Mexican Fancy Dress For Women - 3 Costume Ideas For All You Budding Senoritas Out There

At Wild West themed parties, a good alternative to Cowboy and Indian costumes are the wide range of Mexican fancy dress outfits that are currently available. In particular Mexican outfits for women are becoming more and more popular.

Depending on the type of character you wish to portray at the party, there are all different types of ladies Mexican fancy dress costumes to choose from. Below are my personal favourite costume ideas for all you budding senoritas out there.

Idea 1: Classic Mexican outfit

The classic Mexican outfit for ladies usually consists of a suede crop top and skirt, a neck bandana and of course a big sombrero. Depending on how authentic you wish your outfit to be, you may want to consider purchasing some brown Western boots, which really will add that little extra something to your costume.

If you decide that you want to play at being a female Mexican bandit, then you will also need to get some extra accessories to help transform your costume. I recommend getting both a pair of holstered toy guns and a fake bullet belt, to be worn over the shoulder.

Idea 2: Novelty sexy shooter

If you are looking more for a fun type of outfit rather than a realistic looking one, then a great novelty take on Mexican fancy dress for women has got to be the sexy shooter type of costume. These tequila girl costumes usually consist of a mini dress, sometimes in the Mexican colours, and a belt with a bottle holder and some glass holder loops with shot glasses in them.

A woman in a mini dress with booze is always going to go down well at any party, but make sure you have a sombrero and Wild West style boots to help complete the look.

Idea 3: Sultry senorita costume

Perhaps, instead of a novelty outfit, you would prefer to go to the party in a more sophisticated looking costume. The sultry senorita look usually consists of a halter lace dress with a lace shawl and is far more suitable for the mature ladies amongst you, who may wish to appear more elegant than downright sexy.

This is my personal favourite type of Mexican fancy dress for women. Remember that there are some great little finishing touches that you can add to complete this outfit, including large black false eyelashes and a black lace fan, to cool you down at the party.

BONUS Idea: Instead of searching around various different websites looking for the types of Mexican fancy dress for women currently available, why not save time and money and go to a specialist resource?

The Mexican Fancy Dress section of Fancy Dress UK reviews a range of mexican outfits, including sexy novelty costumes and elegant looking Senorita dresses.

A Word Or Two About The Author

Dan Fresh is a lifelong fancy dress aficionado who regularly writes for the popular UK Fancy Dress website.

Hosting a Co-Ed Wedding Shower

In recent years, there's been a trend to host showers including men and women, to honor both the bride and the groom. Beverly Clark, in her book, Showers offers numerous suggestions for a co-ed wedding shower. If this type of shower appeals to you, this article will list numerous suggestions to host a great party. Also it's a good idea to coordinate the event with the best man or maid of honor.

Food and Drinks

An outdoor barbecue is something that would appeal to both men and women. Hot dogs, hamburgers, beef brisket, potato salad, cole slaw, and baked beans are the usual dishes served at a barbecue. For dessert, why not have banana pudding rather than a cake or pie? Also be sure to have plenty of tea, lemonade, wine, and beer on hand.

This type of wedding shower will obviously be a rather large party, and I see nothing wrong with the hosts asking the guests to help provide food for everybody. Each person can bring a dish, rather like a potluck dinner.

Shower Themes

1) Honeymoon Shower. Find out where the bride and groom plan to take their honeymoon and plan your co-ed party with that destination in mind. You can have decorations significant to that country or state, such as a flag, pictures, etc. You could serve ethnic food and play ethnic music. Have your guests bring gifts that will help the couple on their honeymoon, such as luggage, a camera, film, guidebooks, foreign language book, travel grooming kit, first aid kit, foreign currency traveler's checks, and perhaps several people could pitch in and buy a video camera for the bride and groom.

2) Entertaining Shower. This type of shower is geared towards giving the couple items they will need to entertain others in their home. If you are planning a barbecue, how about asking guest to pitch in and buy the couple their own barbecue grill? Other guests could bring tools and utensils necessary for a barbecue. Other gift ideas include bar glasses, wine glasses, wine rack, decanters, electric warming tray, fondue pot, serving trays, ice bucket with tongs, relish dishes, bottle corkscrew, cocktail pitcher, and chips and dip set.

3) Hobby Shower. This is another good theme for a co-ed shower and also for a second-time bride or groom, who already have their home(s) well-stocked with the essentials. Find out what hobbies the bride and groom enjoy and have guests bring gifts specific to those hobbies. A few examples for the groom include fishing rod and tackle, golfing equipment, bowling essentials, tickets to a sports event, etc. Ideas for the bride include scrapbooking supplies, sewing items, gardening accessories, and tickets to a play or concert. If the bride and groom have hobbies in common, such as biking, canoeing, hiking, or skiing, ask your guests to bring gifts that reflect these shared interests.

