Say "Thank You" With Gifts They Really Want,

Submitted By: Lindsay Crawford
(Family Concerns)

In order to make the most important day of your life happen, there have been many people to help you along the way. You owe a lot your parents and/or soon to be in-laws. This is not just because they may help with the tab, but also because they have always been there for you. Then there are your bridesmaids who you hold most dear to life. Many brides will admit they couldn’t have made it to the altar without the help of their best friends. After all, they have planned showers, bachelorette party, and given you tons of advice. They have
Say "Thank You" With Gifts They Really Want,

loved you through your most demanding and ridiculous moments and have made it out alive through planning your dream wedding. All of these people are very special and important to you, and you want to thank them for being apart of your wedding. Here are some ideas that everyone will love and appreciate.

If you want to show your parents and in-laws appreciation for their help you can give them a Kindle loaded with their favorite books. This is a very thoughtful and useful gift. Another great idea is to create a calendar using pictures from your wedding and honeymoon. Picture gifts are always loved and something they can hold onto forever. A great idea for mothers is a beautiful embroidered handkerchief, or a sweet plate commemorating your big day. Theses are very sentimental gifts that mothers love.

Many brides will often treat their bridesmaids to the spa the day before the wedding. If you are unable to spend this much money, take them to get a manicure and pedicure. This is a great time before the wedding for everyone to have fun and relax. A really cute idea I once saw was the bride’s gifts were inspired by the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The bride gave a copy of the movie to everyone along with inexpensive jewelry. The gifts came in Tiffany’s bags. Personalized bags are always a popular and practical gift. Don’t forget to monogram the bag with an elegant font, or a fun nickname. If you really want to save money, you can make each bridesmaid a small scrapbook filled with pictures and sweet notes.

One of the most important gifts is for your soon-to-be husband. You really want to be romantic and show your finance just how much you love him. With the crazy wedding planning and busy schedules, it’s probably been awhile since you have really expressed your feelings in such a romantic way. You can maybe consider writing him a sweet poem, and surprise him by reading it at the rehearsal dinner. Keep your ears open and if he says he really wants something special, get that. Another great idea is to surprise him with a spa day while on your honeymoon. Nothing is more relaxing than a couples massage.

No matter what you choose to do for your loved ones, make sure it is heart felt. They are the people who mean the most to you in life.

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Fourth of July Party Ideas

Submitted By: Lindsay Crawford
(Family Concerns)

Let freedom ring! Fourth of July is such a wonderful holiday where we celebrate independence with family and friends. If you plan ahead, you can have a Fourth of July party that no one will forget. Most people have barbeques, picnics, or family gatherings to celebrate the holiday. America’s Independence Day is a traditional red, white, and blue celebration with food, games, and fireworks. Hosting a Fourth of July party is easy, but for some it’s nothing more than a big hassle. There is no need to stress as long as you know the different
Fourth of July Party Ideas

elements of the party, then it’s easy to organize everything else. Here are a couple of ideas for your party planning.

Decorations- Party supply stores and discount stores are the prefect place to find inexpensive décor. Be creative and go crazy with the colors red, white, and blue. You can buy a big tub and paint the American flag on the tub; this makes for an excellent beverage holder. For centerpieces, you can do something simple and fill a flowerpot with sand and place an American flag in it. Get some red, white, and blue-striped figurines at the dollar store (Uncle Sam) and you can use these as centerpieces as well. Don’t forget something simple and cheap you can do is to decorate with lots of balloons.

Food- Since July is so hot; a perfect meal for the fourth is a barbeque. A great idea is to serve a variety of meats to choose from. Have chicken, kabobs, ribs, hotdogs, and burgers. This assures that everyone will like something. Don’t forget your sides of coleslaw, corn, potato salad, baked beans, bread, and fruit. Also, you must have a variety of desserts. Make sure to incorporate the colors of red, white, and blue. Homemade ice cream is a great snack while watching the fireworks. Another great idea is to have patriotic cocktails in the colors red, white, and blue.

Entertainment- Fourth of July parties are more enjoyable if you have prepared fun games or activities for everyone to participate in such as water balloon toss, egg toss, or board games. If you are into sports you can organize a game of flag football, corn hole, washers, or volleyball. Of course you can’t celebrate the Fourth of July without fireworks. If you plan on going somewhere with everyone to watch fireworks, make sure you still buy some of your own. Something as simple as sparklers is fine. Make sure adults are the only ones who handle the fireworks. You don’t want to end your night with a trip to the emergency room. Don’t forget your ipod and play some patriotic music. Everyone loves to hear the classic song God Bless the USA.

Fourth of July is a major highlight of the summer for most people. A little creativity goes a long way. No matter what, make sure to enjoy the day with your family and friends. Using a few of these ideas will surely have your party heading in the right direction!

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Discover Fun Things to do With Your Kids

Submitted By: Val Valentino
(Family Concerns)

Being a parent is quite possibly the most rewarding thing most people with do in their lives, however it might also be the most challenging and frustrating thing a person might do.(Family Concerns) When you bring those precious, long awaited bundles home from the hospital survival is the key, literally. Those first days and weeks are consumed with the nitty-gritty of feeding, diapering and trying to get a few continuous hours of sleep. Keeping your baby alive and your sanity intact is the goal. Over time your baby grows and begin to demand more than food and sleep, they require entertainment and stimulation for their overall health. Pretty soon you realize as a parent you are in fact a cruise director, party planner and event coordinator answering the unending question, “Where do I find the best things to do with kids?”Discover Fun Things to do With Your Kids

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