from older people at the party could be decidedly different from the younger couples in the group, making for an enlightening group of comments.

Melissa & Doug Tiered Special Occasion Cake

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Bridal Shower Games

If you're hosting a bridal shower, there are literally hundreds of games to choose from. Some are silly, some are serious, but all are about having some fun with the bride before she's married. Here's a sampling.

One fun game really puts the bride on the spot with regard to her knowledge of her husband-to-be's life. Prior to the party, have someone ask the groom a series of questions, such as where he was born, what his favorite food is, things like that. Then at the bridal shower, put the bride on the spot by asking her the answers to the questions. See how many she can get right (hopefully at least half!). If she does well, give the girl a prize; she deserves one.

One all-time favorite game is toilet paper wedding dresses. This game involves separating the guests into teams consisting of at least 2 people and no more than 5. Give each team a roll or toilet paper (or 2) and have them fashion a wedding dress out of the toilet paper. One of the team members will volunteer as the model. Provide them with a "dress up trunk" filled with jewelry and shoes. They must make the dress out of the toilet paper, but they can accessorize with the provided jewelry, shoes, gloves and hats. Place a time limit on this (5 minutes is adequate) and have the bride vote on the best dress. Be sure to provide prizes for the winning team!

Another fun game that's always a hit is making the bride get dressed while blindfolded. Tell the bride she is to pretend she's on her honeymoon and the power has gone off. She must prepare for her wedding night in complete darkness. Provide her with a suitcase filled with items and then blindfold her. She must get dressed in a certain period of time (2 minutes is adequate) while completely blindfolded and with no help from the guests. Include some silly items like oversized sunglasses, garden gloves or a flannel nightgown just to make it fun. This is a photo opportunity, so be sure someone is waiting to record the end result!

Another fun game puts the shower guests more on the sport than the bride. In this game, everyone puts their purses in the center of the room. Create a list of items commonly found in a purse and assign a point value and create a list of less common items and give them a higher point value. So you might give lipstick 2 points, a tampon 3 points, and sunglasses 5 points. But a granola bar could be 10 points and a staple remover, 15 points. Then go through the purses awarding points and give the person with the highest number of points (and therefore, the most items and probably highest number of unusual items) a prize.

Before the shower, create bingo cards for this shower bingo game. In the squares, put pictures of items you think the bride will receive at the shower. So, boxes might include things like lingerie, towels and the like. As the bride opens gifts, have people mark off that item on their bingo card. If nobody gets a "bingo" give a prize to the person who marked off the most number of items.

This next game is a derivation of a popular game that's often played at bachelorette parties and involves a stripper. This is the clean version. About 30 minutes into the party, have the bride leave the room and pass out pieces of paper. Have everyone write on the paper everything they can remember about the bride's outfit, hair, etc. How many rings is she wearing? What color is her blouse? Is she wearing open or closed toed shoes? Once everyone is done recording their observations, the bride comes back into the room and a prize is awarded to the person with the best observation skills.

Lindt Lindor Truffles - 45 assorted pieces!

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Awkward Family Photos

Jennifer Weiner Reviews Awkward Family Photos

Jennifer Weiner was born in 1970 on an army base in Louisiana. She grew up in Connecticut and graduated with a degree in English literature from Princeton University. She is the author of the novels Good In Bed (2001), In Her Shoes (2002), which was turned into a major motion picture starring Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine; Little Earthquakes (2004), Goodnight Nobody (2005), the short story collection The Guy Not Taken (2006), Certain Girls (2008), the sequel to Good in Bed, and her most recent, Best Friends Forever (2009). Her next book, Fly Away Home, will be published by Atria Books on July 13, 2010. There are more than 11 million copies of her books in print in 36 countries. She can be found on Facebook, on Twitter, and, in real life, in Philadelphia, where she lives with her family. Read her review of Awkward Family Photos:

Samuel Butler once said "Every man’s work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself."

If that’s true, than God help Mike Bender and Doug Chernack, who waded into the toxic slurry of bad mullets, spiral perms, skin conditions, leg warmers, wet pants, creepy Moms, funny uncles, and truly disturbing Santas, and came back with this hilarious collection of awkward family photos. Awkward Family Photos reminds anyone with a dusty shoebox full of snapshots of unfortunate fashion choices, band trips, braces, bad bridesmaids’ dresses and that one time you got talked into dressing up and going to the Renaissance Faire, that you are not alone. This isn’t just a book, it’s a public service on the page, a living, breathing, laugh-out-loud reminder that no matter how badly you dressed, how oddly you posed, and how weird Uncle Dave who lived in the basement was, somebody out there had it worse. Particularly the girl on page 77.

"This is the best book of embarrassing and strange photos of people who look like my family that I have ever seen."
—Judd Apatow 

"Being a test tube baby doesn't seem such a bad idea after looking at these folks. I laughed till it hurt. To paraphrase Tolstoy... every family is freaky in its own way. There's so much love here- but maybe a little more pain, or desperation, or bewilderment. I often feel slightly sad or guilty that I'm not closer with my own family- but looking at this bunch I sense we all have something in common and I'm far from being alone."
—David Byrne

"Awkwardness has never looked so cool.  Finally there's a book that celebrates the cringe-worthy family photo we all have buried in an album somewhere."
— Amanda Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author of Celebutantes

"Anything that both makes me laugh and think my family isn't so embarrassing deserves to be a book."
—Joel Stein, Time magazine columnist

"I wept with laughter fourteen times while reading this book and snorted aloud twice. I dare you to find a higher weep/snort ratio in any other publication."
—Karen McCullah Lutz, screenwriter of Legally Blonde and The Ugly Truth

"Awkward Family Photos is the funniest book that I've read in a long time. It reminds you that it's okay to laugh at yourself and celebrates the family that made you awkward in the first place."
—Mia Kirshner, The L Word 

"Awkward Family Photos is absolutely hysterical, yet at the same time, it's a stunningly accurate photographic record of the late 20th century American family.  Now I can be certain I was not alone in my awkwardness."
—Adam Herz, Writer, American Pie I, II, III

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Disney's Minnie Mouse Antenna Ball Topper

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The Hangover (R-Rated Single-Disc Edition)

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109 of 122 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious film, a good overall Blu, December 11, 2009 I finally got to see this film and the Blu gave a nice first viewing, and even doing the rated/unrated back to back it still kept me laughing.

The Blu clarity and sound quality are solid and there were no failings even with the volume of night sequences. The desert shots were done adequately so there was no light saturation or blur - overall the presentation in both versions makes them a good investment for being one of the few comedies you might buy on Blu. The unrated runs eight minutes longer and contained nothing that would warrant the usual attraction for being titled as such. By the time they get to the roof to start the night there were four brief sequences added in, including some extra dialogue in the opening house scene, a little more with that abusive girlfriend and a fun spot in the hotel room. The main difference between the two would be a funny one minute scene as they take the tiger back to Tyson's house (elevator addition). Otherwise, there are no R rated additions like some would look for.

The supplements are a mixed bag, and after investing the hour it takes to get through them all (except the commentary) none of them stand out as a must see.

Standard Special Features (2 Disc DVD and BD)
* The missing pictures. 100 added photos from the camera, a few funny ones but they felt like the pics you would screen out before you share with your buddies (10 shots from the same angle, where you get rid of the other 9 and save the best one - they keep the other 9 here).
* Map of Destruction. Has 15 spots they filmed on a selectable icon map that takes you to a brief clip regarding making-of info. The Tyson one was the most interesting for me as the others are all either too short or not interesting.
* Madness of Ken Jeong. This guy doesn't work for me other than brief shots in a film so his "improv" here wasn't funny.
* Action Mash-Up. A brief Stooges style mix, forgettable.
* Three Best Friends Song. Funny in a movie, not funny as a long version when they can't sing.
* The Dan Band. The clean version of the Fame song.
* Gag Reel. Now this was funny, only goes a few minutes but they were having fun.

BD Exclusive: (BD Live)

* Cursing Mash-Up. My player took a few seconds to download/stream it and it only lasted a few seconds, most customers get a chuckle out of it when I screen it in the store, but just ok as a supplement.
* Iron Mike Online Teaser. A decent rendition of him singing the In The Air Tonight. That played well and customers thought it a much better trailer than the standard ones we have seen 100 times.

Theatrical BD Version:

* PiP Commentary with Phillips and the three main guys. I usually love commentaries but this one stunk. I was expecting a great deal of humor, funny stories and cool info, but instead they were just sitting there looking bored, especially Cooper, I honestly think he was there to watch the film. Galifianakis sat there until minute 16 before he really said anything. Every once in awhile Todd would say something interesting about the film making, but don't watch this if you want the laughs.

A fun movie with plenty of laughs on a good Blu that for some of the low prices I have seen here and elsewhere it will feel like a good investment.

