All About Diamonds October 28, 2008
Posted by Vanessa in Resources.Tags: family, jewellery, life, love, romance, tradition, wedding, wedding dress, weddings
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We all know that diamonds are a girls best friend, but what many of us don’t know is what actually 
constitutes a perfect diamond. The perfect diamond is defined in accordance to its colour, clarity, carat and weight. Purchasing a diamond ring entails understanding the four ’C’s in order to ensure that you end up with the perfect diamond. Whilst prices vary in accordance to the value placed on the diamond itself, it’s important to understand what you are getting for what you are paying.
Colour
The majority of diamonds come in the white colourless range, however diamonds can be found in a variety of colour. Diamonds are graded in accordance to their colour. Colourless diamonds are graded as a D, and as the diamond develops further colour, they are graded downwards in the alphabet. For instance, a diamond which may have yellow or brown colour in it may be graded at an F or G. Thus, diamonds graded as D are considered most valuable due to their rarity and due to light passing through the diamond effortlessly. When light passes through the diamond, it disperses colours of the rainbow, known as dispersion.
Clarity
The clarity of the diamond is graded under 10x power magnification. Thus, clarity is determined as any feature of the stone that reduces its brilliance or value. This is known as inclusions, and usually are natural occurrences within the structure of the diamond once formed. As a result, the clarity of the diamond is determined by the number of inclusions visible in the stone. The severity of inclusions found, and the location in which it is found in the diamond determine the value of the stone. Flawless diamonds are a rarity and thus extremely valuable.
Cut
The angles and proportions of the diamonds facets, as well as how well the light enters the diamond determines the cut of the stone. The cut of the diamond does not indicate the shape of the diamond, rather the cut refers to the structure of the stone. A well cut diamond reflects light from its facets and then disperses the light to the crown (top of the diamond). A deep cut diamond allows light to disperse from the bottom of the stone whilst a shallow cut diamond causes the light to escape from the bottom of the stone, preventing it from being reflected outward.
Carat Weight
The carat is the basic unit of weight measure for diamonds. The weight measure for diamonds is equal to 0.20 grams. Small diamonds are measured in points where one carat is divided into 100 points. As diamonds increase in size, the more rare and valuable it becomes.
When purchasing a diamond, it is important to consider all four factors. A larger diamond, with yellow colour and poor clarity may not necessarily be more valuable then a smaller diamond with colour grade of D, and perfect clarity. It is important to ensure that you ask questions in order to attain a diamond that suits your taste and budget.
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Top 40 Honeymoon Destinations in New South Wales October 24, 2008
Posted by Vanessa in honeymoon.Tags: family, honeymoon, life, love, marriage, romance, tradition, travel, wedding, wedding dress, weddings
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Name |
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Website |
Phone |
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Jonah’s |
02 99745599 |
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Eagle View Escape |
1300 851829 |
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Seclusions |
02 63556300 |
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Strawberry Patch Cottage |
4304 96755 |
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Varenna Luxury Accommodation |
4304 96755 |
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Falls Moutain Retreat |
02 47578826 |
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York Leura Gardens Resort |
02 47844004 |
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Bishops Court Estate |
02 63324447 |
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Duntryleague |
02 63623822 |
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Orange De Russie Suites |
02 63600973 |
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Boathouse on Hawkesbuy |
02 99858505 |
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Bells at Killcare |
02 43602411 |
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Villa By the Sea |
02 43851170 |
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El Lago Waters Resort |
02 43323955 |
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Mantra Kooindah Waters |
02 43555777 |
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Bluebell Retreat |
1800 802044 |
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Billabong Moon |
02 65747290 |
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Bali at the Bay |
02 49812964 |
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Australia’s Diamond Beach Resort |
02 65592719 |
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Clarendon Forest Retreat |
02 65543085 |
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Nudoobah Retreat |
02 65522818 |
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Pacific Bay Resort |
1300 363360 |
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Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat |
02 66791591 |
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Oubetrees Resort Hotel |
02 92626585 |
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Altitude 1260 Resort |
02 64562511 |
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The Pines Pastoral |
02 48683523 |
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Barefoot Springs |
02 44460509 |
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Bellachara Boutique Hotel |
02 42341359 |
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Kiama Harbour Cabins |
02 43322707 |
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Coast Resort Merimbula |
02 64954930 |
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Tumbling Waters Retreat |
02 42941888 |
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Bannisters Point Lodge |
0244553044 |
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Ulladulla Guest House |
0244551796 |
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Central Coast Holiday Parks |
1800 241342 |
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York Fairmont Resort |
02 47844144 |
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Pet Porpoise Pool |
02 66591900 |
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Raffertys |
02 4972 5555 |
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O’Reillys Rainforest Retreat |
02 55024911 |
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Shoal Bay Resort and Spa |
1800 181810 |
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Glamour on the Bay |
02 4384 7959 |
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10 Simple steps to obtaining perfect wedding photos. October 7, 2008
Posted by Vanessa in Resources.Tags: 10 steps, 10 ways, life, love, romance, tradition, wedding dress, Wedding Dresses, weddings
2 comments
As Madonna would say, “strike a pose, there’s nothing to it”! Ensuring that your wedding photos turn out brilliantly can be a difficult task. Most of us get married once, so having great wedding photos is vital to ensuring those magical memories stay in tact. There are millions of photographers around, all of which claim that they are ‘simply the best’. So unless their name is Tina Turner, it’s not always wise to accept that they are better than all the rest. Here are some useful tips to ensure that you receive wedding photos that will make you feel like a supermodel on the cover of a magazine.