Whichever theme you choose for your shower, including the groom in the festivites is a wonderful way to celebrate the couple.

Mary Arnold is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com/ which is a site for Wedding Invitations.

Book - Starting Your Career As an Interior Designer

The authors cover lots of material for future interior designers who want to own their own business. The last chapter (11th) is about client management, so they are expecting the reader to move forward. If you want to know what the business is like, intern or work for free for an interior designer. If you are really ready to move forward, this book is a great resource for you. They are very upfront at the beginning of the book. They want the book to serve as a mentor. Many times when you are starting out in any field it's hard to get a real person mentor. This book has enough balance to hold you over until you get your own mentor.

By starting with some basic history of the industry in chapter one, you are sure to get a well rounded view of what it takes to be an interior designer today. I Love page 23: Why is being real so important? It's because in this industry, there are so many who aren't. Believe us: Failing to keep your feet on the ground can result in tragedy right out of the gate.

That's pretty in-your-face for Interior designers! They cover residential as well as retail, giving the reader solutions to real life situations they will encounter. The defining your dream model is not to be missed because it gives you business models to choose from. Experts always say copy a successful business model and people never know where to look to find one. Each case study in the book relates to what the chapter is talking about so you can see the examples in action. I hate case studies that are just someones story at the end of a chapter. Many times you can just read it and say SO WHAT?

The authors are honest yet encouraging. They clearly love their industry and what they do. They do not sugar coat their industry and tell the reader exactly what they need to know. The nine rules of client engagement are good for EVERY business! They also tell you to kiss the bums good-bye! We all have the client we think we can turn around, don't we? I was impressed on the segment of how to improve your game after year 1. They are serious about your success as an interior designer!

This book is an L.A. 9!

Dr. Letitia S. Wright, D.C. is the host of the Wright Place TV Show, now in it's 10th year on the cable television. The show has strategies and tips for business owners and can be seen online at http://www.wrightplacetv.com Grab your free audio and learn how to get publicity for your business.

Easy Holiday Party Planning Ideas For You

The Holidays are extra special because of all the parties and festivities. They can be as lavish or as simple as you want. While hosting a party at a fancy venue is always nice, a holiday party hosted in your home can be equally wonderful. Parties held in the home have a warm and cozy feeling and socializing is much more enjoyable.

Most holiday parties are held in the evening but they don't have to be. If you find your, as well as your friends and neighbors, evenings are already filled with special events, why not host a brunch, lunch or an early cocktail party. You can enjoy time with your family and friends and still enjoy the many evening holiday events already scheduled.

Your guest list should be well thought out. Do all the people have something in common so that conversation will be easy for everyone? If you plan on inviting couples, will there be an odd-man-out? Are your guests all women or men? Try and invite everyone at the same time so no one feels as if they were a last minute thought.

Food is a very important to a party. The easiest food to serve is finger food. It should be easily handled and not messy or sticky. The food you choose to serve should complement each other. The food table should be decorated in accordance to any theme you may be using and the food attractively arranged.

When preparing for your party, use any help you can. Using a caterer can take much of the stress of party planning off your shoulders. If you are preparing the food yourself, use any prepared items such as prepackaged salads or items from you local grocery store delicatessen.

Of course, you party would be less than perfect if you didn't have any decorations. Most holidays have themes that make decorating easy. Besides the typical decorations, be sure to add candles for ambiance and items that add sparkle to the occasion.

Music always adds something special to an occasion. Have your favorite holiday music playing softly in the background. If you or any of your guests play an instrument or sing, you may want to set aside a time for a performance for your other guests.

For drinks, try serving one specialty drink instead of providing a full bar. Offering wine, sodas and water and one alcoholic specialty drink will provide everyone with a beverage they can enjoy.

As the evening gets late, you may wish to put the alcoholic beverages away and offer coffee and some light snacks. Not only does this help your guests from over indulging in alcohol but also indicates the party is coming to an end. If any of your guests are unable to drive themselves home safely, it is your responsibility to make transportation arrangements for them.

Holiday parties should be filled with fun and laughter. Offering a great smile the minute your guests arrive at your door and providing a generous amount food and drink will provide a great start to your holiday party. Add stimulating conversation, festive decor and your genuine happiness that your guests are there to celebrate the holiday with you and you are guaranteed a successful party.

Next discover more detailed holiday party planning information for making your party the most successful and fun ever at http://www.idealpartyplanning.com.

How To Host A Great Halloween Party For Adults

Halloween parties for adults can include a wide variety of events. It may take some time to put together a theme that can keep the entire guest list entertained, but it really can be worth the effort. Costume parties are a huge hit with adults; you can have the guests wear masks during the night to keep the party even more interesting.

Below is a list of things that a Halloween party should include to be considered a successful one.