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124 of 148 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Must see, June 6, 2009 I was a little hesitant to see this movie, it seemed like one of the all too recent movies where all of the good parts are featured in the trailer, and that's all you've got. So not the case. Not only was it a packed theatre at the midnight showing, but there was not any interval longer than three minutes that had a quiet audience. Nobody could stop laughing!
From Zach Galifiakanis, we had a stellar show. His ability to play the creepy weirdo is out of this world. His wolf pack speech was amazing.
The cameo from Mike Tyson was hilarious!
Don't miss the end credits where a lot of the missing information is revealed. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

26 of 32 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Story Ever Told...No but I'm still laughing days later., June 9, 2009 First of all, this was a very smart, gross, dark, crude, hilarious and obnoxious film that had me in tears throughout the film. Yes, this subject has been done to death, but not to this level of enjoyment. I haven't enjoyed a Vegas bachelor party film this much since "Very Bad Things" and I would have to rate this higher. My wife enjoyed this film as much as me and she commented how rare it is to see a film that is consistently funny from start to finish. My expectations were very high after all of the hype leading up to the release of this film and it didn't disappoint.

The director does a great job setting the stage for a night no one can remember. Each role was cast perfectly with Zach Galifianakis stealing the show. Make sure you don't leave early and miss the slide-show during the credits. Freaking hilarious!!!!

If you are easily offended by crude humor or you, then this isn't the movie for you.

Thank you, Todd Phillips for another over-the-top, laugh-out-loud masterpiece

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Cinderella (The Wonderful World of Disney) [VHS]

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31 of 33 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Completely Charming, October 25, 2001 This review is from: Cinderella (The Wonderful World of Disney) [VHS] (VHS Tape) This movie floats like a rainbow in the sky sprinkled with fairy dust. It is the most visually stunning, spectacular feast for the eyes I have ever seen. The messages are wonderful and wholesome, the plot perfect and the singing...magical. I can't find one single thing wrong with this movie.

Brandy brings a sweet innocence to Cinderella, and in my mind, she is the most beautiful Cinderella ever. Her voice lacks a certain maturity, which was perfect for the role. It breathes innocence and a human spirit into Cinderella like never before. She is sweet, mysterious and very feminine. She presents women in a very positive way.

When Cinderella and the Prince meet in the market, you just can't imagine it happened any other way. Paolo Montalban: wow...he is the perfect prince and so handsome. I was so impressed with his voice. When Brandy and Paolo sang together it gave me shivers and one time almost made me cry. It was like two souls mingling in the sky with longing. The choreography was stunningly original. The scenes in the market with all the food will just delight every cook.

The story starts in a market with Cinderella and her two sisters shopping. She meets the Prince, and is then told not to talk to him and is whisked home. Almost immediately, plans are being made for a Royal Ball to find the prince a wife so he can produce an heir for the kingdom. Whoopi Goldberg is hilarious as the Queen, and Victor Garber comes across as a loving father who wants the best for his son. I was amazed when the King and Queen were actually in love, which was not the case in other movies.

As in all the Cinderella stories, Cinderella is left at home and then when she wishes to go to the Ball, the fairy godmother magically appears.

Whitney Houston plays a fairy godmother just as you would imagine her to be, ethereally floating next to the horses and carriage, sparkling, singing...wow, what more could you ask for. It was amazing. Then, the humor was also there as she tries at first to turn the pumpkin into a carriage and fails on the first try. She mumbles something about how she should be able to do this after 600 years of practice. What she does with a pumpkin, well...baby, get ready. This woman can cook! She turns the pumpkin into the most stunning carriage. The pastel blue dress Brandy wears is simply gorgeous.

When Cinderella arrives at the ball, her sisters have already had their chance to um, impress the prince and have failed. The costumes and sets are so incredibly gorgeous and the ballroom dancing almost makes you dizzy because they keep spinning and spinning and spinning. There is a scene at the ball that will make you laugh out loud when her sister is on the staircase. Oh, my that was funny.

Cinderella of course makes it to the end of the stairs at midnight as her beautiful gown changes back to her regular clothes and she loses her glass slipper. When she gets home, more fun awaits. Her sisters are very suspicious of how much she knows about the ball. One of the funny things is that Bernadette Peters looks younger than one of her daughters, but still manages to pull off the step mother act with great flair. We cannot say the same for her daughters. They are quite funny and bumbling, just as we want them to be.

When Cinderealla's stepmother says something about remembering to hide flaws until after the wedding, Cinderella comments as to how a man should love a woman for who she is. A great message to women who sometimes try to be all things to men and fail to find true happiness in being just who they are.

I've always adored the story of Cinderella, and the fact that in this adaptation Cinderella is African American was delightful. Anyone who says Brandy can't act is really lying. She brings a wonderful spirit to this movie and does a wonderful job, she is a much better actor than eighty percent of the actors in movies today. The warmth she pours into this story is so needed in our world today.

I am literally SHOCKED at the poor reviews this movie has received. I have never seen anything this beautiful and heartwarming in my life! This is now my favorite version of Cinderella besides Ever After, which also makes Cinderella so much more human. They are both on my list of favorite movies.

The message of having a wish and then making it come true shows that everything starts with a wish. This message of hope and eternal optimism is so needed in society today. The multicultural actors added so much to the story; and it sends a wonderful message.

You will totally fall in love with this movie!

~The Rebecca Review

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28 of 31 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Pure musical perfection, September 23, 2000 This review is from: Cinderella (The Wonderful World of Disney) [VHS] (VHS Tape) Bernadette Peters, Natalie Desselle, Paolo Montalban, Brandy, Veanne Cox, Whoopi Goldberg, Victor Garber and Whitney Houston all sing and dance up a storm in this glittering new mounting of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic CINDERELLA.

This time however, the score is augmented with three new songs, written by Rodgers and Hammerstein in their seperate early careers.

They include 'The Deepest Love In All The World', sung by Brandy and Paolo Montalban, 'The Music In You', sung by Whitney Houston, and, my personal favourite, 'Falling In Love With Love', sung by the incomparable Bernadette Peters, with additional vocals by Natalie Desselle and Veanne Cox.

The entire production is flawless, and I loved every minute of it.

It has previously been recorded live on television with Julie Andrews and again with Lesley Ann Warren. Both of those cast albums are still available.

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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Cinderella, The Best One Yet, November 18, 2001 This review is from: Cinderella (The Wonderful World of Disney) [VHS] (VHS Tape) Cinderella beats the best. This remake from 1965 and 1954 was excellent. It has an all-star cast, including Brandy as a marvelous Cinderella, Whitney Houston as the eccentric Fairy-Godmother, Paolo Montalban as a very charming and (unlike the others) caring prince, Whoopi Goldberg and Victor Garber as a great and hilarious royal couple, Jason Alexander as the overlooked/overstepped harold, Bernadette Peters as the flirtatious/evil Stepmother, and Veanne Cox and Natalie Dessette as a wonderful combination of Stepsisters. The costumes and sets were just breathtaking. That, along with the technology, put it way above the previous remakes. It was romantic, with an upbeat feel, and plenty of humor. My favorite scene is the totally redone "The Prince is Giving a Ball". It gave you that feel-good music, mixed with the humouruos exasperation from the Prince's valet. It had just exellent choreography, and colorful costumes and props. The ballroom scene was also great. Especially the "Stepsisters Lamade". And I loved the new songs, including "Falling in Love With Love", and "Waiting Somewhere for Me". I think the Step-units stole the show, as they had a right to, with their brilliant acting and singing. This is a must-see film (again and again and again...) Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 
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0.40 Ct Round Eternity Diamond Wedding band Ring Gold

A reserve price is the minimum price the seller will accept. This price is hidden from bidders. To win, a bidder must have the highest bid and have met or exceeded the reserve price.  Los Angeles, California, United StatesN. and S. America, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany

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Ray-Ban RB2132 New Wayfarer Sunglasses

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62 of 63 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic, But a Note on Fit:, June 30, 2008 If your considering buying the Wayfarer by Ray-Ban, you already know it as a cultural staple, worn by everyone from Dylan to The Blues Brothers. But, as cool as the shades are, be careful when it comes to fit. The "New" Wayfarer is substantially smaller then the old style, as well as being a tad more modern, not dominating the face as the old kind do.

The "New" style also comes in two sizes, 52mm and 55mm. I received the 52 only to find them to be a bit too small (I am an average size male), once I returned them for the 55 I was more then satisfied. So in conclusion I would recommend the new style Wayfarer to those wanting the signature look of the style, but with perhaps a bit less obtrusive frame. 55mm is average size, while 52mm would be for females or even some children.

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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Cool, but not entirely convinced, February 2, 2009 I bought these for the style. There's no sense in lying. Yes, I did want something with a little more eye coverage than the relatively small sunglasses I had before (and still use for driving) but the main reason is because Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, the Blues Brothers, etc. have been looking cool in these forever.

