50 Ideas to Inspire Your Husband - FamilyLife.com

50 Ideas to Inspire Your Husband - FamilyLife.com

10/9/11: Brown signs AB 499, trampling informed consent, parental consent for HPV shots - savecalifornia.com

10/9/11: Brown signs AB 499, trampling informed consent, parental consent for HPV shots - savecalifornia.com

Get To Know The Girls - Advice From A Breast Cancer Survivor

In every culture, the woman is responsible for taking care of the household. Duties range from nurturing the children, preparing the meals in a healthy manner, begin the chauffeur, nurse, counselor and all around “World’s Greatest Mom.” Women have taken the task of keeping everyone they are responsible for, seriously. They will sacrifice in order for others to have, with no expectation of return or gratitude.

One rule needs to be reinstated in the woman’s handbook of existence – take care of yourself first! Because the home and many business run under the direction of a woman, her being in good health is of the utmost importance. In the very least, your physician would suggest an annual physical. Yet many don’t.

One of the easiest things to do in keeping yourself healthy is a self breast exam. “I’m not old enough,” Cancer doesn’t run in my family.” Cancer does not discriminate. CBS news reminded the world of that January 2011, when little Aleisha Hunter of Ontario, Canada, told her story of recovery. She was 4 years old at the time.

Your body is your temple, keep it in good repair. Don’t let your breast health take a back seat. Get to know “the girls” - it could save your life.

Here are six tips to help you stay healthy

1. Know your risk factor. Talk to family members about your family’s overall health level.
2. Get screened. If you find that your risk level is high, your testing will begin earlier. For early breast cancer detection, The American Cancer Society recommends women age 40 and older, to have a mammogram screening every year, and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health.
3. Know what is normal for your breasts. Self detection is one of the best tools.
4. Make healthy lifestyle choices. Eat right, keep stress levels down and exercise.
5. Maintain a good spiritual life. Spend quite time in prayer and meditation everyday. Whatever a woman thinks, so is she.

Here’s to great breast health today and everyday!

Peace and Blessings.

Long Beach 2011 Interfaith Blessing of the Animals

LONG BEACH | 10TH ANNUAL
–––––––––––––––––––––––––
Interfaith Blessing of the Animals for Household Pets & Some Exotic Animals
< More than 300 animals to be blessed

BRING YOUR PETS
WE WILL BLESS THE PETS, Sat., Oct. 1, 2011 at sunset. The Interfaith Blessing of the Animals presented by Haute Dogs and Justin Rudd is free to the public and their pets.

Seniors, families, singles, and children, are encouraged to bring their dogs, cats, birds, lizards, rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, fish, tortoises and turtles and other well-behaved pets.

WE WILL ALSO HAVE a moment of blessing, silence and vigil at the beginning of the service for pets who are unfortunately involved with sport dog fighting and other inhumane, unethical treatment.

After brief words from each of the faith leaders (listed below), the menagerie of participants will have the opportunity to line up single-file to be blessed by the faith leaders who will be dressed in traditional garb. Olive branches and holy water will be available. Choose one, or get blessed by all of the clergy (listed below).

THE EVENT will last approx. 45 minutes. It's important to recognize and honor the great bond and relationship between pets and their people. The religious leaders will talk or pray briefly on the interconnections among all living beings.

SPONSORS
Justin Rudd's nonprofit 501c3 Community Action Team (C.A.T.) and Haute Dogs.

2011 FAITH LEADERS, so far

* Rev. Msgr. Sean Flanagan - St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Belmont Shore

* Rev. Suzanne Shipp - Ordained with the Universal Life Church, Long Beach

*Rev. Susan Bjork - Associate Minister at Bay Shore Church, Belmont Shore

*Lady Deberah - Naiad Priestesses, Goddess Temple of Orange County

* Rev. Msgr. Chris Carpenter - pastor of the Reformed Catholic Church Community of the Resurrection

* Rev. Angela Butts-Chester - Blessings All Around; Non-denominational Minister, Downtown Long Beach

Wedding Flower Symbolism

Particularly during the Victorian era, symbolism was an important part of the courting process. Flowers had significant meanings and when a beau gave one, it was his own sort of hidden message to his sweetheart. When you plan your floral arrangements and bouquets, think about choosing some flowers based on their meaning.