- Research, research and research – it’s important to talk to a number of photographers and to site their original works. Photographers that are willing to pull out their photos and display them confidently will likely be more credible than a photographer who alleges that they don’t have anything current to show.
- Equipment – Ask the photographer to show you the cameras that he or she uses and assess their equipment. Most credible photographers will use professional cameras that deliver high quality photos. Also, if the photographer can provide a detailed description about his or her camera and why he or she uses it, then it’s likely that he or she has some knowledge in the world of photography. If they pull out the disposables, run.
- Word of mouth – Sometimes it’s great to take advice from other couples who have been married. If other couples are happy with the photos they received, then chances are they employed a good photographer. Word of mouth can not only be powerful, but it can also save you time and tears.
- Discuss preliminary plans with the photographer – Ask the photographer how they prepare for the shoot. A good photographer will visit the site where the photos will be taken and assess the quality of lighting and so forth prior to the wedding day. If they are going to show up on the day and take the chance, then it’s highly likely that you are going to waste your money.
- Price – the price can indicate whether the photographer is credible or not. Whilst a good photographer can drain the budget, it’s far better than employing Joe Bloggs down the street that has recently completed his certificate iii in photography. It may be tempting to stick to the cheaper option, but that often means receiving photos that look just as ‘cheap’.
- Bargain – compare and contrast credible photographers and then report the various prices to all. You may find that some photographers may drop their price to compete with their competitors, thus winning your business.
- Communicate – Ensure that you tell your photographer how many people are attending your wedding and how many people are in your bridal party. This will allow the photographer to effectively plan the length of time he or she will require to ensure that the wedding guests and the bridal party are incorporated in all photos. You don’t want the photographer rushing through the job in order to have all the photos completed. Chances are, you won’t receive great quality photos.
- Colour theme – Think about your colour theme for your wedding. You don’t want the bridesmaids in dull coloured dresses that will make them look washed out. Similarly, you don’t want over the top colours (fluro) that will take the eye away from the bride and groom. Colours should contrast well with one another, so if the bridesmaids are wearing a bright and happy coloured dress, then tone it down on the bouquets.
- Tanning – whilst fake tan can look appealing, it’s important to note that less is definitely more. If you opt for a fake tan, keep it to a minimum as the orange look does not look very appealing in photos.
- Make up – Wearing sufficient make up is important as the camera will take it off. Often we see models and actors looking ‘natural’ in magazines. In reality, they have a substantial amount of make up on. The camera removes the look of the make up whilst accentuating your features. So, while you don’t want to look like a drag queen, it’s important to wear some make up so you can look fresh in your photos.
Wedding photos become extremely valuable and sentimental to many married couples, thus it is important to ensure that the photos you receive are of high quality and value. Following these simple steps will enable you to effectively employ a photographer that will provide you with photos that you will want to pull out for years to come.
