Wednesday, February 27, 2019

5 Basic Principles for Planning a Wedding

Planning a wedding takes a lot of time and effort. Everything needs to be planned and organized in order to avoid any last minute hassles. The ultimate aim of all this planning is that the bride and groom enjoy their day, and all the guests should leave with smiles on their faces and appreciation for the couple’s wedding party.

Besides planning the theme and finding the perfect venue for the party, one of the most important decisions is what the bride and groom will wear. The groom might not really care what he wears, but every bride wants to find the perfect mermaid wedding dress, and she won't stop looking until she finds it.

Here are some basic principles to follow while planning a wedding:
  1. Don’t Overspend:
    Some brides blow the entire wedding budget just to purchase that perfect wedding dress. Shopping for the wedding dress is a lot of fun, perhaps the most essential part of the whole process, but do not spend your entire budget on a single dress. That doesn't mean you can't have a nice dress because there really are cheap wedding dresses with the same design and features. They'll leave you with money to pay the photographer!
     
  2. Book the Venue in Advance:
    This is really important. Decide on the wedding venue and book it as early as possible. If you wait too long, it will most likely already be booked on the day you want. You do not want to be scrambling around at the last minute looking for some place - any place - to hold your wedding. So get the venue taken care of, and then you can focus on all the other details.
     
  3. Involve Close Friends Only:
    You don’t need to invite every single person you know to the wedding. It will just lengthen your wedding guest list and add to your expenses. Instead, focus on inviting close friends and relatives, people who are important in your life. Not only will this save you money, but it will make your special day more meaningful because you are sharing it with people you care about.
     
  4. Don’t Get too Stressed:
    Yes, this is one of the most important days of your life, but stressing out over all the details can take all the fun out of it. Brides especially tend to worry about all those little details. Remember to schedule some time that doesn't involve wedding planning. Get the groom involved in some of the details - it's his day too, and splitting the work will make it easier on both of you. You'll enjoy your day much more if you're not burnt out and exhausted by the time it gets here.
     
  5. Keep Your Budget Handy:
    In order to avoid spending too much, put together a budget before you begin planning.  Keep it handy as you're planning so you will know if something you want fits into the budget. If you save money on the wedding dress, you'll know you have a bit of extra money for that special cake. Or if you spend a bit more than originally planned for the photographer, you'll be able to see how much you need to save on something else.
These are just a few things to keep in mind when planning a wedding. Feel free to share any other tips that you have. I'd love to hear them!

How Long Will it Take You to Read All Those Books?

I got an email today offering to tell me how long it will take me to read all those books on the TBR list. Of course I had to find out! Here are the results:

Yep, 2 years and 4 months to read all the books on the TBR pile... I'm pretty sure there are actually more than 150 books that I want to read, but I just took the number from my 'Want to Read' shelf on Goodreads and rounded it up to 150. That's close enough, I suppose. Or at least a good start.

Wanna know how long it will take you to read all those books on your TBR pile?  Calculate it here.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Sleep Well

You'll spend roughly 1/3 of your life on your mattress. That means buying a mattress is one of the most important purchases you will make. It can also be one of the most intimidating. If you are researching new mattresses Kennesaw GA area, you'll want to find a store that offers sleep experts on-site to guide you in choosing the type and style of mattress that is right for you.  Here are some basic guidelines to start your search:
  • side sleeper needs a softer mattress that allows the hip to drop down and spine to align properly.
  • A back sleeper needs a softer mattress that allows the hips and shoulders to sink in a little and the spine to align.
  • stomach sleeper needs a firmer mattress because the spine is already aligned. A mattress with more give will likely cause your spine to slump a little, which could lead to waking up with back pain.
Perfect Pillow Expert
And if you sleep with someone else who sleeps differently, things can get more complicated. You'll want to find the best balance possible between buying the perfect mattress and staying within your budget.

Getting a good night's sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health, so keep that in mind when choosing your mattress. Getting the right sleep impacts your productivity, your mood, and even the aches and pains that you suffer. So besides getting the right mattress, you'll want to develop some good habits that will help you get the best sleep possible.