Read more

Eco-Chic Spring Wedding Tips

Spring has sprung and it is never too late to think about stylish ways to green your wedding day. Spring is a time of rebirth – the trees are fresh with buds and the landscape is blanketed in vibrant colors – making it the perfect time to take inspiration from the great outdoors.

Here are some tips to use that inspiration to make your spring wedding eco-friendly and fabulous:

Read more

Cash Tips To Saving on Spring Weddings

With its bright colors and sweet aromas, it's no surprise that spring is one of the most popular seasons for tying the knot. Since many people are competing with thousands of others for prime wedding locations, it can get a little pricey and tough to find the place you want. If you're interested in saving your four seasons cash this spring, checkout the tips below on ways to go green and save on your spring wedding.

Read More

Spring Weddings: Hair Tips & Tricks

Be sure your do makes it to the wedding altar with this guide to seasonal wedding hair sanity. While spring weather brings fresh flowers and fragrant gardens, it can also wreak havoc on hair by causing tons of frizzy flyaways. Here are five steps to spring weather-prepped wedding hair.

Read more

Brothers and Sisters

Choosing to become baptized is an important step in your spiritual life. It shows your genuine love for the Creator and your desire to live the best life you can.

No matter if you are 50 years old, or you're wishing to have your newborn child brought into the loving gracing of the Creator, we are there to provide the ceremony you desire.

Spiritual and religious ceremonies are available. Not sure which to select? Which one sound like you.

Spiritual

1. You were brought up in the church, but you no longer wish to practice your faith.
2. You believe in a higher power, but you want your child(ren) to make their own decisions about religion
3. You are an Interfaith couple and this is a neutral compromise

Religious

1. You were brought up in the church and wish to pass on the traditions
2. You do not have a church home at this time, however, still want to have the blessing of baptism
3. You are new to Christianity and wish to complete your journey with God
4. You are older and wish to renew your commitment to God. Now you understand.
   

No matter where you are in life, deciding to turn over a new leaf and start fresh is a great decision. Don't hesitate any further. We are here for you!

Call or visit us now!
Rev. Angela Butts Chester (562) 209-2083
www.blessingsallaround.com

Before You Say "I Do"

Congratulations on your engagement!

Before you finalize all of your wedding planning, include one more item: Premarital Counseling.

Most of us plan everything we do - vacations, parties, down time. Yet, when it comes to one of the biggest ventures we will ever make, we leave it all up to chance. You've heard the saying, "Failing to plan, is planning to fail." The same holds true in your marriage.

You can't expect to just wing-it. It's the rest of your life (and his)! Take a few weeks to join us for premarital counseling. Your marriage will thank you.

A Breath of Fresh Air

You've finally finished boxing up all your things. Tagged. Loaded. Moved.

If you are moving into an apartment or house that had a previous owner, you've forgotten something. Clear. Bless.

Rev. Angela Chester, will work with you and all others that will live there to clear out any old negative or stagnant energy and replace it with positive, healthy energy in every room as well as the outdoor property and garage. What a perfect way to start a new beginning in your new home.

Before you place one item of your things into the new place, you want the energy to be fresh and new and uniquely yours. A candle is invoked for each room to create a sense of peace, balance and harmony throughout your home. This is a sacred act that renders your house your own.

Our homes are mirrors of who we are. Our interests, what we believe in, and our spirituality. When a home is filled with harmony it is a place of peace and renewal; a sanctuary to recharge and renew. Blessing a house is a long practiced tradition. Won't you bless your home today!

Wedding Planning Radio At It's Best

Have you heard? I Do Radio is the best wedding planning web radio site. Top ranking for "wedding planning radio" and "wedding ceremony planning radio", we are dedicated to giving our bride's all they need to plan their wedding.

Listen in via BlogTalk Radio or iTunes to various wedding vendors across the nation. Have a question regarding hiring a wedding planner or selecting a cake for your reception? Get great advice from the vendor themselves.

Asking the questions that you want answered. Tune in everyday.

Bride's Choice Award 2011

Blessings All Around was awarded the prestigious WeddingWire Bride's Choice Award 2011 for Best Officiant in Los Angeles County. Many wedding vendors are registered with WeddingWire, however, only 5% of the vendors are chosen to be included for the award.

Selected by the brides who review vendors in all categories, we are pleased that our hard work and dedication to customer service and professionalism have been noticed. As with any review, you are at the mercy of the writer; our reviewers loved us!

