Cason Point: Hardest worker steps forward again and again
Busy mom and volunteer Cristen Cervellini-Calfo is the winner of the eighth annual Hardest Worker in Ventura County contest.
Read more on Ventura County Star
Posts Tagged ‘Steps’
Cason Point: Hardest worker steps forward again and again
Saturday, September 11th, 2010
5 Simple Steps to Making your Own Cheap Wedding Favors
Friday, August 27th, 2010
If you think it’s just too overwhelming to create and assemble your own cheap wedding favors, don’t! Any bride can save herself literally hundreds of dollars if she follows these few simple steps needed to create and assemble wedding favors on her own. With a little bit of planning and effort, you’ll find that you can do it too.
Step #1 – Decide your wedding favors budget.
Even when planning on assembling or making your own cheap wedding favors, you still need an idea of how much money you can spend. Let’s say that you have 200 guests and you want to spend less than $1 for each, so you have a budget of $200. That’s not a bad amount to spend on cheap wedding favors, and should be enough to let you make some very beautiful items.
Step #2 – Start early!
Making your own cheap wedding favors is going to involve a bit more planning, shopping, and work than if you simply picked out favors from a company online. Don’t wait until the week before your wedding to make plans or to start shopping. As a matter of fact, you should probably start today, no matter how far off your wedding is! This way you’ll be sure to finish and have your favors done in time for your big day, and keep yourself from some undue stress.
Step #3 – Decide what type of favors you want.
For cheap wedding favors, the best ideas usually involve buying something in bulk such as chocolates or Jordan almonds, and then assembling them into take-home packets of some sort. It might also mean purchasing less expensive items and then dressing them up somehow, such as small picture frames or boxes of bonbons that you wrap in silver wrapping.
The decision of which cheap wedding favors you select will be tied in with your budget. If you decide on those small boxes of bonbons, you need to figure the price of the chocolates, the wrapping paper, and anything else you need to put them together. If you want those Jordan almonds in take-home bags, you need to add up the cost of the almonds, the bags, and anything you use to tie the bags with, or personalized labels if you use those. It helps to do some comparison shopping for different ideas you have for cheap wedding favors, and then you can look at the costs for each item and make your decision from there.
Step #4 – Enlist some help.
Your bridesmaids and maid of honor may already be doing a lot of work for you to get ready for the big day, but you probably will need some help when it comes time to actually prepare those cheap wedding favors. It’s too easy to assume that you can just zip through an assembly line of chocolate and bags and whatever else, but you’d be surprised how much time these things can take, and how frustrated you get. If your friends are already at their limit with responsibilities, ask your future mother-in-law or future sister-in-law or even the flower girls, if they’re old enough. Chances are they would love to pitch in for an evening and see what they can get done.
Step #5 – Make your plan, and stick to it.
Some people are just very hypercritical of their own work, and it’s easy to start panicking and assume that your guests will know that these are cheap wedding favors or that you should have opted for something else. But remember, your guests will probably be happy with whatever you choose to give them, and chances are you’re just feeling nervous overall. Relax, work through your plan, and reassure yourself that your choice of favors is the right one.
Linda Ellison is a freelance writer who specializes in trends and lifestyles. Her previously published fiction works, including the Dana Ford Mystery Series, have been on bookshelves nationwide. Visit www.FavorsAndWraps.com to read more about the latest trends in wedding favors.
Steps on Publishing the Wedding Photography
Monday, June 28th, 2010
Talent cannot guarantee that you will reach a goal for your business otherwise you may be a skilled wedding photographer in your region. Appropriate promotion is really needed in order to support the growth of your own potential. Promotion is as a way for others to know how good you are, what to do toward them and to let them know that you are as a skilled one.
Step 1
Take two dozen samples of your excellent work and collect them into a folder so that you can let other clients know that you are potential at it. You can also attach some particular photography styles to let others know your skill and significance. Make sure that the couples of wedding photos will permit you to promote the services hat you have given for them.
Step 2
You can draw a proficient symbol and write a slogan for your business if you have not got them yet.
Step 3
You can make a viewpoint in order to separate wedding-photography industry or that give good point toward your services like special charge, no cost arrangement-photo series or a no cost framed photo with pay for a wedding packet. Everything you deal with, make sure to put it on all promotional needs.
