A Modern Orange and Blue Wedding
January 23, 2012 | 
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The right color palette can do a lot for your wedding. It can give it style and energy, set a tone and establish a strong theme. The trick is to select wedding colors that feel fresh and original. One hot new style is a modern orange and blue wedding.
Orange and blue are opposite each other on the color wheel, which makes them complementary colors. It is a bold pairing, and each color will make the other pop and appear to be brighter. The result is very aesthetically pleasing, while also being a bit daring. What could be better for your wedding color scheme?
When choosing the particular shades to put together, think about the impression that they give. The orange and blue should also be of a similar intensity. For instance, on a hot summer day, tangerine and aqua blue feel tropical and festive. Peach and robin’s egg blue are soft and feminine for a spring garden wedding. A pure orange and a navy blue are bold and modern, perfect for a confident bride with a contemporary style. Any combination of orange and blue is going to feel updated and fresh.
Once you have narrowed down which shades of orange and blue are best, it is time to start using them. The wedding invitations are always a good place to introduce a color scheme. The peach and robin’s egg blue would be lovely on old-fashioned letterpress invitations. Choose a soft pink paper with a vintage inspired design like a bird or a drawing of flowering branches done in the light blue. The bold orange and navy would look amazing for white invitations accented with a graphic border in a modern damask pattern. Cheerful polka dots would be a great use of summery tangerine and aqua.
Orange is a very versatile color for wedding flowers. From bouquets, to centerpieces, to accent pieces, you will find all sorts of gorgeous orange blossoms to include. Blue, on the other hand, is not a widely available color for flowers, so plan to use it as an accent. Tie up a bouquet of bright orange gerbera daisies with a navy blue and white striped wrap. Or display soft ruffly apricot sweet peas in vintage robin’s egg blue pitchers and footed vases. For a unique take on the tangerine and aqua palette, fill the bottoms of clear vases with bright aqua blue crystals or marbles, then top with festive flowers in shades of tangerine.
The bridesmaids’ attire is another place that you will surely want to use your wedding colors. Tread lightly with orange bridesmaid dresses. They can look absolutely fantastic, or you can end up with a row of (very grumpy!) bridesmaids looking like Halloween pumpkins. Peach is flattering on a range of skin tones, but the bolder oranges shades can be difficult to pull off. They will tend to work best on brides with deeper skin tones. In many cases, pulling the blue into the bridesmaids’ dresses is the best way to go, especially considering that they will be carrying orange bouquets. This will allow the dresses and bouquets to pop against one another. For the bridesmaid jewelry sets, you can either have pieces custom made in crystals in your wedding colors, or choose neutral sets of bridesmaid jewelry. White pearls look nice against the bold orange and navy; simply silver bridesmaid jewelry looks great with the summery aqua and tangerine palette.
Once you have designed your wedding flowers and bridal party attire, you can think about the rest of the wedding. Your blue and orange color palette will look great carried into the table linens, favors, and even into chandeliers. Have fun designing a wedding in blue and orange that is modern, chic, and a true original.
Selling Gold Jewelry Tips – Tips to Get the Most Money For Your Gold
When I first started looking for selling gold jewelry tips, I came across a lot of confusing information, and quite frankly, I found a lot of garbage out there. My goal is to help you identify the resources that will help you get the most money for your gold jewelry if you are deciding to sell your jewelry for extra cash during these very difficult economic times. These are not tips to help you get the most money if you are looking to pawn your precious items. These tips will help you navigate some of the different options that you have when looking for the best place to sell your gold.
Tip Number 1
Think twice before selling your unwanted gold to pawn shops. Why, because this type of gold buyer is simply a middle-man that is making a profit off of your gold. The pawn shop will make the lowest offer possible for your gold so his profits will be maximized when the gold is resold to a refinery. I have absolutely nothing against pawn shops. Finding great buys in local pawn shops has been a hobby of mine for many years. If you want to find a great used home theater system, bicycle or lawnmower, go to a pawn shop and I am most certain that you will find a great buy for items like these. But if you are wanting to sell your gold and actually make a real profit, consider other options before selling your gold items to a pawn shop.
Tip Number 2
Hesitate before you run to your local jeweler to sell your unwanted gold. If you have a very nice piece of gold jewelry that is well made and has a lot of value as being a crafted piece of precious metal, then a jewelry store may be your best option. But if you have broken gold earrings or unwanted various gold items, local jewelry stores simply have no real interest in re-selling those types items. They may be willing to buy your scrap gold, but they are just not going to offer you very much money.