Good Habits to Encourage Good Sleep:
  • Stick to a regular sleep schedule even on your days off work so that your body can react consistently.
  • Unwind before trying to go to sleep and avoid searching the internet on your phone or computer.
  • Keep your bedroom somewhat cool for sounder sleep.
  • Avoid napping during the day as it cuts into your night sleep, which is recommended to be seven to nine hours for most adults.
  • Don't expose yourself to bright lights, especially the blue ones, in the evenings.
  • Don't drink caffeine or alcohol before bed.
  • Don't eat a big meal within three hours before bedtime.
  • Don't sleep on a worn-out mattress where the coils or foam can no longer bounce back and provide the necessary support.
Dream Home Furniture is an example of a company with a great selection of mattresses and bedding needs. Their staff of experts is happy to help you decide on the perfect mattress with the comfort level that best fits your body based on your sleep preferences and habits so that you can wake up each morning feeling refreshed.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

They Could've Told the Kid

This young man is doing a good thing. He decided to walk almost 100 miles in hopes of raising at least $10,000 for the Tyler Trent’s Cancer Research Endowment, which funds cancer research at the Purdue University Center of Cancer Research.

The news team filmed him on Sunday. Anybody see anything wrong with this video?



There he is - walking on a busy road, planning to walk 100 miles along busy roads - with earbuds in his ears and his back to traffic. And the news crew talks to him and films him walking along - and nobody bothers to tell him that he's on the wrong side of the road.

Does nobody know that you're supposed to walk facing traffic? That bright yellow vest is good, but it's not going to warn him if a distracted driver starts to get a little too close. Being able to actually see the cars that are coming toward you is important for your safety.

I haven't heard any different, so I'm assuming that Aaron made it to Bloomington tonight - they showed a bit of the video on the news again this evening and said he was running a bit behind so he had to do some running to make up time. Thankfully he's safe, and he raised quite a bit of money for cancer research. (if you're interested in reading more of his story and donating, please click the link)

And be sure you're walking on the proper side of the road when you're out walking - especially on a busy road - and teach your kids which side of the road they're supposed to be on. Their safety (and yours) depends on it.

Obviously, this boy's mama didn't teach him.

Are You Considering Filing for Bankruptcy?

bankruptI keep seeing advertisements on TV saying that if you have more than $5000 in credit card debt, they can fix it so that you only have to pay back a fraction of that. What? I have no idea how that's even supposed to work, but it seems kind of crazy. I don't understand that any more than I understand other options like bankruptcy, but I do have some bankruptcy information to share. Hope it helps.

If you’ve been considering filing for bankruptcy, it can be hard to know what to file. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 come with their own advantages and disadvantages. Here is a list of the differences between the two.
  • Chapter 13 - a Chapter 13 lawyer Orlando FL can help you file your bankruptcy with the courts. Also known as a readjustment bankruptcy, Chapter 13 gives you time to pay back some of your debts over the course of 36 to 60 months. The ability to restructure current debt such as auto loans or home mortgages can help you keep your assets while catching up on payments. This form of bankruptcy is a good option for those unable to meet the income requirements of Chapter 7 but still needing relief from debt. Such debt relief can come in the form of child and alimony payment extensions, credit card debt relief, avoiding wage garnishment and even stopping litigation due to debt issues.
  • Chapter 7 - for those that qualify based on income, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be a good fit. More and more Americans may be choosing this form, but is it right for you? Debtors often get immediate debt relief with a trustee appointed to handle selling any nonexempt property. The trustee provides creditors with the assets gained to help cover the debts. After the trustee completes the sale and distribution, the court closes the case. The debtor does not have to repay the debt. Future property acquisitions are generally safe if acquired more than 180 days after the case is closed.
For more information on the differences and which one is right for you and your situation, consult a bankruptcy attorney. Many offer a free consultation to help you see if they are a good fit. Bankruptcy may be the right choice for those with lowered incomes and crippling debt who are looking for a fresh start.

Monday, February 18, 2019

Long Weekend?

Presidents and TeensThe ABC evening news came on tonight, and they said something about the weather improving in time for everyone to go back to work after the long weekend. I never really thought of Presidents' Day as a real holiday. I mean, there's no mail and I guess the banks are closed, but does anyone else get the day off?

For most people, it's just a regular 2 day weekend. Like all the rest of them. Isn't it?