Now, I have no problem with that aspect. They look cool. They fit that purpose great, and get a good rating for that. In addition, they are made well, very nice quality. The frames are plastic and surely not as durable as a quality metal frame that allows flex, but it is a very nice quality plastic far removed from the cheap sunglass quality you expect on cheaper glasses. And as I said, you buy these for the style, not necessarily the durability. But I think they will hold up pretty well regardless.

However, I have some issues with them. First, though it's hard to find any reliable information about the technical details - there is absolutely none on Ray-Ban's official website - I was under the impression that the G-15 lenses were supposed to provide neutral color. It should have been obvious to me by the fact that they're referred to as grey-green, I guess, but they do put a distinct green cast over everything. They are not color neutral.

Secondly, it says Ray-Ban on the exterior of the glasses in THREE places, with an additional little Rb initial etched in on one of the lenses. To me, this is not stylish, and I think it is a new addition. I've seen hundreds of videos and photos of famous people wearing these, including close-ups, and never is the branding so noticeable. These are recognizable because of the style, and the quality of construction. It's utterly ridiculous to plaster it with branding! Of course, now rip-offs have suddenly become extremely popular, including a version sold at Target, so some I guess may desire the branding, to ensure to others that theirs are genuine. But come on, if you're paying for and wearing these, does that really matter to you?

Finally, do be careful about choosing polarized or non-polarized lenses. If you plan to use these for driving, you really should get polarized ones. I purchased the one offered here as a replacement for my driving glasses (extremely necessary in Southern California) as well as to wear outside in general, including while out taking photographs.

The problem with polarized glasses and photography is that the glass in camera viewfinders has coatings that interact with the polarizer and make it impossible to use. Also, it changes your perspective on what you see vs. what the camera sees, and if you use a polarizing filter on your lens to match, then you won't be able to see anything at all through the viewfinder because the polarizers combine. So the best solution is to just not wear sunglasses.

I want to wear sunglasses to protect my eyes in the bright sun, even when I'm taking photographs, so I chose non-polarized lenses. They work fine for that (other than not being color neutral...) but unfortunately, now they're nearly useless for driving! This is my problem, not taking anything off the rating because of this - just frustrating.

The seller I purchased it from had the best price by far. However, I recommend going to a mall first to try them on, both to judge the style (to choose between the original and new wayfarer) and the size. One of the stores that's in most malls, Sunglass Hut maybe, is owned by Luxottica, who also own Ray-Ban, and should have most styles in there for you to try.

Final note - the standard Ray-Ban included accessories, the cleaning cloth and case, are very nice. I always liked their sunglasses cases - my dad, a pilot, always had his aviators and the case his car and getting my own Ray-Ban case brought back memories for me :)

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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Classic look and great fit, December 27, 2007 This is one thing I have in common with Jack Nicholson ... a love for the way the Ray-Ban Wayfarer's look and fit. I first found an old used pair of Wayfarers at a garage sale for 25 cents back in the late 70's. They fit so well and the price was right. I loved them. Later I learned that John F. Kennedy, Bob Dylan (on his first tour in England), and Jack Nicholson wore this model.

I lost them in the 90's and couldn't find a current model that were quite the same. It seemed all the models at that time were bigger and rounder, so I didn't replace them. Then the "New Wayfarer" model came out and although they call it new, it reminds me of the old pair I had ... size, look, fit. So I bought a pair and am love'n them again. I use them for sailing, driving, hiking, rafting, travel, etc.

These sunglasses actually block the wind better than some biking sunglasses I bought. I also prefer the non-polarized green lens to the polarized lens that came in those same biking sunglasses. When I ride into the shadows, the polarized lens blocked out too much light and it was hard to see the pavement. The green lens let's in more light allowing me to see better in shadows, yet without being too bright in sunny spots.

The 55mm New Wayfarer in classic tortoise (color 902) with the green lens is my cup of tea, although Dylan wore the black color. They stay on so well I don't need a strap to keep them on during vigorous movement. And your eyelashes don't hit the lenses when you blink.

Great gear!

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Imagine Fashion Designer New York

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Outdoor Wedding Reception Activities

If you are having your wedding reception out of doors, that opens the door for many activities that would be hard to pull off indoors. You can plan games and activities based on the outdoor theme and carry that theme indoors if part of the reception is inside as well.

Depending on where the reception will be held, you can plan many activities based on the setting. Whether it is the park or on a farm, there are a myriad of activities you can plan.

Let's start with some basics based on popular wedding locations. One fun game for a winery wedding is a blindfolded wine tasting game. If the bride and groom are wine drinkers, this might not a game the bride and groom should be a part of, but instead guests and wedding party members. Blindfold perhaps a half dozen volunteers and have them do a blind taste test (provide something to clean the palate between sips). The volunteers should guess which wine is the pinot noir, which is the Cabernet, and so on. A bottle of wine is the obvious prize for the winner of this game.

Say you are having a reception at a country club on a golf course. It's possible your theme will include golf elements, so why not include golf in some reception activities or games? You certainly could head to the golf course for a "hole in one" contest, or have a driving contest to see which guest has the best stroke. As a simple, "who gets the centerpiece game", you could have people guess how many golf balls there are in the floral centerpiece (which could decorate a plain large glass vase filled with flowers). Similarly, there could be a large vase or other clear container filled with golf balls at the reception somewhere and guests could guess how many golf balls are in the vase.

A silly game could be made on the dance floor by asking everyone to include their best golf swing into their dancing for one particular song.

Now, if your reception and ceremony are both to be held outdoors and guests will be milling outdoors, think about games or activities that can take place outdoors and still keep to your level of formality or informality. For example, if the reception is being held at a park, perhaps guests might enjoy a "walk down memory lane". Prior to the reception, someone can use potted plants or arbors to create a little private lane, which guests can walk through. Along the path, guests will find pictures of the bride and groom at various stages in their lives. There should be a place for guests to record their thoughts and memories along the way as well.

If your wedding and reception are fairly casual, you can always tell guests ahead of time to prepare for a ball game or some other fun outdoor activity. Women can bring a pair of sneakers. Just imagine the fun photos you'll get out of a rousing game of football or baseball played by women in dresses and sneakers and men in suits and sneakers!

You can provide a challenge activity involving barefoot dancing in the grass or a Frisbee toss in the backyard. Is there a pool in the yard where the reception will be held? Why not have a swimming activity for after the whole of the reception is done?

Bridal Bouquet Activities

When a bride orders her wedding bouquet, it might not seem that any "activities" will come from it other than as a thing for the bride to hold. But the bridal bouquet can be the source of many interesting activities and meaningful gestures.

During there ceremony there are all kinds of possibilities. Certainly you can go traditional and have a flower for both the mother of the bride and mother of the groom. The moms, in particular, love this activity and guests usually appreciate it as well. But what if you turned that traditional gesture on its head and supplied flowers for both the mothers and the fathers?

If the bride supplies flowers to both the men and women, there are a couple of ways to do this. What if dad's flower was enclosed in a verse that he will then get up and read at the ceremony? What if it was a flower to recognize the members of the family who have passed, and it gives dad an opportunity to recognize those family members?

If the bride chooses not to have a unity candle, but wants some gesture like it, she can have her bridal bouquet designed by having several small bouquets put together. At an appropriate time during the ceremony, the bridal bouquet is "broken up" and various people might receive a share, such as the mothers and fathers of the bride and groom.

Now, if the bride wants to hang onto her bridal bouquet during the wedding ceremony, but is willing to have some fun with it at the reception, there are a few options there as well. How about a dance involving the bridal bouquet? This is silly, but fun. The bridal bouquet is on display somewhere near the dance floor and guests must guess a flower that's in the bouquet before they can enter the dance floor. The first few guests might not have a problem as some flowers are obvious, like roses and tulips, but others might give people pause. Of course, this won't work if the bridal bouquet is all roses or some other single and obvious flower but for a traditional mixed bouquet, it can work well.

For a naughty touch, the bride can hide her garter in the bridal bouquet and actually put it on her leg before the groom takes it off. Or she can have a couple of breakaway bouquets that are wrapped in garter belts, so hers doesn't get thrown, but instead the tiny bouquets with garter belts attached are thrown.

When it comes time for the bride to throw her bouquet, there are several options. Some brides choose not to keep their bouquet and simply pluck one flower out of it before chucking the whole thing during the bridal bouquet toss. This is an alternative to having a special bouquet set aside for throwing, and there are others as well.

Are there are a lot of single women coming to the wedding? Maybe one thrown bouquet won't be enough. Many brides these days are opting for something a little more fun. There are a few options, really. One popular option is to have the florist create several small bouquets and then bundle them to look like one bouquet. They are tied lightly with a ribbon. When it comes time for the bouquet toss, the bride unties the ribbon, and throws the "bouquet" which is actually several little bouquets. Several women will catch the bouquet, rather than just one.