Tip Number 3
Think about finding an online gold buyer. If you have not heard of this type of gold buyer, let me fill you in on how they work. Typically you will navigate to their website where you will enter your information to receive a free mailing kit so you can send them your unwanted gold by mail. The different online gold buyers call it different things and describe it in different ways, but they basically offer the same service. Their overheads are low and many of them actually don’t advertise a whole lot. Since their advertising costs and other overheads are low, they typically offer a higher cash payout for your gold than pawn shops or jewelry stores. Yep, it’s as simple as that.
Chalkware – A Fun Vintage Collectible With an Interesting Past
Chalkware is a type of decorative accessory including wall plaques, lamps, figurines, statues, piggy banks and more that has enjoyed popularity for many years. Although the name “chalkware” implies that these pieces are made of chalk, they are actually made from plaster. To create chalkware pieces, the plaster is first poured into molds, then after it hardens is painted with watercolors or oil paints. Usually found in vibrant colors and unique designs, these collectible pieces have an interesting history that adds to their charm.
Late in the 18th century chalkware appeared in America as a less expensive alternatively to the popular Staffordshire ceramic figurines of the day. Plaster copies were created based on the designs of the more expensive ceramic figurines in order to make them more affordable to the average person.
Probably the most well known and most often collected style of chalkware is carnival chalkware. It’s name comes from the fact that these pieces were given out as carnival prizes during the early to mid 1900′s. Although these pieces come in many different styles, some of the most popular and most collectible pieces were based on pop culture icons and characters of the time period.
Plaster is quite fragile and many chalkware pieces have been broken or discarded over the years. With a little bit of searching, though, it is possible to find unique vintage chalkware pieces in good condition. These items are gaining popularity with collectors and can make for an interesting display when grouped together. Whether hung on the wall or displayed on a shelf, chalkware is a great way to add a retro feeling to your decor.
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Tags: Chalkware, Collectible, Interesting, Vintage | 
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Vintage Halloween Decorations – Hard Plastic Halloween Decorations and Toys
One of the most popular categories of collectible vintage Halloween decorations is the hard plastic decorations and toys that were manufactured from the 1940s and onwards. It’s primarily the vintage plastic items that are of interest to collectors, so you will mostly want to take a look at products made in the Forties and Fifties, but some later finds from the Sixties and beyond are certainly interesting as well if you want to put together a fun and whimsical collection.
Some of the brand names to take note of are Irwin, Knickerbocker, Rosen, Rosbro and Union Products, but they aren’t even close to being the only companies making polystyrene and celluloid plastic novelty items for Halloween. They are just some of the most well known companies and therefore quite collectible.
Examples of some of the vintage hard plastic Halloween decorations include items like blow mold pieces in various shapes – Jack O’Lanterns, witches, and black cats are popular (and frequently together in a single piece) and many of the Halloween blow molds light up, glowing orange, especially Jack O’Lanterns, of course, but there are all kinds of shapes that are turned into lanterns as well.
But it isn’t just the larger blow mold pieces that are popular. You’ll also find lots of smaller items in hard plastic that are fun to collect. Look for party decorations such as cake picks, cake toppers and other small decorative pieces made to decorate cakes and cupcakes and other Halloween treats. You can also find Halloween drink stirrers for more adult parties too.
Also, keep on the lookout for hard plastic candy containers. In addition to the large ones designed for kids to take out trick or treating (the large Jack O’Lanterns with straps), there are lots of small candy containers designed for the table. You could arrange a whole collection of them on a shelf together.
In addition to items that are meant to be decorations, there are also lots of hard plastic Halloween toys. You can find lots of little roller toys that are in good condition, so if you’re looking for a witch on roller skates you’ll be sure to find her. Or maybe you want a ghost that pops out of a Jack O’Lantern to scare you.
Vintage Lingerie – How to Get The Pin Up Look!
Vintage lingerie is all about glamour, cabaret and striptease. To get that vintage look there are 5 main elements you have to consider when dressing (or undressing) to impress.