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Finding your perfect wedding dress October 1, 2008
Posted by Vanessa in Wedding Dresses.Tags: accessories, advice, family, life, love, romance, tradition, wedding dress, Wedding Dresses, weddings
2 comments
Simple steps to finding your perfect wedding dress
Looking your best on your wedding day is essential to ensuring that your day is successful. As a bride, we want to ensure that we experience not only the best day possible, but that we also look our best. Our wedding dress is considered the prized and most valued commodity to our wedding. Whilst weddings are not primarily about the bride, many of us highly regard the bride to be the ‘highlight’ of the wedding. As a result, we encounter the pressure and stress of ensuring that we shine on the day. Often when we commence our wedding preparations, the very first thing we attempt to organise is our wedding dress. This alone can be an extremely difficult task. With an abundance of dresses to choose from, we can often become overwhelmed by the variety available. So, whilst it is a case of trying on the dress and experimenting a little, there are a few simple tips available that can take the edge off this taxing task.
As a general rule, the dress you choose should reflect your personality whilst complimenting your figure. The following should also be considered:
Quality and Workmanship
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Check the workmanship of the dress and ensure that it is of good quality. You don’t want the dress falling apart on the day;
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Sourcing designer dresses from overseas may seem customary, but Australian designers also provide elegant and stunning dresses.
Finding the right dress for your figure
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Make the best of your figure and chose a dress that compliments your shape.
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Full-figured brides should select a dress that skims the body as opposed to hugging it.
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If you’re pear-shaped, then choose an A-line dress to hide the hips and thighs.
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Thin and tall brides should select a dress that accentuates the feminine curves, as opposed to looking thin and straight.
Getting an honest opinion
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Ensure that you bring someone with you who will provide you with an honest opinion.
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Your best friend, maid of honour, mother or anyone else that has known you for a long time will be the best person to offer that constructive advice.
Budget, Budget, Budget!
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Remember that your dress will only be worn once, so if you’re on a tight budget, then don’t overlook the possibility of hiring your dress. You will probably find that you will be able to have that gorgeous dress you dreamt of without the price tag attached.
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Many websites advertise pre-loved wedding dresses for you to purchase. You may also want to have a look at this option.
Skin Tone and tanning
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The shade of your wedding dress should accentuate your skin tone, and not make you look washed out.
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If you plan on tanning for the wedding day, bear in mind that the tone of your skin could alter the colour of the dress.
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Tanning can also remove the eye away from the dress and your groom as the tan becomes extremely noticeable in photos. So if you want to be seen on your wedding day, ensure that you don’t go overboard with the fake tan.
Accessories and the Comfort factor
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Accessories are great, but a good rule of thumb is the fancier the dress, the simpler the jewellery should be.
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If you are wearing large and dramatic earings, then forget the necklace. Instead, try a bracelet.
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If you wish to wear a dramatic necklace, then opt for elegant but less dramatic earings. Bracelets are not recommended if wearing earings and a necklace.
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Consider the length of the dress. Envisage the type of shoes you will wear on the day and determine whether or not you will require dress alterations. You don’t want to be falling on the day.
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If you want minimum fuss on the day, take into account the amount of time it will take you to get into your dress. Dresses with zips are great; you can jump in and get zipped up with minimal fuss. If you don’t mind preparation time, then you might like the look of the lace up back.
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Whilst wearing a veil used to be traditionally part of the wedding attire, today it is strictly optional. If your dress is flamboyant, then you might like to keep it simple and not wear a veil. If you would like to formalise the dress a little, then the veil would be great.
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Wearing gloves may look stunning and accentuate the dress further (Cinderella look), but consider the difficulties you will have when exchanging rings. Often you find that your wedding ring will not fit over the glove.
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Handbags should be small and should match your wedding dress. Ensure that you arrange for someone to hold your handbag during the critical times on your day. You don’t want to be managing a bouquet whilst holding a handbag. Your certainly don’t want to have your handbag in your hand during the wedding photos as it will make your look ‘cluttered’.
Great Hair compliments the dress
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If your dress is simple and elegant, then you might want to have your hair in a dramatic up hair style.
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Alternatively, if your dress is extremely flamboyant, then consider a simple hairstyle. You don’t want to look overdone.
Departing Attire
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If you want to change into another outfit when leaving your reception, ensure that your outfit compliments your wedding dress.
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You want to be remembered as the beautiful and stunning bride, so don’t leave your guest with a last bad impression.
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Wear an outfit that is elegant yet comfortable. This is vital especially if you are travelling straight to your honeymoon venue.