Happy Ever After

Read books on your computer or other mobile devices Pricing information not available. Bridal expert Parker "Legs" Brown meets her perfect match in Roberts's delicious ode to weddings and happy endings, the charming conclusion of the Bride Quartet (after Savor the Moment) about four childhood friends who as adults form a Connecticut wedding planning company. In the palatial Brown estate, a multitude of marriages have been celebrated while each wedding planner in turn has found her heart's desire. Cupid's target for Parker is her brother Del's friend Malcolm Kavanaugh, a former stuntman turned mechanic. Harley-riding Mal is a rough-and-tumble hunk who captures Parker's heart with twinkling eyes and steamy moves that melt her cool reserve. Romance veteran Roberts fills the pages with frothy fun, culminating in--of course--plenty of bridal fabulousness. (Nov.) (c)
Copyright © PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. As wedding planner for Vows, Parker Brown manages to make every wedding the perfect day for her clients. From demanding brides to feuding guests to last-minute menu changes, Parker can handle anything and anyone with aplomb. Nothing and no one rattles her, until Malcomb Kavanaugh unexpectedly kisses her one day after helping her fix a flat tire. At first, Parker dismisses the kiss as just another twist to Malcomb’s always flirtatious nature, but as it turns out, the sexy auto mechanic really is interested in starting something with Parker. Somehow, though, the whole idea of a serious romantic relationship with Malcomb is enough to rattle her. Roberts, the reigning Queen of Romance, brings her Bride Quartet series to a splendidly satisfying conclusion with another deliciously sexy and delightfully humorous contemporary romance that perfectly celebrates the importance of love, friendship, and family in any woman’s life. --John Charles  (What's this?) Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below. 
  Share your thoughts with other customers: Most Helpful Customer Reviews

101 of 113 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars Good Girl Gone ..... Good, October 24, 2010 When I sat down to write this review, I spent time thinking about not only how I felt about this book but also tried to imagine how some other readers with different tastes might feel. Eventually it became clear to me that we are very likely to see two different types of reviews here, so I'll try to give them both. Pick one depending upon what type of reader you are.

Type 1 - Style fit for a fairytale and no holds barred romance. Sigh.
If you are an adoring fan of the first three novels in this series and have spent the past month staring at that 4th gorgeous bride cover and waiting, waiting, waiting for that day when Parker Brown puts down her Blackberry and lets the man of her dreams sweep her off her well pedicured Manolo Blahnik encased feet, then wait no longer because your day has come. Like a certain Disney movie, Princess Parker Brown (of the Connecticut Browns) finds herself a true diamond in the rough in Malcom. Underneath all that tiny little insignificant bit of grease and dust Malcolm might collect during the day is a man who is nice to his mom, cares about the literacy levels of his employees, and most importantly of all --- knows nothing says sorry like a new pair of high end designer shoes.

For you - Five Stars. Make that Six. Go buy the book and read it because you are gonna love it!!!!!

Type II - Enough Already! Do people really live like this? Bedroom closets with refrigerators?
For those who have grown perhaps a bit weary of the world where every cake Laurel produces is her most fabulous ever, every flower arrangement Emma designs is a tasteful reflection of two hearts beating in harmony, every bride is beautifully Vera Wang-ed from head to toe and there is never a wedding "disaster" that Parker can't solve in two paragraphs - well I'm sorry to say that not much changes. At Vows, even a Divorce Event is handled in a completely classy, beautiful, and dare I say "Holy Smokes Can You Imagine the Bill?!!" manner.

And what of Parker and Malcolm you ask?

Well "Bad Boy" Malcolm does ride a motorcycle, complete with an extra helmet on board for Parker. Safety first don't ya know! There is a small walk on the wild side where the dangerous make your heart thump man takes Parker on a date like she's never experienced before.....to a just shabby enough to be cozy family pizza parlor. (read that in a sarcastic tone). Then he falls right in line behind Carter, Del, and Jack toting chairs around Vows events and helping to hang greenery and just generally being there to comment upon the talent, intelligence and general fabulosity of the Vows foursome whenever they need a man around to do that.

So if you're hoping for the long, sleek "tale" of Parker's to get a little mussed up - or a tattoo to be inked across that blue blooded Ivy League educated derriere of hers as she takes a walk on the wild side.....ummmm, this probably isn't your book. I'd say probably 2.5 stars for you. Come on, those covers alone are pretty enough for 2 stars.

For me, I'm going to put it at three stars. Yeah, yeah, I admit that the nasty part of me was hoping for a fallen wedding cake or something. A problem. Imperfection. Just something different or some real conflict. I really feel like there was a chance here for Nora Roberts to shake things up a bit and have some fun with the Ivy League girl and the boy from the wrong side of the tracks. She didn't do that though. She played it safe and in the end I felt the book read like she wrote it with her eyes closed.

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38 of 41 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Nora Roberts can do no wrong in my world, November 2, 2010 I have a tradition, a completely girly and irrational tradition that I love and hope to continue for many years. On the day that a new Nora Roberts book comes out, I purchase it at my local bookstore, crack open a bottle of red wine, and read it cover-to-cover. I give myself permission to drink the WHOLE bottle of wine, cry freely at the over-the-top romantic parts, and disregard any work/social functions to stay up to the wee hours to make sure that the leading man and woman end up Happy Ever After!

Happy Ever After is the final member of the Bride Quartet: Parker Brown. Parker created Vows - a premier wedding business in the ultra-rich Greenwich - for her and her three best friends and continued to make their dream a reality by being the glue that held everything together. Efficient, supreme multi-tasker, level-headed, and organized beyond belief, Parker never saw herself falling for her mechanic, Mal Kavanaugh. But, as Mal proves to be much more than he appears on the surface, Parker finds that he may just be everything she has ever wanted but never planned for.

I am capable of understanding books with complex themes and subtexts and then dissect and discuss them on an intellectual level...I even enjoy books such as that on a fairly regular basis. However, my favorite genre of all time is contemporary romance (heavy on the contemporary, medium on the romance) and Nora Roberts is a goddess in my world. I realize NR novels are unrealistic, contrived, and fit a cookie-cutter mold....and I could care less. They are my guilty pleasure and I love every single word on every single page! :)

Let the countdown begin to July 7, 2011, when the next Nora Roberts novel is released!

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32 of 40 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars Expecting more passion ... disappointing, November 1, 2010 I liked the first 3 books and was hoping for a wonderful ending to this romance saga. With characters like Parker and Malcolm there was so much potential for drama and interesting dialogue. Should have been more passion and more intimate moments between Parker & Malcolm, get rid of the wedding details and other relatives - these become boring after a while and I skipped many of these pages on my Kindle. On the whole the book was OK but I waited all year for this book and it fell short for me - maybe my expectations were too high. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 
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Fun Wedding Photo Ideas.txt

Pictures are an integral part of any wedding. Newlyweds are usually thrilled to get their pictures back from the photographer so they can relive their special day. But there are many special activities you can build into a wedding that involve photos.

One fun idea that many brides employ is to take photos of everyone as they arrive at the wedding, almost like you do at a high school prom or company Christmas party. You can provide a backdrop and couples can pose either for a paid photographer or for whoever happens to pick up the camera. These pictures can be taken with a Polaroid camera for instant fun or with a disposable camera. If you want slightly higher quality photos, go for a digital camera.

This can be an excellent way to keep guests busy and happy until the "official" reception begins with the arrival of the bride and groom.

As an extension of that idea, you can take instant photos and create scrapbook pages or memory book pages with the photos. There can be supplies on hand so guests can create pages on site, or pages can be pre-made and photos simply placed into the prepared spaces. If guests don't want to create pages on site, or the bride doesn't want this particular activity going on, the photos can be saved for later. As a gift for the bride and groom, someone can create memory books with these photos.

If Polaroid cameras are used, another option is to have the people in the photo sign the Polaroid photo and place that in a basket somewhere. The bride and groom will enjoy looking at the photos later.

While it's not a particularly unique idea, many brides like to provide disposable cameras on each table at the reception so guests can capture candid shots of the reception and the table guests. These photos can be added to the newlyweds' wedding album or they can be placed into a separate album showing the wedding from the guests' perspective.

Another fun activity sure to be entertaining is to create a "silent photo guess" area. Here's how this works: before the wedding, someone close to the bride and groom collects pictures of the bride and groom at various stages in life. The photos should depict the bride and groom doing things, not at Christmas or with their first birthday cake. In other words, the photos should include some action, but it shouldn't be obvious in the picture what has taken place or where the person is.

Much like a silent auction, people will come along and look at the photos, then take a silent guess as to what the photos show. They can write their guess on a piece of paper and put it in a numbered basket that corresponds with the number on the photo. Reading these guesses during the reception is entertaining and sure to be amusing. The bride or groom can provide the real answers. This is a particularly fun activity at a relatively small, family wedding where the participants know the bride and groom very well.