1) Fake an hourglass figure
The main feature of the vintage look is the all important hourglass. Don’t worry if you are more boyish or apple figured there are clever ways to cheat that perfect hourglass. Channel your inner Marilyn Monroe and create the illusion of a narrow waist and balanced hips and bust. To create this look without a corset is quite simple with the entire range of tummy taming knickers available on the market. The best way to achieve this look is to couple a push up bra with some high waisted briefs that have tummy taming properties, sucking in your stomach and making your buttocks appear rounder and full.
2) Accessorise!
The key factor in retro clothing is to accessorise. The underwear should be just as glamorous as your outerwear. So that means full sets of matching bra’s and knickers or bustier and knicker complete with suspender belts and stockings A full lingerie set will increase your confidence if you know you look great under your clothes and of course the pin up girl look was created to make actresses appear slimmer so it really is the perfect look for you no matter your figure.
3) The All Important Corset
Every girl needs a good corset for special occasions, the perfect corset really does suit everyone especially larger women because it pulls in the waist, flattens the tummy, accentuates the breasts and is very flattering, Of course when you look good, you feel good and that is the most important thing. The only dilemma is what style to choose, there are so many colours to choose from and of course there is the option of sexy or pretty of course depending on your mood. A great corset will stand the test of time and is definitely a great investment.
4) The bullet bra
The bullet bra was a staple of the 60′s. Madonna famously wore one of these in her video for ‘like a virgin’ however the bras were famous long before this in the 40s especially amongst screen actresses. The sales of bullet bras are up since last year with the style making a renaissance. The bullet bras were originally invented for women with larger busts to provide proper support and reduce sweating under the breast; the bras are much more comfortable now however and have been seen on the catwalks especially featuring in the new fetish trend.
5) How to complete the look
Okay so now you have the perfect hourglass figure. You have enhanced your bust size, nipped that waist and created curves you never knew existed. You have accessorised your look with the perfect stockings and suspenders and of course are wearing a matching set! You now need to complete the look and that means a pair of false eyelashes and a generous lashing of red lipstick. And pin up glamour here you come for that special occasion.
Fun Wedding Reception Games
We’ve all been to receptions that are basic – we welcome and celebrate with the new married couple, watch them dance, and enjoy cake with them. But creative couples often enjoy coming up with fun wedding reception games that include the entire guest list.
Including the guests is an excellent way to get people out of their chairs, meeting people they might not otherwise know and feeling like they are truly a part of the celebration, not just observers.
One fun reception game that can be played by all your guests, including grandma as well as the young children as well, is “want it now”.
In this game, you designate a master of ceremonies (if you have a DJ for your wedding reception, this person can serve as the DJ). The master of ceremonies will have a list of “wants” prepared before the wedding reception. Everyone sits at their tables, and waits to hear the command. The master of ceremonies says he wants a person with painted finger nails. All the women with painted finger nails run to the front of the room, toward the master of ceremonies. Each time a table sends someone to the front first, they get a point.
Points should be totaled during the course of this game and prizes awarded at the end of the game. Be sure to have some obvious “wants”, as is the painted finger nails, or a man brown hair or a child with a white dress. But also include some surprises, like “a man with a brown dress” which will require a man to find a woman at his table with the brown dress and run up to the front of the room with that.
Another fun wedding reception game that includes all your guests is musical chairs using men as the chairs. All the men line up and kneel on one knee. The women begin playing the game of musical chairs, but when the music stops, they must find a knee to sit on. No “chairs” are removed during the version of the game, but instead people are eliminated when either the man falls down when the woman finds his knee or when the woman falls down. Both are out either way, and if both fall down, they are also both out then (as well as perhaps a bit bruised). This is a fun wedding reception game that often brings on lots of laughter and adds to a relaxed reception atmosphere.
If many guests are traveling a good distance to the wedding or don’t know many other guests, it’s always fun to include a game that will allow them to now only get to know each other but the bride and groom as well. For this game, you’ll need a master of ceremonies again, which can be a very outgoing member of the wedding party or the DJ. The reception guests are broken into two groups, which can be as simple as having people count off “1, 2, 1, 2″ and so on until the entire guest list is either a “1″ or a “2″. Then the two groups band together for the rest of the game.
The DJ, or master of ceremonies, offers a series of questions relating to the bride and groom. The teams will work together to answer the questions, then as quickly as possible provide the answer. The bride and groom will confirm if the answer is correct or not. This is an excellent way for otherwise “stranger” guests to get to know one another and have some fun in the process. It’s also an excellent way to get to know the bride and groom!