Step 4
Make sure that you always have prepared your cards of business include your trade name, symbol, slogan and the contact person for more information.
Step 5
You can make a website that will help you to promote your business, besides get agreement for various models of photographs through the website. You can put more information for your photography method and the offering services. Besides, you also put references from the previous customers that look admiring in order to show your skill and ability as a photographer at the wedding.
Step 6
You can follow business clubs in your region, as well as the Chamber of Commerce. It is needed to be involved in its programs, gatherings, acquaintance series to make interaction with other businessman in order to let other people know your business work.
Step 7
You can look at the station of television in your region especially for no cost promotion moment or think twice for commercial promotion session on television.
Step 8
Being active in your region and regional civic organizations is really needed like the Rotary Club, Lions Club, Kiwanis Club and Sertoma. Hopefully after joining these clubs, you can broad your network so that you can give inputs each other. You may also interact with other club participants in the wedding business, like wedding-cake and wedding organizers. Besides, when you join club’s activities community-service projects, you are going to beneficial places that inform you and keep in touch with you when you intend to take wedding photography.
Step 9
They who intend to take photographs at contribution and programs for public. In replace for your business, you will probably be taken several lists of free promotion during the program and through the advertising of program needs. You may arrange a settlement as well at the programs where people can get your business cards and leaflets given.
Step 10
You can lease for settlement wedding fair in region. A free photograph is given to you who quit by the settlement and intend for the list needed. You can arrange the background that decorates your pictures, later send them to the address given. When the photographs are sent, put your business card and leaflets include phone and email as well for further development.
This article provides information about several ways to publish your wedding photograph. To help you more, you can also read another related topic such as best rated digital camera and Canon powershot digital camera.
Wedding Cake Pool Steps for Above Ground Swimming Pools
Friday, June 11th, 2010
Product Description
Practical, durable and safe! Now get in and out of your pool with comfort and ease. The Wedding Cake step is molded in one piece out of durable U.V. stabilized polyethylene. Its rounded shape will fit easily and safely in your pool without damaging your liner. Includes vinyl weight bags (weight not included). Stair is equipped with barrier to meet new safety laws. Flat bottom only. *Freight charges apply. Item must be shipped by truck. Please Note: Freight Charges may vary depending on location.
How To Hire A Wedding Photographer – 4 Steps To Finding The Right Professional To Capture Your Day
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
Many brides are comfortable with such priorities as reception site or catering selection, but may not be as familiar with the process of hiring the right wedding photographer. Wedding photography is one of the most important aspects of your day, so you’ll need to choose wisely to get the wedding pictures you desire. This guide will walk you through it.
1) Consider Chemistry
Brides often underestimate the importance of the photographer?s personality, yet this person will end up being a very personal guest at your most important event. Evaluate carefully whether you feel comfortable with this person. Some of the most beautiful moments happen behind the scenes, while the bride is dressing, while the couple steals a kiss, and you should feel comfortable inviting the photographer to capture these moments. First find a wedding photographer you like as a person, then evaluate the artistic criteria.
2) Review the Portfolio
Seasoned wedding photographers have what is called a “book,” which is a portfolio of their best work. Evaluating a photographer?s portfolio depends on your own stylistic and artistic preferences. His or her work should match your tastes and style. Make sure the images speak to you and reflect your personal visions for your wedding day. Look for crisp images, thoughtful composition and good lighting. Also ask to see the shots from a complete wedding; that way you can see it all – not just the highlights – and you will have a better feel for his or her ability to capture your day.
3) Ask the Right Questions
During the interview, make sure you have answered these important questions:
Who will be taking the pictures?
Make sure that the photographer whose portfolio you review will be the actual person who takes the pictures at your wedding.
What is the photographer?s primary style?
Many photographers claim to shoot both classic and photojournalistic photography, but in reality, most are better at one or the other. Make sure you know his or her strengths and background to ensure you get the wedding photos you want.
Do you shoot mostly in color, black and white, or both?
Your photographer should have experience with both and be able to customize to meet your needs.
How many rolls do you shoot?
Obviously more rolls of film means more wedding photos to choose from, but remember that more rolls usually cost more money.
Are you familiar with the location?
Your photographer should be familiar with the ceremony and reception site so that he or she can quickly and efficiently capture the best shots.
What are your references?