Music - You can not have a Halloween party without party music. It needs to be upbeat and energetic with a wide variety of artist to choose from. This defiantly includes a lot of Halloween songs, both creepy and funny. No one wants to be at a slow boring party.

Adult games - This doesn't have to be anything dramatic, just something to help keep everyone involved. Parties held in places that have a pool table are most enjoyable, as this game always keeps an interesting conversation going on. Throwing darts is very entertaining for many adults. Karaoke, strength games and skill contest are also very popular.

Best overall costume - You can't have a Halloween party without having a costume judging. Although to keep everybody happy the party should probably have two contests with separate categories. One contest would be for the goriest costume around to appeal to the guests that love to show off their favorite scary costume. The other contest would be for the guests that prefer to stay away from the gruesome and bloody costumes. Both contests should be judged on their originality and design.

Refreshments - A great Halloween party for adults includes a large assortment of refreshments. This would include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Having bartenders to provide this service is important to help keep things simple and keep the guest happy.

Decorations - Going to a party with well crafted decorations is lots of fun. These help to keep you in the Halloween sprit throughout the entire party.

Accommodations - Some of the most successful adult Halloween parties ever held took place where the accommodations allowed you to have at least two separate main areas. One where your guest can party and make all the noise they feel like. The other main area would be where anyone can share a drink and hold a conversation if so desired.

Nicola always enjoys Halloween parties with her friends. Visit her Halloween site for tips and information about Halloween Costumes for Couples at http://Couples-Halloween-Costumes.Best-Halloween.com

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Best-Halloween.com

Golf Tournament Promotional Products - A Hole in One!

Golf tournaments are popular for several reasons. They bring people together to enjoy a common pastime. Many times they are held to raise money for charity. Corporations host tournaments to have their employees, partners, and clients meet and enjoy a fun activity. A little exercise, a warm day on the course, and camaraderie with fellow golf lovers are all benefits of hosting a tournament. And these occasions are really looked forward to hence, why many become annual events.

Along with the fun of playing in a tournament, these events are the perfect opportunity for companies to promote their names, their businesses, and their products and services. How? Promotional items are a huge part of golf tournaments. Sure, you have seen or heard of people receiving the basics in promo items like golf balls, tees, or golf shirts. Other products though are available to add your corporate logo to and are perfect to hand out at a tournament. Here are a few suggestions: an eco golf kit, a golfer clip on watch, and a golf towel.

A hot item in golf tournaments is the giveaway bag filled with lots of fun and exciting items that are handed out to each golfer. The giveaway bag is another fantastic way to get your company's name and logo in front of the faces of the tournament participants. And rest assured that when the event is long over, the items in your giveaway bags will still be in use and your name will still be noticed by the recipients.

The giveaway bags can contain more golf-oriented items like balls and tees, but there's no limit as to what you can add in here. Start off with a great bag like a large Monterey pouch and just add some great items to it. Here are a few ideas that we like for your giveaway bags: mints in a tin, a 16.9 ounce bottle of spring water, a screen printed cotton twill visor, a tournament jacket, a dazzler pen, a wind buster golf umbrella, an 8x10 wood frame (for that hole-in-one photo shot), and a mini aluminum LED flashlight.

Again, there are many other terrific items to add to the bag. You can pick and choose which items fit best within your budget, your corporate image, or even just on what you think would be the most widely accepted by those participating in the golf tournament. One of the benefits of handing out a giveaway bag of goodies at this type of event is that the items will be appreciated by your recipients long after they have walked off the course. And your corporate name and company services will be long remembered.

Gimmees.com, an online portal that offers all kind of promotional products and items including golf balls, golfer clip on watch, golf towel, eco golf kits, and many more. Visit the site now to find all products and items.

Body Butter Lotion Favors

As a party planner I love to give party favors. As a woman I love to give beauty favors when I am hosting or planning a 'girl' party such as a bridal shower or baby shower. And the guests are always so appreciative - it is something that they enjoy using and, perhaps most importantly, will use! (how many party favors are left at a party or discarded once brought home?  More than you can imagine).

Body butter lotion favors are always a huge hit. Just the term 'butter' connotes rich, decadent moisturizing power. And what woman doesn't want to drench their skin in something like that? 

However, keep these few things in mind when purchasing body butter favors:

It's all about the ingredients:

You want to ensure that the lotion favor you are giving your guests are made from natural and skin pampering ingredients - not chemicals or watered down. Look for an ingredient list and make sure the first ingredients listed are such things as shea butter, jojaba oil, almond oil, vegetal glycerin, and the like. 

Choose a pleasing scent:

One of the major appeals of body butter is that it is usually nicely scented. So not only does it feel good to use it, but it leaves your skin softly fragrant.   Try to choose a scent that would appeal to all your guests. This usually means a fresh scent such linen, zen tea, or ocean breeze. Or a light floral such as rose, jasmine or gardenia. Delicious smelling scents such as vanilla or pina colada are usually big hits too.

