How to Reduced your Carbon Footprint at your Wedding

Many couples are concerned with the wellbeing of our planet, and are making the simple move to having a ‘green’ wedding. Weddings can contribute greatly to greenhouse gas emissions and waste.
There are many different ways you can minimize your environmental impact while having a beautiful, stylish wedding. If you do not wish to be 100% environmentally friendly, using only one or two eco friendly elements can still help to reduce your environmental foot print.
Here are just three ways you can make the move to a green wedding. {Left- An eco dress by by-jessica-iverson)

Invitations – Recycled or tree-free paper can be used to create your invitations or any other stationery necessary. Personally deliver your invitation to as many of your guest as possible, which will cut down on postage cost, as well as emissions. With technology today, couples can send invitations and other wedding messages via e-mail

Decorations – Be mindful of the waste that will be discarded after your wedding. For a beach themed wedding, giving guests vases filled with sand and shells, after using them as a centerpiece, mimeses waste. For centerpieces consider using locally grown fruits or native plants, which could be arranged in bowls made out of recycled glass. You can create a romantic atmosphere by using candlelight, and using beeswax candles can create a sweet aroma and makes a lovely centerpiece for each table. Consider you venue and what you can use naturally to create beautiful decoration, such as the grape vines.

Honeymoon - Spending special time together is important, and you can be environmentally friendly while doing it. Utilize the beautiful country we live in. Spend your honey moon closer to home, such as relaxing on a beach or out in the country. Many resorts are dedicated to minimizing the impact on the environment around Australia. If you do want to jet on an overseas honeymoon, offset your carbon emissions and travel carbon neutral. This may mean choosing to ride a bike or use public transport in the months leading up to the wedding to build up carbon credits. A great eco-friendly resort in australia is "Paradise Bay Eco Friendly Luxury Resort Whitsunday Islands", at the Whitsundays.

How to put colour into winter

Winter is just about here which means lying on the couch snuggled with a blanket with a hot chocolate and watching a good old movie. Still, looking around the city there is a big shift from colour to black dark colours.

Just because it is winter does not mean that you have to go back to black.
Brookestyle365 informs us on the winter essentials, and I more than agree, however just because it is winter, don’t dismiss colour all together. Brook tells us that we need a black leather jacket or thick black coat and black (or brown) leather gloves like these green ones from Mimco (check out her blog for more http://www.brookestyle365.blogspot.com/ ), but colour is still essential. I believe colour adds liveliness.
Nail polish can easily inject colour into your winter. Red and purple seems to be the colour that keeps popping up, also give jade-green a try. Paler shades of nail polish stands out more, even try making a canvas for your bright nail colour by applying white first (like the ‘French Tip’ colour white)
Another great way to add a bit of colour is though bags; I have a big red one. Just because it is colourful dose not mean that it is not professional. I would however suggest a black bag for more traditional occasion. If you can’t or don’t want to fork out the money for a new bag, add a coloured scarf to your existing bag.

I love winter, and love colour, combined the two make for an interesting season.

How to Choose Music For a Party

So it’s your birthday and you will cry if you want to, but don’t leave your guest without any tunes! (That makes no sense but you get the picture)

You really want to make a mix of old and new and classics. Old – because that way you can belt them out with a group of friends: New – because most people know and it will get the crowd moving. Classics – because no party is complete without the YMCA or the Macarena.
First you need to decide if you are going to make your own music list or hire a DJ. If you are going to hire a DJ, look up your yellow pages and ring around. Ask if you can see a example of a playlist or you might need to choose a play list. Ringing around is important because you want to get a good deal.
It’s important to figure out which music will best suit your party. It would make no sense to have a 60th birthday party with nothing but Lady Gaga and the soundtrack from ‘High School Musical’ playing. Your playlist should also reflect your personality, so include the music YOU like. If you like rap, include a range of rap songs, if you like pop include pop songs. Simple.
Arrange your playlist evenly; start with some pumping modern songs, like ‘Just Dance’ by Lady
Gaga. Then after playing a few of the other songs you have chosen, put in one that gets everybody moving, like ‘Time Warp’ from Rocky Horror.
Ultimately it really is up to you but the rules are: try to blend and keep to the theme.

How to start a Glory Box

The definition of a Glory Box is ‘A lady’s storage box containing items saved for her wedding or married life’ (en.wiktionary.org/wiki/glory_box), but really a glory box could be made for anyone willing to move out of home in the future.
The basics idea of a glory box is to be able to collect items of clothing or household goods so when the time comes to leave home, you already have some or all of the main items. It is great because with a glory box there is not as big as cost when you move out. Having a glory box means you can focus on changing addresses and actually moving.
A Glory box can be started in a number of ways. Mine started with my Kris Kringle at work giving me a set of glasses and tea towels. When staring a Glory box you need to have somewhere to store the goods. Such as an actual chest or somewhere in the garage, but it needs to be all together and organise. A chest would be the best idea, I believe.
Glory boxes can include whatever you want really. Traditionally they include towels, bed linens, table linens and clothing (such as a special dress). If you really want to be prepared put in an iron, kettle, toaster, dinner plates, glasses, anything thing that you think will help. It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for specials on items which can be contributed to your box.
I think that the Glory box is great for someone who wants to leave home as it will help with the initial financial burden of leaving home for the first time.