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• April 2008

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“10 under 10”

TEN GIFTS TO GIVE FOR UNDER $10 EACH!

Available on my website!

Have fun shopping!

1.  Simply Tempted  Soapsicles 3 oz  $8 each  Nontoxic fun Soap Bars. Candy Carousel (Bubble Gum), Neopolitan (strawberry, vanilla, chocolate), Fudgy (chocolate), Nilla Sammie (vanilla ice cream sandwich), Confetti Cupcake (strawberry), Bath Blaster Pop (cherry, lime, and berry)

Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Castor Oil, Safflower Oil, Glycerin, Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide (saponifying agent), Sorbital (moisturizer), Sorbitan oleate (emulsifier), Soy bean protein, fragrance oil, mica or oxide pigment.

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2.  Simply Tempted Quench Body Frosting  4oz  $9

Excellent hydrator and soother. Made with Shea Butter, to protect, nurture & regenerate your skin and Aloe Vera to heal, & soothe. Available in 6 scents.

 3.  Simply Temptd Choco-nut Walnut Body Scrub  $9
Luxuriously thick and creamy textured body scrub designed to help detox and exfoliate the body by slowly and gently removing dead skin cells and dirt leaving the skin soft, cleansed and hydrated.  Lightly scented in chocolate.

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4.  Simply Tempted   Chocolate Exfoliating Body Wash  4.5 oz  $9
Chocolaty scented exfoliating body wash contains Shea butter and pure castile soap along with exfoliating pumice and apricot seed, brown sugar and
Vitamin E.

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5. Simple Tempted Moisturizing Bath Salts Samplers  2oz  $3 each

Moisturizing spa-quality bath salts which condition and hydrate. Big chunky sea salts for a slow dissolve with deep-moisturizing Jojoba Oil. leaves your skin feeling hydrated and smooth. Your choice of 6 scents.

Ingredients: Dead Sea Salt, Jojoba Oil, Fragrance Oil, and colored micas

6. Homemade Natural Beauty Fizzy Bath Salts  $2.75 per packet
Add contents of the beautiful packet to your bath and tiny bubbles will caress your body while you soak your way to softer, sweet-smelling skin. 2 packets wrapped in a cello bag and tied with ribbon makes the perfect pampering gift.  Over 20 Scents to choose from. 

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7. Homemade Natural Bath Fizzy < ?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Bath Bombs $4.00 each

Add one of these large heart-shaped effervescent tablets to your bath for a delightfully invigorating and fragrant bath. Over 20 scents to choose from.

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8.  Homemae Natural Beauty Aloe Vera, Vit. E Facial Soap 3oz w/ Cotton Wash Cloth    $9.75  The Aloe Vera in this naturally pure soap provides moisturizing therapy for sunburn or irritated and dry skin. The Vitamin E Oil soothes and provides additional moisture for dry and mature skin. Great complexion soap. 100% pure, no color or fragrance added. This is the most often recommended facial soap for all skin types, especially sensitive skin.  The 100% organic and eco-friendly Organic Cotton face cloth is a generous 12″ x 12″ size and has a loop attached for easy hanging.

9. Homemade Natural Beauty Heart Shaped Herbal Sachets  3 for $8.50   Use these heart shaped herbal sachets in drawers, linen closet, glove box, shoes, pillow, or anywhere where the smell of herbal botanicals would be appreciated. Each herb filled lavender heart is beautifully adorned with a little flower and packaged in an organza bag. Sold in sets of 3, either same botanical or assorted set of one Chamomile, one Lavender, and one Rose Petals.

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10.  Homemade Naural Beauty Peppermint & Tea Tree Whipped Foot Cream  4oz  $9.50
A rich and creamy lotion enriched with Shea Butter, Beeswax, Jojoba oil, and essential oils. The cooling menthol provides an invigorating treat to tired feet. 

Well the summer has flown by and here we are in October, my favorite time of year. The air is crisp and cool, the leaves are truning colors and the harvesting is beginning.  October is special to me-this year my high school sweetie and I will celebrate 30 years of marital bliss.  October also means the holidays will soon be upon us before we know it. Time to get organized and start planning those fall and winter parties and events. Footbal tailgaiting, soccer parties, Oktoberfest, Nascar and then of course Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Hanukkah! Ahh yes, here before we know it!!

Get a jump on the holidays by planning ahead. These party plannng tips may help you stay organized and keep your stress level down to a minimum:

• Choose your date and circle it on the calendar.
• Start a file folder for each event; online or on paper whichever works for you.
• Start the guestlist. Plan to send invitations 5-6 weeks before your event, with an rsvp a week before the party.
• Purchase postage stamps if mailing invitations. Set up your unvitation online if emailing.  
• Plan your theme. This makes shopping and planning easy and fun too.
• Plan the menu/entertainment/decorations. Keep things simple and coordinated with your theme.
• Call your caterer/DJ/entertainers early. The sooner you book the better.
• Start your shopping lists.  Cross items off your lists as you complete them.
• If you shop online be sure to give yourself time for shipping. Order 2-3 weeks before the event.
• Shop for perishables a day or two before the party.
• Remember the 4 “P’s” of party planning- Prior Planning Prevents Problems!

By planning ahead you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your time with your guests.