Call each reference and ask whether or not the person was satisfied with the overall experience and received the desired photos.
4) Get Everything in Writing
To avoid any confusion, all of the details that you have painstakingly discussed should be in writing. Read the contract carefully, especially the fine print.
Get even more photography advice and access to the best photographers near you in this complete wedding photography resource.
Cori Russell is editor for Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a complete Weddings and Wedding Planning resource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, how-to guides, photo galleries, checklists, and expert advice to walk brides through every step of the wedding planning process.
View the complete sitemap to find everything you need to plan your wedding.
Three Steps To Planning Your Wedding Flowers
Saturday, May 29th, 2010
When it comes to Floral arrangements and Decoration for weddings there are numerous options available. Floral Decorating options are endless and are limited only by the imagination, even the most outrageous floral decorations can be made to fit practically any budget provided there is time spent to do proper research regarding the many ideas that are available out there.
There are no set rules or limitations for wedding flowers. It is whatever the couple or more precisely the “bride” wants and can afford. Anything goes from renting the silk floral arrangements to do-it-yourself kind of deals for creative and imaginative brides and bridesmaids who are there to help the bride anyway. Planning for wedding flowers can be a lot of fun for bridal party who might come up with innovative ideas that you might not have thought about. It might also be fun to involve the groom in the process if he is an imaginative type otherwise forget about him, the most he will care about is to stick to the budget allocated for this category of your wedding.
Give yourself plenty of time to plan the wedding flowers, at least 6 months prior to the wedding date. Most brides want the flowers to complement the color scheme of and overall theme of the wedding particularly the wedding dress for the bride and the wedding attire for the bridesmaid etc.
Now the question is where to start looking for the perfect floral arrangements for the wedding? For starters check out the different Bridal magazines which are full of pictures of bouquets and wedding flower arrangements, that will give you some ideas to set a theme for your floral decorations.
Secondly and importantly, think about the types of flowers that will be in season at the time of your wedding. Choosing flowers that are readily available is a sure way to keep your wedding costs under control and within budget. Out of season flowers are very expensive to acquire and may not be available in some cases which will pose a hassle and a problem in many ways.
There are many creative ways to have your bouquets and arrangements do a double duty. Involve your bridesmaids and helpers in making arrangements if you are craft oriented to keep the costs down. Another way to keep the costs reasonable is to use more filler (more greenery) to your floral arrangements.
Thirdly once you have planned and figured out the flower arrangements and bouquets, shop around for a good florist who has reasonable prices and can turn your thoughts and ideas into a reality. It is to your advantage to select a florist early on because there’s a limit to how much even the best florist can handcraft and when you have the florist selected make sure that you go over the contract with a fine-toothed comb before signing to make sure the number and type of arrangements, including the flowers being used, are clearly specified along with delivery details. Keep clear records of the deposit amount and delineate the payment schedule.
As you can see it is lot of fun and work as well but the key is proper planning and not getting overwhelmed but staying calm and cool.
Article is brought by unique wedding favors and bridal shower favors premier source for brides to be at reasonable prices.
Wedding Cakes – 3 Steps to Planning Your Wedding Cake
Friday, May 7th, 2010
Both the centerpiece of your evening and the delicious dessert, your wedding cake is a significant element of your wedding reception. It should be eye-catching and fabulous – tasty too! I’ve narrowed the process of selecting your wedding cake into three easy steps. Follow these, and you will have the confection that suits your personal style and budget.
Step 1: Determine your Wedding Cake Design
As the focal point of your reception, your cake should represent the theme of your wedding and reflect your overall vision. Consider the style, shape, color and adornments. Browse and collect photographs of cakes that inspire you. Make a list of qualities you like and don’t like. This useful guide has tons of wedding cakes ideas and a wedding cake gallery to get your creative juices flowing.
Make it Last – Don’t forget to consider the longevity of your cake when making your selection. It may look like a work of art, but it is still food, and certain types will hold up better in extreme climates. If you will be holding an summer outdoor reception, opt for fondant icing over buttercream. While buttercream is tasty, it doesn’t keep well in heat or humidity.
Step 2: Factor Cost
Wedding cake prices are based per slice and are determined by how complex the overall design. The typical range is usually $2-$15 per slice. As a result, there are 2 easy ways to keep your cake within budget.