If you want to provide an area for guests to have their photos taken but aren't thrilled with the "prom night" idea, how about having a photo corner set up somewhere in the reception hall or facility. Here, the wedding photographer will take candid shots of wedding guests. They might be couples, but could also be entire families, friends having a good time, or the groom being carried on the shoulders of the best man. Whatever the pictures end up being, they provide a fun, "let it all hang out" area for the wedding guests and a surprise for the bride and groom. Since they will likely be busy with all the reception details and having the time of THEIR lives, they might appreciate knowing their guests had a pretty good time too, as evidenced in the photos.

Naughty Bachelorette Party Games

If you are planning a bachelorette party and want to include some naughty games, the possibilities are endless. The games and activities can just barely stretch into the naughty category or they can be all-out embarrassing dirty games.

Before planning any of these games, make sure the bride is willing to play long with them and is outgoing enough for the "public naughty" games. You don't want to put her on the spot or make her feel uncomfortable. However, if she's game and willing, many of these games are very popular and extremely fun for girls who enjoy a good time.

First up is "Suck for a buck". Buy a plain white T shirt and letter on it with fabric paint, "suck for a $", attach Lifesavers candy to it and have the bride-to-be wear it. When you go out that evening, try to solicit men to suck the lifesavers off the T-shirt. At $1 a man, this is a nice way to pay for a few drinks while you're out as well!

If the bride isn't comfortable with the Lifesaver idea, have her wear a candy necklace or bracelet instead and have the men simply bite off a piece of the candy necklace/bracelet.

How about the game where you ask the guests which of them would like her virginity back? The women who say yes line up and are each given a maraschino cherry in a bowl. They are told they have to eat the cherry without using their hands. Doesn't sound so hard, right? In fact, it gets a little tougher and messier when the host then adds a squirt of whipped cream to each bowl and the women have to find and fish out the cherry all without using their hands.

This activity isn't quite so naughty, but it could be, depending on the bride's expressions. As she opens her gifts, and this is assuming there are gifts at this bachelorette party, someone writes down all her expressions as she opens each gift. So there might be "oohs" and "aaahs" and "how cutes" coming from the bride. Once she is done opening gifts, someone says, "If we were outside (bride's name) hotel room on her wedding night, this is what we'd hear" and you then list the various expressions and comments she made while opening her gifts.

Believe it or not, there are hundreds of products you can buy for steamy bachelorette parties. From fake penises to pin on pictures of hunks on the wall to portable stripper poles, it's all out there. How about a penis piñata? You could make a game out of who gets to hit the piñata. Turn any drinking game into the piñata game. For example, if the guest would normally take a drink, instead they hit the penis piñata. You could fill the piñata with the always- popular candy, but you could also fill it with sex toys, just to add to the spiciness of the game.

If the bachelorette party is going to be held at a bar or somewhere other than home or in a hotel room, there are a myriad of activities you can come up with to entertain the girls. For example, create a series of challenges. One challenge might be to wander up to a man at a bar. If he were munching the bar-supplied nuts, the challenge would be to say, "Mmmmm. I love a man with salty nuts".

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Wedding Guest Book Activities

Traditional brides don't have to have traditional guest books. Certainly you can purchase a standard guest book and ask your guests to sign it, but there are so many more guest book-like activities that are more unique.

Let's move from the popular to the less well known. One very popular option allows guests to sign a picture of the bride and groom. Simply take a picture of the bride and groom and have it matted in a mat several inches larger than the photo itself. Place a frame around this, but don't include the glass or Plexiglas frame. You'll add this later. Some people prefer to use "bulldog" clips to keep the mat together instead of putting the picture in the frame. The picture can be framed after the wedding.

Most couples choose a nice photo of themselves for this picture/guestbook option, although if there's a formal engagement photo, this is an excellent way to preserve that photo and show it off to friends and family. If photos are taken before the wedding with the bride and groom in their wedding attire, you can certainly use this photo. Many couples opt to either leave the mat empty or they place a temporary picture in the mat and add a wedding picture later.

Be sure to have a nice Sharpie marker handy and place the picture on either a sturdy easel or on a table where guests are sure to see it.

Another option is instead of providing a picture of the bride and groom to sign, the guests are provided with a picture of themselves! Simply provide a Polaroid camera and assign someone the job of taking pictures of the guests as they arrive at the reception. Once the picture is dry, provide a Sharpie and they can sign the picture, make a note to the bride and groom or hand draw a silly picture. It can be whatever the guest wants it to be. This is a unique, and personal, way for guests to "sign in" at the wedding.

Whoever handles the taking of the pictures should also handle putting them in an album of some sort. A scrap booker might provide a special memory book with the Polaroid pictures in it, or the pictures can simply be placed in a nice album and presented later to the bride and groom.

Many guests don't give a great deal of thought to the guest book. They whiz by the guest book table more concerned with getting their cocktail and hitting the dance floor. If this is a concern, provide a "traveling" guest book. Send each guest something either to sign or decorate before the wedding.

In this "traveling" guest book scenario, there are several options. One of the easiest is to send each guest a small piece of paper and ask them to write something meaningful or thoughtful for the bride and groom on it. The pieces of paper are returned prior to the wedding (to ensure a better response, provide a self-addressed stamped envelope with the paper) and can be compiled in some meaningful way for the bride and groom and presented to them on their wedding day.

If the guest list is a creative or particularly close group, there is one other option that is even more meaningful. Again, in a scrapbook fashion, send each guest a piece of paper to sign or decorate. The paper should be the size of a photo album, so it might be a 6 x 6 piece of paper, an 8 x 8 piece of paper, or even 12 x 12, if the guests are up to that larger size.

In a letter that arrives with the paper, the guests are instructed to create a memory page for the bride and groom. They might include photos, quotes, little anecdotal stories, or combine all of these with stickers or embellishments. It's thoughtful, meaningful and personal and it's an excellent way to include guests who might not be able to attend the wedding, but would still like to be a part of it.

Nice Bachelorette Party Games

Planning a bachelorette party is one of the easiest parts of a wedding to plan. There are literally hundreds of ideas for things to do and a myriad of options for games. Many of those ideas are a bit on the racy side, but there are plenty that that are just plain clean fun.

For example, one popular bachelorette game involves asking the guests to become poets. Ahead of the party, take 50 index cards and on half, write romantic things, like "roses", "cuddly", etc. On the other 25 cards, write very non-romantic words or phrases, like "nose hairs" or "ironing". Then have each guest draw one card from each pile. They should then create a silly poem based on the two very different words or phrases they have chosen, for example, "Roses are red, your nose hairs are ewwwww."

One fun game that is sure to engender at least a few laughs is "name that item". Take a paper bag (a fabric bag is better if you have one) and fill the bag with typical "male items". The items might include a razor, a money clip, a tie, shoe polish, etc. Seal the bag, or fold it over really well. Then have each guest feel the bag and try to guess the contents. Have them write their guesses on a piece of paper. After everyone has had a chance to feel the bag, the contents are shown and the person with the most number of correct guesses gets the bag of male-oriented items.

Here's a fun idea. This game might take the whole of the bachelorette party, but it's a fun one that involves all the guests, helps them get to know one another and provides video proof you all had a good time. You need video cameras for this game, so if the host only has one camera, be sure to ask guests to bring more video cameras. Make sure you also have enough blank tapes for this game.

Depending on the number of guests at the party, you'll divide the party into two or more groups. It's best to divide the group into teams small enough so that the whole team can get into one car. So you'll have maybe five women on each team. You'll give each team a video camera, blank videotapes and a list of "scavenger hunt" type activities they must perform and tape.

Some video scavenger hunt ideas include having a complete stranger sing the national anthem, having a member of the team sing "I wish I were an Oscar Meyer hot dog" in the meat section of the grocery store and taping a stranger who can do a good impersonation of John Wayne.

The teams should be given a specific amount of time in which to complete their assigned tasks and then return to the party location (ideally, a home, in this case). The videos are viewed and the teams vote on the team that did the best. Bonus points are given for the team that creates their own stunts.

Bachelorette party games are not only designed to bring fun to the party, but sometimes to help people get to know one another. This might be a good opportunity for the bride's best friend to get to know the sister of the groom, or for the bride to get close to the groom's cousin or niece. So an icebreaker game isn't a bad idea.

This isn't perhaps the most intellectual of an icebreaker game, but it will likely break the ice early in the evening before you head out to other events. Play a game called "I never..." and see who takes the most drinks. So the first woman says, "I never..." and completes the sentence. The women who have done the thing the first woman says she's never done take a drink. Then the next woman claims to have "never" done something.

Some suggestions for this game are: "I never ..."

*Lied about my age

*Lied about my weight

*Shoplifted

*Got a speeding ticket

*Ran naked through my house

Wedding planning goes on the Web

With friends and family headed to her California wedding from all over, bride-to-be Carrie Shields decided that online organization was key.