We will continue to work with our couples to give them the best wedding ceremony possible. Here's to a great 2011!

Blessings All Around in Long Beach to receive WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards™ 2011

Long Beach Wedding Officiant Rewarded for Top Customer Service and Professionalism with Prestigious Annual Award.

Long Beach, CA – January 26, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Blessings All Around has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for wedding Officiant service.

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Blessings All Around stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Blessings All Around for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Blessings All Around is among the very best wedding Officiants within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee.

“We would like to thank our past clients in the Los Angeles County and Orange County areas for reviewing our services; thereby nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011. We are devoted to professionalism and customer satisfaction. Our goal is to give every bridal couple the wedding ceremony they’ve always dreamed of.” said Rev. Angela Chester, Blessings All Around's owner. “Whether an eloping couple that wants a private wedding, or a grand evening ceremony; we are there to celebrate each couple.”

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today.

WeddingWire’s formal transition from the 2010 recipients will occur in early February. For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Your Handbag, Your Self

by Meredith Stebbins

Thursday, January 20, 2011

provided by

What your purse is saying about you.

More from BusinessWeek.com: • The Fresh Prince of Streetwear • Airport Semiotics: What Kind of Passenger Are You? • The Sick-Day Bounty Hunters

To assess a lady's character, look no further than the handbag she carries to work. "It is an absolute indicator of who they are and what their style is," says Rachel Zoe, celebrity stylist and entrepreneur. Since a purse's size and shape isn't limiting like a pair of skinny jeans, a bag is an easy way for a woman to express herself -- especially in the workplace. "For the majority of women, the handbag is the most important part of the outfit because it doesn't have to do with your body type," says Kate Schelter, a New York-based stylist and brand consultant. Perhaps that's why the global luxury handbag and accessories market is about $24 billion, according to Coach CEO Lew Frankfort.

Whether it's an oversize carryall or structured satchel, a bag's details -- right down to the buckle -- reveal clues about its owner. Not to mention that "how you wear the bag is just as important as the bag itself," adds Schelter. Slinging it across your body sends a different signal than nestling it on the crux of your arm. Having your assistant tote it for you says something, too.

In order to decode the language of work-bag-speak, Bloomberg Businessweek called on a panel of fashion experts, including Zoe; Schelter; International Best-Dressed List Hall of Fame honoree Amy Fine Collins; and handbag designer Rebecca Minkoff. Next time you're in the elevator, think twice about rifling around that mammoth hobo for your ID badge: You're giving off a disorganized vibe.

The Eternal Prepster

Price: $135

A woman who totes Longchamp's classic Le Pliage canvas bag to the office is conservative and traditional, yet secretly relishes carrying a status symbol. "She is wearing plaids and pearls," says Zoe. Adds Minkoff, the owner is "practical and loves a bag where she can carry all her essentials at once."

©Illustration: Walter Newton Photography: Davies and Starr

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The Upwardly Mobile Do-Gooder

Price: $60

The legions of young urbanites who cart around burlap bags designed by FEED, a philanthropic organization whose mission is to curb global hunger, are "obviously concerned about the world and the environment," says Zoe. She's "a little crunchy but brand-aware," adds Collins.

©Illustration: Walter Newton Photography: Davies and Starr

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The Lady Who Luxes

Price: $1,030

A ladylike Louis Vuitton bag is the standard arm candy of a woman who has feminine -- and expensive -- taste. "This woman is a label freak," Collins says. Adds Zoe: "She has a job, but she may not need the money." Minkoff notes: "You'll never find her outside her house without the 'It' heels."

©Illustration: Walter Newton Photography: Davies and Starr

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The Multitasker

Price: $595

A young gal who wears many hats in addition to her 9-to-5 job favors an expandable bag with many pockets. "She was voted Most Likely to Succeed in high school," Collins says. "She's a little bit safe in her dress, but in a cute way." The purpose of her tote "is to allow her to be hands-free," says Minkoff.

©Illustration: Walter Newton Photography: Davies and Starr

---

The Brooklyner

Price: $258

A vibrant print bag is the sign of a city-dwelling hipster who doesn't care about dress codes. "She isn't too worried about her bag matching her shoes matching her belt matching her outfit," says Zoe. "It's for the style blogger," says Schelter. Collins adds: "She doesn't get her hair blown straight."