Organizing fun wedding reception game at a wedding reception is a great way to get people involved and make them feel they are truly a part of the grand celebration. It’s also a way to fill time, if the wedding planners know this isn’t a “dancing” group or if you want to loosen people up for a long night of celebrating. Whether a small or large wedding, fun reception games work for just about any group.
In addition, don’t assume wedding reception guests will be offended or upset by these fun wedding reception games. Most people tell wedding planners they truly enjoy being more active and having fun wedding reception games to play during a wedding reception.
5 Simple Gift Ideas For Women Who Have Everything
It’s no surprise when a woman is presented with a gift, and with an unmoved, sometimes even shocked, expression says, “Oh, you really should not have.” It’s no surprise to her; she probably already has the perfumes and purses, the jewelry and the numerous dresses to match and every shade of every season’s collection of make-up products.
Let’s face it, some women just have everything. They have everything they need and bundles of stuff that they really have no use for but it either shimmered beautifully in the sun or the house needed lamps in every colour and style so the colours can coordinate with the drapes and the style would suit the appropriate occasion.
Yes indeed, some women just have everything imaginable, and that makes gift giving a terribly problematical, even monotonous task since most people eventually conclude, after butting their heads against a wall for days on end, that it is just safer to buy a gift that would not mortify her or give the wrong impression. There are some brave souls who have tried to venture into the unique and unknown depths of gift giving. The results varied, but it remains a hit and miss situation.
But here are 5 simple gift ideas for those women in your life who have everything. And these gift ideas will hit the mark every time. The key thing to remember is the relationship you share with the woman you intend to purchase a special, unique or original gift for. After all you would not want to show up at your mother’s house and present her with a box of edible undies.
1. Any woman would appreciate a unique gift or a gift of sentimental value for her home. This does not include a Blender with a bow on it. Antiques and paintings are great gifts, since a woman will always find some use for it at some point in time. And if you want to make a simple antique all the more special, there is always the option of adding your personal touch to it. Adding something of your own to any gift strengthens the old adage, ‘it’s the thought that counts’. Flowers in an antique vase or a beautiful centerpiece for an antique table are great personal touches.
2. While antiques are great as art displays and may even be functional around the house, the gift giver can make gift giving more personal by choosing collectibles. collectibles such as crystals glassware and ornaments make wonderful gifts for women who have everything since no one can have too many collectibles. Again, consider the woman in question, since many women have interests various types of collectibles. Some women collect vintage dolls, precious gems and rare literature or knick-knacks. You are sure to impress any woman, mother, sister, wife or girlfriend, by presenting them with something that they value.
3. Though these are common placed, gift certificates are especially pleasing gift ideas for any woman. If the woman in question loves to shop or would like nothing better than a day at a Spa, then head out and get the woman who has everything, something that will put a smile on her face simply because women love to pamper themselves, and love it even more when they are pampered by others. The best part about a gift like this is that the present can be used in the future, and even on regular, everyday days the woman can pamper herself on a whim.
4. There is always the option to go wacky. It sounds strange, but you’d be surprised at how her eyes can light up while the room fills with her laughter at the sight of something unexpectedly goofy. Everyone was a kid at one time, and the Holidays and special occasions may just be the right time to remind ‘the woman who has everything’ of that. Bring out the kid in her by bringing back some special memories or creating new ones. A word of caution; don’t be ridiculously-off the wall-wacky with your choice of fun gift. You want her eyes to light up and her laughter to fill the room, but you don’t want the bright look in her eyes to be from shock and you certainly don’t want to warrant nervous laughter which can mean anything from, “The Cops can be here in five minutes” to “What’s this supposed to mean?” It’s all about finding the right strokes for different folks. Wacky gift ideas are endless, for instance, a Disco Ball that can make any room a fun room, or a funny paperweight for her desk, or even clothes that has a funny message printed on it that may be playfully teasing.
5. This next idea can be summed up in two words; gift baskets. These can be as personal or as casual as you want them to be. For the Holidays, gift baskets of fruit, potpourri, scented candles or even decorative soaps can make great gifts. Sure she may already have some of these things, but the good news is that these are also perishable items in that they will be spent at some point. Think of it as replenishing her stock. For other special occasions, or for a woman who is truly special to you, you can customize the gift basket by filling it with a bit of many things she likes. For example, a basket with her favorite chocolates or wines coupled with a gift certificate for a spa or dinner at her favorite restaurant. But rest assured, gift baskets are the perfect gift for women who have everything, no matter what you choose to fill the basket with. After all, who would not want to receive a basket fill of goodies?