?Really the wedding website was one of the first things we did,? the 32-year-old public relations director from San Diego said. Shields is marrying R.J. Jones, 36, who was born and raised in Wales. Their April wedding in Napa Valley comes four years after they met through friends.

?I knew people were going to have a lot of questions about what to do and how to get there,? Shields said. ?I wanted to make it fun and personal. I kind of jumped right on things, because people were traveling so far.?

Wedding experts at TheKnot.com and its partner, WeddingChannel.com, say this year?s annual survey found 64 percent of brides now have a website to share details with guests about ceremony and reception logistics, registry information and travel accommodations. Web companies exist that allow couples to host wedding sites for free, while others charge a fee for access to fancier templates and tools.

The page Shields created has a personal and creative flair. It features a blue and orange frame with a brown background. The happy couple smile from behind sunglasses on a beach. A counter below them lets visitors know it?s ?151 days until our wedding!?

?A lot of the people coming over, they?ve never been to America,? Shields said. ?I?m going to add a little bit about things to do in San Francisco, trying to take the guesswork out of it.?

Experts at WeddingWire.com recommend that couples launch their website at least six months before the wedding date to give guests as much information as early as possible. That allows enough time to make travel arrangements. WeddingWire also offers other online tools, including a program that lets guests RSVP directly from the website.

Carley Roney, editor and founder of TheKnot.com, said her site and WeddingChannel.com together host more than 500,000 wedding websites for couples.

?It?s a simple, easy way of communication,? Roney said. ?It?s really like going to the website for a restaurant or a concert event. Everything is in one place.?

That?s why more wedding website addresses are appearing in fancy fonts on the bottom of printed invitations.

?You?re going to want to give the same information you always needed to have on an invitation: the name, location, time of event,? Roney said. But things like dress code or baby-sitting services can be saved for the website.

Some sites let couples upload music or an audio track of their voices, video, animated graphics, or polls asking guests what songs to play or which appetizers to serve.

To personalize her website, Shields added a glossary of Welsh and American words, and photos of the 20-member wedding party.

Couples who choose WeddingChannel.com to host their websites can choose from templates by high-fashion designers like Oscar de la Renta, Monique Lhuillier and Vera Wang.

?You still want to make the investment in it to make it uniquely you,? Roney said. ?Just like you do on the wedding day.?

Roney offers three tips for setting up a wedding website:

Don?t assume your audience is only younger friends, and remember your etiquette. ?You want to keep things ?wedding- and older-people friendly,? ? Roney said. ?You don?t want to go on and on forever. You don?t want to put things like, ?please ship our gifts to.? Some of the etiquette that is wrong for wedding invitations is wrong for this too. To be making specific demands of your guests isn?t appropriate.?

Include your registry information. According to TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com survey, about 61 percent of guests find out where a couple is registered from their wedding website ? a figure that has grown from 47 percent in 2008. ?It really is becoming the absolute de facto way that guests are going to find out where you?re registered,? Roney said. ?It used to be that brides were worried it was tacky, but it?s simply not tacky. It?s how it?s done now.?

Get the word out. Don?t just create and publish the website and assume everyone knows it exists. ?Send the information directly to your guests,? sometimes more than once, Roney said. ?You can?t assume that something you put on your website was acknowledged by all.?

Online: http://www.theknot.com

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Wedding and rumor

By: Mike Sommer

Yesterday was Nick Swisher’s wedding day. I had to laugh when I read one comment that stated something like this— “Instead of the wife  mashing his face with the wedding cake, was it A.J. instead?”. Mrs. Swisher is the actress Joanna Garcia.

Nick with the now Mrs. Swishalicious.

Regarding Swisher, could you see him like that at the wedding,
with the cake plastered in his face, courtesy of Burnett?
Considering his beautiful wife, he’d probably raise his arms in
triumph exactly as he is doing here. I would.

Rumors all day yesterday. Twitter was nuts with people saying Lee staying, Lee going, press conference at this time, etc. The only thing is, when you went to a legitimate source, there was nothing. Nada. Nothing from Madden, Feinsand, Sherman, Rosenthal, Davidoff, Gammons, Yankees PR, Jack Curry, Murti, Kim Jones —you name it. Nada.

But some bozo says he knows the details and there will be a 5:45 CST press conference to announce blah, blah, blah? Of course said bozos list no sources and have no credibility. But Twitter goes nuts.

How about waiting for a legitimate source to tweet something?

Meanwhile, the wait is making this Yankees fan nervous. I mean, if you don’t want to jump at 7, $160 (or whatever), what are you waiting for? It seems like Lee is trying to find a way to stay in Texas, but having trouble doing so. Just my opinion though. Like I’d know what he’s thinking. I obviously don’t and neither do the Twitter Clowns.     

I wouldn’t take too much out of Washington’s statement that in his gut he thinks Lee is staying. I mean, what do you want him to say? He’s Texas’ manager. Did you really expect him to sit there and break down crying like a teenage girl whose boyfriend dumped her the night before the prom?  

Sommer Frieze is a blog dedicated (mainly) to the Yankees. I'll touch on other things as well and the blog (as much as possible) will not only have Yankees news but also follow the Yanks' farm teams. Come visit at Sommer Frieze.

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Facebook funds a £20,000 wedding

13 December 2010 Last updated at 13:38 Shaun and Emma were engaged for 14 years before tying the knot on Saturday A couple have got married after a friend's Facebook campaign raised £20,000 to pay for their wedding.

Emma Collins, 31, and Shaun Parsons, 38, from Abertridwr near Caerphilly, were engaged for 14 years but could not afford a big wedding.

When the couple lost a radio competition for a free wedding friend Jenee Gatehouse set up a Facebook group to appeal for help.

Donations ranged from rings, reception, stretch limo to the wedding cake.

Emma, who tied the knot on Saturday, said: "It was absolutely fantastic."

Teaching assistant Emma, 31, and truck driver Shaun, 38, got engaged on Emma's 17th birthday in 1996.

But the pair, parents to 13-year-old twins McCaulley and Paige and 10-year-old Chloe, could never afford the big wedding Emma had always wanted.

They even entered a radio competition for a free wedding and made it to the final.

Shaun and Emma were engaged for 14 years before tying the knot on Saturday

But when they were pipped into second place they were devastated.

Best friend Jenee Gatehouse said that when she decided to set up a group on the social networking website Facebook to raise funds for the couple to have their dream wedding.

'Dream wedding'

"I thought every girl should have her special day, so why not try and do it for Emma."

Donations flooded in from across the community including the offer of regency building Llancayo House near Usk, Monmouthshire as a reception venue.

Further donations included catering for the wedding, photography for the big day, the wedding cake, a stretch limo to ferry bride and groom on the day, a wedding DJ, disco and marquee.

Speaking to ITV's Daybreak, the new Mrs Parsons said: "I've always wanted the big dream wedding, a Christmas wedding, a big dress. It was perfect."

"I keep signing Emma Collins and it's meant to be Emma Parsons now!"

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Aladdin and the King of Thieves (Disney Presents) [VHS]

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars The only good DTV Disney ever made, July 25, 2002 This review is from: Aladdin and the King of Thieves (Disney Presents) [VHS] (VHS Tape) Cinderella II. Lady and the Tramp II. Lion King II. Pochahontas II. The Hunchback of Notre Dame II. Return of Jafar. The list of direct-to-video stinkers made by Disney seems to be endless. Fortunately, Aladdin and the King of Thieves is the exception.

Released early on before Disney decided to defile it animated classics, Aladdin and the King of Thieves features a solid, new storyline that does not simply rehash the original. Maybe this extra attempt at quality was made to get Robin Williams to reprise one of his coolest roles? After two movies and countless tv episodes, Aladdin and Jasmine are finally getting married. Then the forty thieves show up and trash the wedding, and Aladdin goes on a quest to find his father and a unique treasure with the golden touch. While not targeted to older kids like Disney's Atlantis was, this movie is slightly darker than the two that came before it, which is a good thing. A lot of this comes from the forty thieves, who sing about robbing, plundering, in an endearing kind of way. There is a sword duel conveyed in hellish reds, murky blues, and shadows, and lightning is used to symbolize Aladdin being wounded. And the villain's demise is quite original, not the usual "falling to their death" we've seen over and over. In fact, I daresay Atlantis even borrowed the demise for their film's climax. All in all, it's an entertaining, never-boring, thrill ride, and ties up the saga nicely, with a nod to the street merchant who began this whole thing.

The songs in Aladdin and the King of Thieves are not up the quality of the original, but they are much better than all the other Disney DTV's. The two songs the forty thieves sing are quite hilarious and memorable, the romance song didn't make me cringe at all, and the opening number gets the ball rolling really well. The only semi-clunker is the father and son song, but that wasn't bad either. The animation isn't cinema-quality, but it's also above-average and commendable. My only curiosity with this movie is some of the Genie's jokes. The animators went with whatever ad-libs Robin Williams came up with, and even after six years of watching this movie, I still can't understand most of them, especially the homages to past comedians. This is the only part children won't understand.