The first way is to choose a more simple design with minimal adornments. Fresh fruit and flowers are the cheapest, while handmade gumpaste or sugarpaste decorations are more expensive.
If you have your heart set on an intricate design you saw in a magazine, don’t worry that the associated cost will break your budget. You can always improvise a complex design. Most wedding cakes featured in magazines use fondant icing, which creates that sought-after smooth look. Fondant icing is more expensive than buttercream, so ask your cake designer to create a similar look using buttercream icing. Many brides can opt for a smaller, intricately designed cake to showcase at their wedding, while the site holds simple sheet cakes in the kitchen to serve to guests.
When determining the cost of your cake, don’t forget about additional costs such as shipping your confection. Some venues also charge a cake cutting fee of about $1.50-$3 per slice, which can significantly add to the cost of your cake.
Step 3: Choose your Baker
Before commencing your search for a cake designer, first determine whether or not your reception site allows an outside baker. If your reception site is the exclusive baker, sometimes the case with country clubs and hotels, you can skip this step – your work is done. If the site does allow an outside baker, pick a few local cake bakers and book appointments to view their portfolios. This national directory of wedding services will help you get started. When meeting with potential bakers, consider look, taste and price. The one you choose should be able to create the beautiful masterpiece you desire at a price you can afford, and it should taste scrumptious as well. Ask to taste some samples to determine the talents of your baker.
Cori Russell is editor for Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a complete Weddings and Wedding Planning resource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, how-to guides, photo galleries, checklists, and expert advice to walk brides through every step of the wedding planning process.
View the complete sitemap to find everything you need to plan your wedding.
How do you make wedding cake steps?
Sunday, March 28th, 2010
I am making a Patio and I am planning to make wedding cake steps for my entry from the house to patio. My door is 30″ wide and 24″ above the ground (excluding 4″ gravel).
Please advise ASAP
How to Plan Your Wedding Photography – 4 Steps to Memorable Wedding Pictures
Monday, March 8th, 2010
As one of the most important decisions you will make concerning the big day, planning your wedding photography should be considered with care. Follow these four steps to ensure your wedding pictures capture these priceless wedding day memories.
1) Select Your Photography Style
How do you envision your wedding photographs? Wedding Photographers generally fall into three stylistic categories: traditional, photojournalist, or a combination of both. Traditional photographers are practiced in obtaining great portraits and posed shots. For more candid shots that document the day’s emotions and all the behind-the-scenes action, you may lean towards the photojournalistic style of photography (a hot trend for today’s weddings). For brides who simply cannot decide, seek a wedding photographer who can offer the perfect mix.
2) Consider the Cost
This really is one area in which you should avoid cutting corners, as your photographs will be one of the few keepsakes you can actually take from your wedding. Expect to allocate at least $1000 to your wedding photography budget (the bottom line in metro areas will be higher). If budget is a concern, consider ordering the most basic package, but avoid hiring an inexperienced photographer to save money.
3) Hire your Wedding Photographer
Do your research, and compile a list of potentials and commence the “meet and greet.” When meeting with potential photographers, be sure to review his or her work and remember to consider the importance of personality. Your photographer will capture some of the best shots behind the scenes, so you must feel comfortable in working with this person and inviting them backstage. Trust your instinct: if you find anything disagreeable about working with this person, keep looking. And don’t forget to get everything in writing.
4) Plan the Wedding Pictures
Well before your wedding day, make sure you have considered the must-have photography shots and their execution. You should discuss these details with your photographer so that he or she will be familiar with the site location, the VIPs of the wedding (attendants, parents etc.), and the best and most un-obtrusive way to get these important shots.
Consider every aspect of your wedding day and how you would like it captured. From the pre-ceremony preparation, to your walk down the aisle, to your “I Dos,” to your first dance and finally to your departure, make sure to discuss the perfect shots for each special moment. Throughout the planning process, be in the lookout out for images that catch your eye, and consider bringing clips to your photographer. Browse this gallery of creative wedding pictures for inspiration.
Get even more wedding photography tips in this complete wedding photography guide.
Cori Russell is editor for Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a complete Weddings and Wedding Planning resource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, how-to guides, photo galleries, checklists, and expert advice to walk brides through every step of the wedding planning process.
View the complete sitemap to find everything you need to plan your wedding.