Facing the reality of Facebook September 26, 2008
Posted by Vanessa in Resources.Tags: family, friends, life, love, romance, tradition, wedding dress, Wedding Dresses, weddings
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Facebook is considered to be the social network site of all social network sites. As individuals, we are drawn to the idea of ‘finding’ our friends and ‘catching up’. Many people excitedly join the facebook rage and wait in anticipation as others ‘find’ them and request their friendship. For those who may not have experienced a sense of belonging during their adolescent years, facebook provides that sense of belonging.
Despite the so called positive social networking that occurs on facebook, many of us fail to sit back and explore the concept closely. Firstly, we become immersed in the hype of finding the people that we know, or the people that we once knew. So, in an attempt to satisfy our curiosity, we join facebook. And let’s be real, many of us join facebook not to find our ‘friends’ because we care, but to compare our lives to those of others. It’s a competitive world and we are naturally competitive.
Many of us sit on facebook and continually confirm friends, not because we liked the person or because we were friends with the person, but because it allows our friends list to continually grow. Having a large group of friends is often perceived as being an indicator of popularity or importance, and even into adulthood, this misconception continues.
For those who simply want to use facebook to genuinely catch up with old friends or family, being part of the culture can be extremely painful. You are constantly inundated with strangers who request all sorts of strange things apart from your ‘friendship’. You are poked by others who in the real world would never have the courage to speak to you let alone poke you, and your profile suddenly becomes engulfed by inappropriate comments and discussions that you do not want to be a part of.
Whilst you have the option to limit what you receive, many of these irritating requests and comments continue to flow through. So, what is facebook for? Is it simply a tool to find those long lost friends, or is it a tool in which individuals can adopt new personas and live in a virtual world that holds no boundaries or consequences?
Facebook is not a site whereby people can find one another; rather, it is a site that allows individuals to become someone other than themselves in order to obtain friends. Whilst we can find our friends, facebook does not guarantee safety from the individuals who engage in predatory behaviours in order to seek a sense of belonging.
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The skinny Woman is Wearing Thin. August 24, 2008
Posted by Damon Taylor in Resources, Weight loss.Tags: diet, family, life, love, romance, tradition, wedding, wedding Australia, wedding dress, Wedding Dresses, weddings, Weight loss
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Women in today’s society will submit to the tyranny of slenderness in order to ensure that they are accepted withina culture that gives increasing significance to the images and representations of the ‘ideal’ woman. The image of a woman as being thin, seductive and youthful is one that is not only primarily utilised by mass media, but an image in which the female body is used like other commodities to construct fantasies of possession, power and desire.
Such images stream into our everyday life. Women are faced with such false representations on a daily basis, however despite the knowledge that such images fail to provide a true representation of the real woman, we still strive to shape and modify our bodies in order to conform to what is clearly an impossible ideal.
Getting married is an occasion that often highlights false representations of the ‘real’ woman. Given that we are in the ‘limelight’, we always want to make certain that we look our very best. We live in a world whereby body image is valued and central to being ‘accepted’ in contemporary society. Thus, for many of us, our wedding day can be extremely daunting when faced with the notion of being the centre of attention. We all know that all eyes on the day primarily rests upon the bride, thus, for the brides that feel a little self conscious about their body image, this attention can be extremely intimidating.
There are many groups and agencies that strive to market themselves in providing weight loss services. When organising our wedding, we are often inundated with such services who promise endless ‘secrets’ to weight loss and achieving the ‘perfect’ body. Whilst it may be tempting to embark upon these radical diets, exercise regimes and weight loss pills, loosing weight can be achieved by anyone who adopts simple learning principles.
Firstly, set realistic sights. Nobody can loose all their weight within one or two or even three weeks. Set yourself up for small wins, and remember that a little can go a long way. Psychologists report that overdoing it at the outset will actually punish your efforts, thus making it difficult to maintain your program.
Adopt the principle of shaping, rewarding yourself initially with modest rewards for successive approximations in the direction of your weight loss goals. Start with small steps, perhaps running for shorter distances and gradually increasing the distance. When rewarding yourself, ensure that the reward does not contradict your goals. For instance, rewarding yourself with clothes, or going out to a movie is far better than rewarding yourself with a ‘treat’.