Aladdin and the King of Thieves is a high-quality Disney DTV, and as things stand, their ONLY high-quality release ever. Worth picking up on video, or even on the eventual DVD release.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Recovery from "Return of Jafar", July 9, 2004 This review is from: Aladdin and the King of Thieves (Disney Presents) [VHS] (VHS Tape) "The Return of Jafar" was a big step down from the grand Disney hit "Aladdin." Everything about it - the animation, the acting, and the music - was low-quality. But probably the biggest disappointment was that Robin Williams, the perfect Genie, was gone. It was little more than a long Saturday morning cartoon.

"Aladdin and the King of Thieves," on the other hand, is a surprisingly well-made and entertaining direct-to-video cartoon sequel. Not only did the creators return Robin Williams to do his excellent job as Genie, but they also cast none other than John Rhys-Davies (Indiana Jones, The Lord of the Rings) as Cassim, Aladdin's long-lost father. Their acting is the best part of the film.

While the animation is by no means as good as that of the original "Aladdin," it is fairly well-done, and much better than that of "Return of Jafar." The locales and characters are colorful and original. The songs of the movie are only so-so, but the music is better. The storyline with its plot-turns moves along fairly well and keeps the viewer's interest as Aladdin and company search for Cassim's coveted treasure, the Hand of Midas.

All in all, the Aladdin trilogy is redeemed from the failures of the middle chapter by this surprisingly well-made and entertaining film. Hopefully, the entire trilogy will one day be available on DVD.

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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars Final episode brings back good old ALADDIN memories, June 23, 2000 This review is from: Aladdin and the King of Thieves (Disney Presents) [VHS] (VHS Tape) ALADDIN showed viewers an unforgetable world.... THE RETURN OF JAFAR was a trasy disappointment....

And now Aladdin has his final adventures as the trilogy comes to a close in this final episode, ALADDIN AND THE KING OF THIEVES. The best part was by far Robin Williams' return as the great blue Geenie. But another pleasent suprise was a fresh, orginial plot (compared especially to THE RETURN OF JAFAR's reused plot), and entertaining new characters (such as the Forty Thieves).

However, the music is no better than THE RETURN OF JAFAR's. Not even the big fanale song. I wish we hadd Alen Meken and Tim Rice back. Their music for the first ALADDIN film was extrodnary! I'll never forget how they helped Aladdin show his princess a whole new world! The visual effects were a treat, though, and made up for the loss of good music. The Geenie's scenes were extreamly elebrate, and the scenes featuring the Hand of Midis were also nicely done.

It was also nice for Aladdin to find relations, but his father's excuses for not being there for Aladdin when he needed him were extreamly poor. As bad as THE RETURN OF JAFAR was (in my opinion). And if you've seen my review of it, you know how I feel.

To sum everything up, ALADDIN AND THE KING OF THIEVES was a treat, but still not as 100% classic as ALADDIN was. It was enjoyable to find that Disney obviously learned their lesson after the trashy THE RETURN OF JAFAR. (Reccomended to rent, but NOT a must-have for your video library unless you have the other two and want to complete your ALADDIN collection.)

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Overnight Wedding Reception Ideas

Some brides these days are turning wedding receptions on their head and creating super long receptions that run through the night and into the morning. If this is you, planning some activities for those long nighttime hours is essential.

Generally, if an all-night reception is planned, it goes something like this: the wedding is held in the early evening and reception follows. By about midnight, many of the guests will have left and the group that is remaining (generally the younger guests, but not always) will continue to dance and party and revel into the early morning hours. At some point, breakfast will be provided and everyone will go home to crash.

Why do you need activities for such a reception? The answer is simple. You want to keep people entertained through the nighttime hours, you want to keep them at the reception and not let them give in to driving home to crash and sleep and you want to provide them with a real party. Let's face it: if they are willing to hang in with you for the duration, they deserve something for their effort.

First, you need to be fairly organized about the activities you plan. Consult with your DJ about these activities and leave it to him or her to keep things on a schedule. Do not plan to cut cake in the middle of the night. That activity should take place during the more traditional evening hours, so those not intending to stay all night can leave. However, if you're determined to keep your guests all night, you could hold one activity back with the hope it will keep guests in the house longer.

Depending on your guest list, you might hold off on the father-daughter dance until after midnight, or you could save a few toasts for the late night hours. In any event, having some other fun events is a great idea.

As guests begin to fade, bring in a piñata, which you can find shaped like a wedding ring, a bridal dress or a champagne flute. Fill it with a variety of goodies. Candy is always popular, but you could also fill it with silly toys found in the carnival section of the party store. Have the DJ play a spirited song and let everyone have a chance at the piñata. Do this on the dance floor and really let people have a swing at it. There should be plenty of room. Once the piñata breaks, everyone can enjoy a taste of sweet candy or can enjoy some silly little carnival game or toy.

People who stay for the duration of the wedding are going to need a rest. Plan a photo presentation or video viewing for this purpose. You could have someone who's familiar with PowerPoint create a photo presentation or have someone put together a video of photos. Do this around 2 or 3 am and have it last a good half hour to 45 minutes. This gives everyone a chance to sit down and relax and also gives the DJ a chance to sit, have a rest and rejuvenate for the next round.

In that same vein of allowing the guests a little relaxation, one activity that some brides employ is a non-activity. If the weddig is outside, you can provide inflatable mattresses and have some torches lit. If guests ant to sit down and relax, they can do so on the mattresses and still be part of the activity while resting. If it's been a long day and someone needs to rest, those reception room chairs don't seem the most comfortable. If the reception is indoors, think about providing large pillows for guests to sit on or create a corner with inflatable mattresses and lots of fabric. This can be a chatting area where people can go to rest but still be part of the fun. They can chat and catch up with other guests and then head back for more partying when they're rejuvenated.

KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer, White

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489 of 502 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars This mixer will change the way you cook, August 7, 2002 This review is from: KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer, White (Kitchen) Unlike many of the reviewers, I've only had this mixer for about a year, and it's this specific model, the 250W 4.5 quart mixer (the bottom of the Kitchenaid line). It was a real splurge at the time we purchased it, but it has turned out to be well worth it.

Before the Kitchenaid, I didn't do much baking. I tend towards more "manly" cooking techniques: the hotter the fire, the spicier the recipe, the better as far as I'm concerned. But this machine is as satisfying to use as any power tool in the garage -- there is something about using the *right* tool for the job, and I've found no tasks that one might consider using a mixer for that the Kitchenaid doesn't excel at. But it's especially good for baking, and once you start using it, you'll have your oven running a lot more than you used to.

The big difference between this mixer and the standard "two beater" models you may be familiar with is that it uses a single mixing attachment that rotates in two motions- it not only spins on its own axis, it also is rotated around the edge of the bowl. This does an extremely effective job of mixing ingredients without need for the bowl rotating, since the mixing motion covers the entire bowl. For most mixing jobs, it also requires no scraping of the sides with the spatula. IE: when it's mixing, you can ignore it and work on other stuff.

The first attachment I'll mention is the dough hook, which is a godsend for kneading. In the last day, I've made pizza dough, bagels, and whole wheat bread. Although this is the least powerful machine Kitchenaid makes, it kneads stiff dough (like the aforementioned bagels made with high-gluten flour) that would turn your mother's mixmaster into a smoking, stinking heap of fried motor components. Machine kneading takes a *lot* of the effort and variability out of making bread... you never "knead in" too much flour to keep it from sticking to your hands, and the 20 minutes you normally spend working the dough turns into 10 minutes you can use to clean up the kitchen.

The other two attachments are the paddle and the whisk. The paddle is the all-purpose "workhorse" beater, and works extremely well for creaming sugar and butter together, mixing cookie dough or cake batter, or any other general-purpose mixing job. With the orbital motion, it comes right up to the edge of the bowl, so it is effectively scraping as it goes. The whisk is great for egg whites and making whipped cream. I'm sure it's good for something else, but that's what I've used it for.

As for capacity, the 4.5 quart model is suitable for pretty much any "normal" home recipes. It's a "standard mixer". It will easily knead enough dough at once for two loaves of bread, or mix a double-batch of cookies.

As for downsides: this thing is HEAVY. You won't be moving it once it's in place. If you knead very stiff dough, the bowl sometimes will get tightened to the extent that it is very difficult to remove from the base. It's OK if you remember to leave it a little loose beforehand, but I always forget and I end up wrestling with the machine to twist it out. The metal trim band on the mixer right above the bowl has come a little loose on my model- the machine got a bit hot after some heavy kneading, and I think some adhesive got soft. It's held in place well by something else, but sometimes it will slip when I'm wiping the machine off. It's purely cosmetic from what I can tell, and it's the only thing that feels cheap in any way about this machine. Other than that, I honestly haven't had a single complaint.