Have fun!
Kathi

Proper Etiquette for Addressing Your Envelopes:

Outer Envelopes:

1. Use full names and formal titles. Do not abbreviate.
2. Do not use symbols. Spell out the word “and”.
3. Do not use initials. Spell out all names.
4. Do not write “and family” if children are to be included in the invitation (See #2 of Inner Envelopes).
5. Use figures only when writing house numbers and zip codes.
   Ex: 1747 Second Avenue South
6. Write out the words “Street”, “Boulevard”, “Avenue”, etc.
7. Do not abbreviate state names.

Inner Envelopes:

1. Use full names and formal titles. Do not abbreviate.
   Ex: Mr. and Mrs. Steven Johnson
2. Type the first names of children to be invited below the parents’ in order of age.
   Ex: Mr. and Mrs. Stevens
   Lisa, Adam, and Julia
3. Omit children’s names if you are planning an adult-only celebration.
4. If an invitation to a single guest extends to an unknown escort, address the inner envelope with your guest’s name followed by “and Guest”.
   Ex: Miss Andrews and Guest

Single Outer Envelopes:
If you have selected an invitation that does not include an inner envelope or choose not to use your inner envelope, you may follow traditional addressing rules for outer envelopes or create a new way that works best for you.

1. For a traditional single outer envelope address, include the names of the children to be invited below the parents’ names as on a standard inner envelope.
2. Write “and guest” as it would have appeared on an inner envelope.

Mailing Your Invitations:

1. Mail all invitations at the same time, six to eight weeks before the wedding date, using first class postage. If you are enclosing response cards in your invitations, remember to include stamps on the return envelopes.
2. Assembled invitations often require additional postage. To avoid postage delays and returned invitations, take a completely assembled invitation to your post office to determine proper postage.
3. Be sure to include a return address on each outer envelope. Invitations returned by the post office will allow you to invite those individuals personally.
4. Ask your post office to hand cancel your invitations. An extra cost may be incurred.

 

Start early! Remember the 4 “P”s
Prior Planning Prevents Problems

8 to 12 Months Before:
- Announce the engagement.
- Coordinate a meeting of parents.
- Select members of the wedding party.
- Outline a budget with groom and both families.
- If considering a consultant… the sooner the better.

-Purchase a bridal planning guide

-Plan a theme or color combination

-Book your church and your reception hall

- Order Save the Date cards or magnets

6 to 8 Months Before:
- Select gown, headpiece, and schedule fittings.
- Select grooms attire.
- Select bridesmaid and groomsman attire.
- Begin looking for invitations and accessories,

   bridal party gifts, jewelry, extra reception items
- Review wedding budget with all involved, parents, consultants
- Contact photographers, caterers, florists, etc.

3 to 6 Months Before:
- Meet with minister, priest, or justice.
- Compile guest list with groom’s mom.
- Order wedding and groom’s cake.

-Purchase a cake top
- Check marriage license requirements in the state

   where you will be married.
- Choose and purchase wedding bands.
- Create registry gift list.

2 to 3 Months Before:
- Make honeymoon plans & reservations.
- Help groom’s family with rehearsal dinner.
- Discuss menu with caterer.

-Plan wedding day favors and decorations
- Compile wedding announcement,

   order invitations
- Compile address list for guests.
- Check on accommodations for out of town guests

   and block rooms at several local hotels.
 - Schedule rehearsal time at church or location.
- Plan transportation needs for all visitors.
- Plan transportation needs for bride & groom.

1 to 2 Months Before:
- Mail Invitations 8-10 weeks before date.
- Work with baker on cake designs.
- Send announcements to local paper.
- Compile and review legal documents.
- Review plans with photographer, musicians, etc.
- Select and purchase bridal party gifts.
- Compile timeline of events and duties for bridal party.

2 to 4 Weeks Before:
- Confirm reservations for rehearsal dinner.
- Finalize guest total with caterer.
- Get a head start on the thank you notes.
- Finalize plans with florist.
- Gifts for bride and groom to exchange.
- Have final alterations completed on gown.

1 to 2 Weeks Before:
- Secure marriage license.
- Visit hairstylist for last minute style.
- Confirm honeymoon reservations.
- Confirm guest reservations.

-Confirm head count with caterer
- Confirm transportation reservations.
- Assign trusted people to handle last minute problems

   should they occur on your big day.

Week of & Day Before:
- Pack everything for church & honeymoon.
- Compose note of thanks for parents.
- Finalize seating for church & reception.
- Go to rehearsal dinner.
- Exchange gifts, including thank you gifts for parents

Wedding Day:
- Relax & enjoy your special day.

I am so excited to be able to design my brand new website and blog! I plan to use the blog to keep everyone informed with tips and quips related to party and wedding planning. Expect to see instructions and directions, photos, ideas, and even specials. I plan to keep it simple and promise not load it up with banners and buttons. I may add a links page as I have found many helpful people and websites along the way to share.  My affiliate vendors will be here too! As always if you can’t find it yourself, chances are I can find it for you! Don’ forget that I am an offical vendor for Carlson Craft invitations http://www.carlsoncraft.com  and for Hortense B. Hewitt, fine bridal accesories. http://www.hbhwedding.com/

Have fun!
The Bride”s Helper