Write down your goals and the program which you will utilise. Specify the amount and intensity of exercise you will do and keep a progress chart. Often when we embark upon a diet and exercise program, we are consumed by the apparent ‘hard work’, and we become blind to our achievements. Documenting your progress allows you to see what you have achieved and to determine any downfalls or areas for improvements that you may not have been aware of. Furthermore, documenting your progress provides you with positive reinforcement in order to ensure that you keep up the efforts.
Ensure that your environment enhances stimulus control. For instance, meeting friends in an area surrounded by fast food restaurants does not allow for stimulus control. Chances are you will be tempted to join your friends for coffee and cake. Instead, arrange to meet at a park where you can catch up whilst walking around. Meeting friends or going places that are likely to occasion healthy responses will make it easier to maintain your program.
Lastly, take advantage of the principles of observational learning. If you have friends or family members who have traits and skills that you admire, then learn from them. If you have a friend that adopts the healthy lifestyle, by observing and emulating their behaviour, you can achieve your goals more efficiently.
Attaining the perfect figure is a difficult task, and lets face it, not all of us will acquire the ‘supermodel’ figure. We are all different and we all have different body types, however by adopting a healthy lifestyle, we can feel good about ourselves and the image we evoke.
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MARRIAGE AND CONTEMPORARY FAMILY August 14, 2008
Posted by Damon Taylor in Politics of Weddings.Tags: family, life, love, tradition, wedding, wedding dress, weddings
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Families are the most controversial social institutions (Gilding 1997). Each of us has connections to a ‘family’. We each have a biological mother and father, and most of us grow up within proximity of one or both of our parents. The idea of the family has connections that are embedded in our cultural, religious and linguistic history. When we speak of the ‘family’, we refer to relationships with what is familiar or well known to us within a household.
Historically, we are born into a culture whereby marriage is considered to be part of the ‘natural’ progression of life. We get married and become part of a ‘nuclear’ family, defined as consisting of two generations of biologically related people, typically a man and woman who marry, maintain a socially approved sexual relationship, and have one or more children (Murdock 1949).
Today however, the idea of the ‘family’ as a monolithic notion has been replaced with the assumption that the structure of families is fluid and changeable. Contemporary families are inclusive of single parent families, blended families, step-families and homosexual families to name a few. To define the concept of the family as consisting of one pattern of attributes leads to controversial discussions pertaining to the ideologies of marriage, divorce, sex and children. The family is no longer a concept that can be contemplated within an essentialist notion, rather the concept of the contemporary family has evolved into a fluid ideology that is constantly shifting and changing throughout society.
Since the 1960s, Australians have seen the concept of the family change rapidly to include gay couples, childless couples and de-facto families. Such changes have not only occurred due to the shifting trends, expectations and norms of society, but have also occurred as a result of wars, economic depressions, changes in the identify of women and the decline in birth rate. Such changes, subsequently led to changes in other concepts such as ‘marriage’.
Since the 1970s, Australians have been rethinking marriage and the ways in which the ‘family’ is managed. More people are delaying marriage or simply opting not to get married and more people are having fewer children. Additional to those who are still making the choice to get married; more people are also getting divorced whilst others are journeying through cycles of marriage, divorce and re-marriage.
While marriage continues to remain popular, more people are opting to remain in de-facto relationship prior to getting married, with many never actually making it down the aisle. Statistics indicate that in 1975 only 15% of people lived together prior to getting married and by the 1960s this had increased to over 60%. Further reports reveal that by 1998, two-thirds of Australians had accepted that de-facto relationships were an alternative rather than a prelude to marriage. These statistics continue to rise, with more people delaying marriage or simply accepting the ideology of the de-facto status to be inclusive of the definition of the ‘family’.
The concept of the family has changed to incorporate the changes that have occurred within society and the attached ideologies. Marriage is no longer considered to be an identity marker that sets precedent for one to be part of a family, rather it has become a formality that excrete other social markers affiliated with status, class and power. To be ‘married’ or to be part of a ‘married’ family indicates stability and normality. Thus, it is easy to see why so many people embark upon marriage in order to gain a sense of belonging, and to be deemed ‘normal’ only to later realise that the marriage is far from normal.
The changes we see within the idea of the family and the concept of marriage will continue to remain fluid and changeable. We live in a society whereby change is inevitable. Whilst the idea of the ‘nuclear’ family remains popular, it is important to understand that modern families are diverse. We will continue to see a variety of ways in which people work individually and collectively. Today’s family incorporates a variety of notions, all of which fit within the definition of the family.
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