In summary: this is an expensive mixer, but it is very well worth it. Even novice cooks will find it's use enjoyable, and it will inspire you to explore new things that you probably didn't do before because of the time and effort involved.

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72 of 73 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars I'm in love and his name is KitchenAid!, December 16, 2001 This review is from: KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer, White (Kitchen) I received a white one for an early christmas gift and just used it for the first time on he christmas cookies that are a tradition in my family. In the past years, I've used my mother's old stand-mixer, and I've also used a hand mixer, which is near impossible to do with this recipe. This year, I used my new mixer and I am blown away! These cookies, that usually take forever, were done in no time! And even though I didn't think the 4 1/2 quart bowl would be big enough for the whole recipe, I had no problem and room to spare! It's surprisingly deep. It also stayed relatively cool through the three batches of cookies I made (I'm used to beginning to smell smoke from my mothers!)

I only used the flat beater yesterday, but have some bread recpies that I'm dying to use the dough hook on.

Just a few concerns...The dough sticks to the side of the bowl, so I did have to stop from time to time and scrape it off, but that was nothing that I wasn't used to. And you cannot attach a larger bowl to this mixer...the only other bowl you can attach is one of the same size with a handle.

And definately invest in a splash guard. You only get lemon extract in your eyes once to make that decision.

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404 of 438 people found the following review helpful: 2.0 out of 5 stars NOT FOR MAKING BREAD ON A REGULAR BASIS!!!!, November 1, 2002 This review is from: KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer, White (Kitchen) A word of warning - the Kitchenaides made in the past 10 or so years have a less powerful and durable motor than the older ones. If you like making homemade bread (like I do) purchase a professional mixer to knead your dough (or do it by hand like I do now). Kitchenaides used on a regular basis to make homemade bread (especially using whole wheat flour) will destroy your motor. When you send the mixer in for repairs (under warranty) they will say you've been using it commercially and refuse to stand behind their warranty. If you tell them you use it to make bread they'll tell you it's not made for that (they can't explain why they provide a dough hook though or neglect to provide any warnings against breadmaking in particular). I've always loved Kitchenaide appliances, my sisters is 15+ years old and going strong but my poor 4 year old mixer overheats and strains doing the same recipes. My next mixer will be a Magic Mill DLX Kitchen Machine, its twice as much, but will last like the old Kitchenaides do. I have to give 2 stars for the lousy warranty service and lack of honesty in their manuals.

Update: August 2004
Haven't been using my KA for bread since (bought a breadmachine to mix my dough). Only using the KA for light use abut 4 times a month. Now it makes a grinding noise continuously while in use. Cookie doughs seems almost too hard for it too. My sisters is now over 20 years old and going strong (even with bread). I wish they made them like they used too........

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Victorinox Swiss Army Champion Plus Pocket Knife

From the renowned company that created the Swiss Army Knife a century ago comes the Champion Plus, a complete set of tools for campers, hikers, hunters, fishers, picnic enthusiasts, and people all trades--all neatly contained in a single implement. Measuring just 3-1/2 inches long, the Champion Plus is stylishly cased in the famous red Swiss Army body that's recognized around the world. More importantly, the pocket knife contains 30 stainless-steel tools appropriate for just about any occasion. The standard camping tools include a large blade, a small blade, a corkscrew, a can opener, a bottle opener, a small screwdriver, a large screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, scissors, tweezers, and a toothpick. And that's just the beginning, as the Champion Plus also offers a punch reamer, multipurpose hook, wood saw, fish scaler, and hook disgorger. In short, there's no better accessory for camping, hunting, and fishing trips.

Should the basic tools not cut it, the Champion Plus steps up with a host of extras, including a metal file, metal saw, fine screwdriver, mini screwdriver, and chisel scraper. Add in such tools as a ruler, nail file, nail cleaner, magnifying glass, pressurized ball point pen, straight pen, sewing eye, and key ring and you're well equipped for everything from repairing holes in tents to reading the fine print on instructions.

As with all Victorinox items, the Champion Plus is made to exacting standards, with 60-plus individual parts and 450 steps going into its construction. Victorinox attends to every detail, from selecting the finest materials to performing the final inspection. In addition, each individual tool has been hardened in a different way to stand up to its designated use. Such care is unmatched, and is why the Champ series is recognized by such international experts as the New York Museum of Modern Art and the State Museum of Applied Art in Munich, both of which have selected it for their "excellence in design" collections. Outfitted with a nylon handle and an aluminum housing, the Champion Plus carries a lifetime warranty.

The Champion Plus measures just 3-1/2 inches long and contains 30 useful tools.

Champion Plus Features: Large blade, small blade Corkscrew, can opener, bottle opener Small screwdriver, large screwdriver Reamer, punch Key ring, tweezers, toothpick Scissors, multi-purpose hook Wood saw, fish scaler Hook disgorger, ruler Nail file, nail cleaner Metal file, metal saw Fine screwdriver, chisel/scraper Phillips screwdriver Magnifying glass, straight pen Pressurized ball point pen Mini screwdriver, sewing eye

About Swiss Army Knives
In 1884, Swiss cutler Karl Elsener set up shop in Ibach-Schwyz, installing a waterwheel in Tobelbach Brook to run his grinding and polishing machines. Thus began what would become the international brand name Victorinox, a combination of Victoria, for Elsener's mother, and "inox," or stainless steel. Today, Victorinox produces watches, luggage, clothing, and, famously, Swiss Army Knives. The original product dates to 1897, when Elsener patented the Swiss Officer's and Sports Knife he supplied to the Swiss Army. Following World War II, American servicemen and women shopping in PX stores shortened the name to Swiss Army Knife, which lives on in English-speaking countries around the world and has become a metaphor for versatility.

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SVP FS1000 Silver DIGITAL FILM 35MM NEGATIVES & SLIDES SCANNER!

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Memorial's Logan Wedding flips script, beats Pike Central rival

KYLE GRANTHAM / Courier & Press Memorial wrestler Logan Wedding, top, tries to turn Pike Central's Cody Kendle during the final 119-pound match at the Reitz Memorial High School Invitational wrestling tournament Saturday in Evansville. Wedding won the match by a 10-5 decision.

Logan Wedding's 119-pound final with Pike Central senior Cody Kendle wasn't going to mean much in the team chase at the Memorial Wrestling Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

With 10 wrestlers in the finals, Wedding's Tigers were a lock to hold off Louisville (Ky.) Saint Xavier for the title.

But it mattered greatly to Wedding, a sophomore, because the undefeated Kendle was a measuring stick on many fronts.

Memorial wrestler Logan Wedding flips Pike Central's Cody Kendle onto his back during the final 119-pound match at the Reitz Memorial High School Invitational wrestling tournament Saturday in Evansville. Wedding won the match by a 10-5 decision.

Kendle had finished seventh in the state as a junior and had beaten Wedding last year in the Memorial Invitational finals at 112.

"It was 20-11," said Wedding without a second's hesitation when asked the score. "He was up 6-4 going into the third period and I started trying to throw him. I let him get into my head and I didn't wrestle my match. I couldn't let that happen again."

After a scoreless first period, Wedding started the second period with an escape and a 1-0 lead. Then he got in on a leg for a takedown and a 3-0 lead.

"I hit a low (John) Smith single," said Wedding. "After that I knew I just had to stay in good position when we were on the mat because he's real physical and stay low (when they were on their feet) because he's a good thrower."

Kendle got two reversals to keep the match close, but Wedding tipped him early in the third period and went on to earn a 10-5 decision.

"Once you get two or three points behind a talented and experienced wrestler you're in trouble," said Pike Central coach Billy Hewig, the former Reitz standout. "All props to Wedding. He looked good out there.

"But we're OK. Cody tends to start slow and then gets better as the season progresses. He's needs to pick up on a few things he missed, work harder and come back stronger. Chances are, we'll see (Wedding) again."

Wedding became one of eight champions for Memorial, which also won with Hunter Arney at 103, Ben Johnson at 125, Matthew Bevers at 135, Roy Whetstine at 145, Matthew Prasek at 152, Ryan Sandwith at 189 and Ryan Guerrettaz at 215.

The only other local winner was Harrison sophomore Mathew Mastison, who won by pin at 112.

"We were pretty happy overall," said Memorial coach Larry Mattingly. "We don't see a lot of these teams anywhere else so you really don't know what to expect.

"But we knew we needed to wrestle better than we did Wednesday when Mater Dei came in here and handed it to us pretty good (in a 52-10 loss). But coach (Matt) Coughlin ran some pretty good practices Thursday and Friday to show us what we needed to work on and it helped today."

Wedding credited the coaches, too.

"They gave us some goals coming in like scoring more than 275 points (Memorial finished with 288.5 compared to 215.5 for St. X) and recording 25 pins as a team," said Wedding. "We were able to do those things because they kept us focused between rounds and everybody responded."

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