©Illustration: Walter Newton Photography: Davies and Starr

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The Power Mom

Price: $295

The leather shopper was made for working moms. She "needs room to keep all her necessities in place while running around in between meetings and playdates," says Minkoff. Its wearer likes labels, says Collins, "but doesn't need to show them." Schelter adds that its price makes it "still a treat."

©Illustration: Walter Newton Photography: Davies and Starr

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The Pantsuit Executive

Price: $1,150

A leather handbag from a luxury house such as Mulberry completes the no-nonsense executive's professional look. "With the power women of today, they want to be taken seriously," Zoe says. "They also want to look fashion-forward." Schelter: "It is very easy to put files and a laptop in here."

©Illustration: Walter Newton Photography: Davies and Starr

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The Party Girl

Price: $295

A crossbody bag that doubles as a clutch screams "work hard, play harder." The owner is "still young enough to go out at night after work," says Schelter.

©Illustration: Walter Newton Photography: Davies and Starr

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The Early Adopter

Price: $825

A purse designed by an of-the-moment fashion darling suggests the wearer isn't referring to real machinery when talking about hardware. "This bag doesn't have a lot of functionality," says Zoe. "You make it work because you love it." Adds Collins, "People think she's on the cutting edge."

©Illustration: Walter Newton Photography: Davies and Starr

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The Hoarder

Price: $395

Massive oversize bags show "that maybe you're not as focused as you need to be because you can't edit what's in your handbag," says Schelter. "If you go to a job interview with a bag the size of your body filled with crap, they're going to be a little nervous," says Zoe. Collins agrees: "She is kind of a mess."

©Illustration: Walter Newton Photography: Davies and Starr

Cupcakes allow the bridal couple to tailor flavors and colors to the wedding

A personal touch

Judy Hevrdejs, Tribune newspapers

January 19, 2011

Glittering Cupcakes from Martha Stewart Weddings, features two cupcakes in gold-colored cup liners: carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and white cake with a lemon Swiss-meringue buttercream. Both are topped with edible gold dust and leaf. (Marcus Nilsson/Martha Stewart Weddings)

Cupcakes are whimsical, easy to serve and may be more cost-effective than the traditional multitiered wedding cake. They can also reflect the bridal couple's personalities and tastes — which is why they're so popular.

"Each tier (of a cupcake stand) offers you the opportunity to completely change the cake and the icing. You can't do that with a traditional cake," said Bobbie Lloyd, president and chief baking officer of New York-based Magnolia Bakery.

"With cupcakes, (couples are) looking more for flavor. You may have one layer of pumpkin cupcakes with maple-cream cheese icing. Another layer could be coconut cake with meringue icing," she said, noting Magnolia's cupcake trees hold 24 cupcakes up to more than 100 cupcakes.

"On a wedding cake, people traditionally use a butter cream frosting that has some structure to it or they use fondant because they're looking for those three-dimensional shapes," she said. "A meringue icing you could never put on traditional wedding cake. Cream cheese icing you could never put on a traditional wedding cake."

As with anything you eat, but especially a cupcake, it needs to taste delicious (not just be sweet) and really special, said Darcy Miller, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"What's going to go with your color palette and the feeling of your wedding? What's going to go with the time of the year you're getting married? What's going to go with your guests or your menu?" she said. "Often today at weddings, people serve more than cake. They'll serve chocolate mousse or sorbet. So I'm not really sure if you're serving chocolate mousse whether your cupcakes should be chocolate."

Also think about how they'll be displayed. "There are so many great things that you can do," said Miller. "I love those cupcake wire stands. We've taken the plastic foam rounds that a cake baker would use to make the dummy layers of cake, and we covered them with papers and doilies and tiered them."

If you let a pro handle the wedding cupcakes, you still can showcase your cupcake baking talents sometime during your wedding celebrations, suggested Miller: "You might make them for your rehearsal dinner or engagement party. Or bring them to your shower as a gift to thank those who are throwing the party for you."

jhevrdejs@tribune.com

Remember:

Appetites: Will there be other desserts? Sorbet? Cookies? If you're doing mini-cupcakes, you may need more.

Beyond cupcakes: "If you want to be part of making your cupcakes, make an embellishment," said Miller, whether it's fondant hearts or sugared petals and you won't be frosting cupcakes the morning of your wedding.