Collecting Vintage Desk Ink Blotters
Back in the days when everyone used quill pens and fountain pens the one thing that could be found on every office or writing desk was an ink blotter. Ink blotters were usually made of a soft absorbent paper formed into a card and were used to dry up excess ink.
With the invention of ballpoint pen in the 1950s, ink blotters disappeared from the average office desk. Today, these vintage blotters, made in the 1930s and 1940s, are very highly prized and sought after collectibles. Ink Blotters were a very popular from of advertising that were often given away by fountain pen manufacturers, banks, merchants and especially Insurance Companies. Antique Ink blotters were as common as business cards are today.
Written references to ink blotting paper in America have been found beginning in the late 1700s. It was not until the 1850s that blotting paper came into common use in America, when Joseph Parker and Son started manufacturing blotting paper. In the late 1800s, a patent was issued for improved blotting paper which featured a smooth surface on one side and a blotting surface on the other.
Rocker blotters were an important piece of desk equipment from the late 1880s until the 1950s. This type of blotter had a handle 2 to 5 inches long and a rounded surface 2 to 3 inches wide where the blotting paper was attached. Some of these rocker blotters were very ornate and made of wood, glass, silver or brass and are also sought after by collectors.
Why not start a collection of vintage ink blotter today from your home town or state. You can find them at local antique stores and flea markets but the one and only place to find a large selection of vintage advertising ink blotters is eBay.
To display your ink blotter collection use archival, acid free 3 pocket protective pages that are used by currency or dollar bill collectors. Then store the pages in a three ring binder and lay the binder flat rather than upright. 3 pocket protective pages can be purchased at your local coin shop, on line or on eBay. The art work on some ink blotters are very beautiful and ornate. Take 2 or 3 and have them matted and framed.
Old Fashion Buttermilk Brownies With Frosting
Sometimes the best new recipes are the ones we pull from the past. Such is the case with these delicious old fashion Buttermilk Brownies with a Buttermilk Chocolate Frosting from my old recipe collection. Make these for a family treat, take them to family reunions, office pitch-ins, church potlucks, where ever you share them, you are sure to get rave reviews. Make them for your special someone just to let them know how much you care! This is another old recipe from my midwestern days!
BUTTERMILK BROWNIES
1 stick oleo
1 cup water
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup canola oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a small heavy-duty saucepan, blend together the oleo, water, cocoa, and oil. Bring to a boil, stir until oleo is melted and ingredients are blended. Remove from heat and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, salt and soda. Pour the boiled mixture over the flour mixture and stir to blend. Stir in the vanilla, buttermilk, and eggs. Stir until the mixture is well blended. Pour into a greased 17 x 11-inch baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes until done. Frost with the following Chocolate Buttermilk Frosting.
CHOCOLATE BUTTERMILK FROSTING
1 stick oleo
1/2 cup cocoa
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 lb powdered sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp vanilla
In a small saucepan bring the oleo, cocoa, and buttermilk to a boil. Remove from the heat and beat in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and nuts. Pour over the brownies while they are still warm.
Enjoy!
Vintage Messenger Bags
For those people who want to stand out in the crowd that seemingly all have identical messenger bags, carrying vintage messenger bags instead can be a great way to preserve the amazing usability of the bags, but add a sense of rarity and exclusivity that’s difficult to get with newer bags these days.
In just a few short years, it seems like everyone has moved from the backpack to a messenger bag. Probably it’s the great convenience and the unspoken fact that they are the male equivalent of very useful woman’s purses. Unfortunately, for the modern guy who likes to stand out, carrying a messenger bag runs the risk of letting you blend in with the crowd.
You can find your own vintage messenger bag that no one else will have in several ways. Perhaps the easiest is to check eBay where people are constantly selling great older bags that they have found in closets. The price here may be more than you want to pay since a lot of people are searching hard for the best bag!
If you are willing to do a bit of legwork, you can check used clothing stores and second hand stores in your area and will probably find one for a great price. An army or navy surplus store is also a great choice and the military style can be very appealing. Finally, it’s worth asking your parents if they have an older bag from their younger days: this way you’ll get a free bag with a bit of family history and a great story to it!