Let me know if you get a long weekend for Presidents' Day. Maybe I'm wrong...

Why Bail Bonds?

Why is a bail bond the best way to bail someone out of jail? Thankfully the only knowledge I have about bail bonds is what little I've picked up reading Janet Evanovich's Stephani Plum series. Obviously, that's not much, so I thought I'd share the following information: Bail Bonds
Finding out that a loved one is in jail is never easy. You need to look at the best way to get a person out on bail. With bail bonds Stroudsburg PA residents find that it’s the easiest solution. Why?
  1. It’s Fast - You can get a bail bond quickly. A bail bonds company will walk you through the process of getting a bond as soon as you know what the bail has been set for. Many bond companies are open seven days a week. It ensures that you can get a loved one out of jail so that they don’t have to sit there any longer than absolutely necessary.
  1. It’s Affordable - When bail is set, you have options. You can pay the whole bail amount on your own and wait for the refund from the courts, or you can get a bail bond. It’s not uncommon for bail to be set at $10,000 or more. Without using a bail bond, you would have to come up with the full amount of bail on your own. Many people find this to be cost prohibitive. Bail bonds are, typically, set at 10 percent of what the bond is for, which could mean as little as $1,000. It’s more affordable, allowing you to get a loved one out of jail faster.
  1. It Allows You to Move On - When you pay a bail bond, you’re done. You don’t have to wait around for all of the court proceedings to wait for the rest of your money to be returned to you. While you won’t get a refund on the bond, it’s the easier solution. If you were to front all of the money, it could take a year or longer to get it back.
As soon as you find out that a loved one is in jail, consider how you’re going to help them. Talking to a bail bond company may be the best solution all around.




Monday, February 11, 2019

Squirrel!

I received an email the other day from an author I follow. Actually, I signed up for his newsletter a while back in exchange for a free copy of one of his books. A book I have yet to read. Will I ever read all those (or any of those, for that matter) free Kindle books I keep grabbing? But I just can't resist grabbing them. They're free!

Anyway, the point of this particular email was to ask for feedback from the readers. This author has written a series of books, but very few people ever read through the entire series. They'll read one or two or three of the books, and then they'll quit reading. He was asking how far we'd read and why we'd quit when we did.

Of course, since I haven't read any of the books, I couldn't speak to those books specifically, but I did give my best guess - there are many, many books available, and readers tend to get distracted.  Seriously, my TBR list is already miles long, and it just keeps growing. Every time someone mentions a book that looks interesting I add it. So, even when I start a series that I really like, I usually only end up reading 2 or 3 of the books. Then I decide to take a break from the series and read something else. Next thing I know, it's been 3 or 4 years... (there are a lot of something elses)

Here are a few examples:
  • I read the first three of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series in 2008, stopped for some reason and never continued. Now that we've started watching the series on Starz, I'm wanting to start that series again and read them all. But there are so many...
  • I re-read the first 4 Harry Potter books in 2011, fully intending to finish the series, but I took a break and haven't gone back since. (Though to be fair, I did read all of them as they came out, so maybe that's not the same?)
  • I started George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series in 2013 - After finishing #3, I took a short break to read other books and had definite plans to read the remaining 2 books in 2014.
    It's 2019, and I haven't gone back. Not because I didn't LOVE the books, because I did. (We did watch the series on HBO. Just waiting till April so we can find out what happens next)
  • I read Justin Cronin's The Passage and The Twelve in 2016 because the 3rd book in the series was coming out. I'd read The Passage several years before (in 2010) but never continued on... So I read both of them in preparation for City of Mirrors. Loved them both. And still haven't read City of Mirrors. (I do have it on hold at the library right now, so maybe I'll finally get to it)
  • And I started re-reading Stephen King's Dark Tower series in 2015. I've read a lot of other books along the way, but I haven't actually taken a complete break from the series. I'm still working my way through it and planning to finish the last 2 books this year. Check my 2019 book list when I post it next year to see if I actually accomplish that.
Yes, there are some series that I've continued with - Jan Karon's Mitford Series, The Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer (wanna listen to those again!), J.D. Robb's In Death series. And that's the real question - WHY do some series keep us coming back for more? And why do some fail to get our attention back once we've been distracted by all those other books?

I just need to learn to read faster, so I can read all the books.