Personalized the gift, if possible:

Personalized labels on the lotion jars or containers are perfect. However, if that isn't an option you can put the favor in a small favor bag (organza is nice for this) and attached a homemade gift tag to it.

This is one favor that your guests will love to receive!

Diva Entertains, Copyright 2009

Deb Rosenberg is a party planner and loves the rich, decadent body butter lotion favor offered at DivaEntertains.com

Women in History - Making a Mark in Industry

The contributions women have made throughout history are many as they are varied. Celebrating women's history month involves celebrating remarkable women such as Roxanne Wilson, Twanda Joseph, Dr. Leslie Dauphin, Chip Hurd, and Joy Enriquez all of whom excel while maintaining various roles in business, science, television, and music.

BUSINES BRIEF

Among other characteristics, Roxanne Wilson is described by Donald Trump as "very, very smart," brilliant, a good speaker, and very impressive. Wilson was the first African American woman to make it to the final four during season five of NBC's, The Apprentice.

Intelligence, ambition, and congeniality are traits that enabled Wilson to secure a spot on the show. Along with the ability to lead and counsel, these same traits contribute to Wilson's success as an appellate attorney, business owner, television host, speaker, and author.

Wilson is proof that perseverance pays. "If you never try, you won't ever fail, but you won't succeed either," she advises.

As an author, speaker, trainer, and talk show host, Twanda Joseph is positioned to transform the workplace in a meaningful and creative way. A former Arthur Andersen employee, Joseph's career took a drastic turn when the firm was indicted for its involvement in the Enron accounting scandal. Even though the Andersen scandal cast a shadow on her career, Joseph chose to turn tragedy into triumph. In 2002, Joseph formed WiseEffects to address challenges employees face in corporate America.

WiseEffects is a professional services firm whose mission is to "use multiple communication channels to connect employees with wisdom for the workplace."

In addition to hosting radio and television broadcasts, Joseph serves as a facilitator for seminars on diversity, change management, conflict resolution, and communication.

SCIENCTIFIC

Dr. Leslie Ann Dauphin is a scientist, lecturer, and public speaker. Dauphin is also a columnist for a number of notable publications and the author of The Germ Handbook--a self-help guide to avoiding infectious diseases.

Since 2002, Dauphin has served as a microbiologist for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Her research contributions to public health have been presented and published at scientific conferences in the U.S. and abroad.

Dauphin is a native of Detroit, Michigan, a wife, and mother. She is lauded for her service in the U.S. Army as well as her role as a teacher and mentor of youth and young adults.

TEL-HER-VISION

Chip Hurd is known best for portraying Penny Gordon's mother on the 70's sitcom, Good Times. She is also the mother of daughters, Kim and Alexis Fields.

An accomplished actress, Hurd has more than 10 years of experience on stage, in film and television. Among her credits, Hurd has directed sitcoms, All of Us, Girlfriends, Hanging with Mr. Cooper, Hannah Montana, Living Single, One on One, and The Parkers. Her current role entails being a dialogue coach for comedians, athletes, recording artists and other entertainers.

To date, Hurd's most fulfilling role is serving as senior director for Inspired By Media Group's breakthrough audio production, The Bible Experience. Hurd describes the role as "one of the most extraordinary blessings God has bestowed upon [her]."

MUSIC MINISTRY

Recording artist and founder of Joyful Child Records, Joy Enriquez is an entertainment industry veteran. Debuting at age 15 on CBS' Star Search, Enriquez garnered an impressive 11 consecutive wins in the female vocalist category while on the show. At 18, Enriquez released her first album on LaFace Records.

A spokes model for L'Oreal and voice talent, Enriquez is best known for her role on Warner Brother's hit television series, 7th Heaven.

In addition to her passion for making a 'joyful sound', with husband and super producer, Rodney Jerkins, Enriquez mentors young women who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse, addictions, depression, eating disorders, and unplanned pregnancy.

To find out more about these extraordinary women, visit them online.

3 Things Outside Of Sex Women Strongly Desire

When it comes to giving satisfaction to women, most men erroneously feel that an "off the roof" sexual experience and sporadic gifts now and then are enough to buy the hearts of women. They figure, if I can take her out occasionally, say some sweet words only when I'm in the mood for sex, then she'll be mine forever. While many schools of thought exist in this area, many false assumptions also exist. It becomes necessary then to sift through a mountain of truths, half-truths, untruths, inconsistencies and facts in order to arrive at what works and what doesn't. While you and I of course have ideas about what generally brings affection from people, the peculiarities of the female psyche demand somewhat more consideration.

In any relationship, the most important faculty of the woman is her emotions. Any successful wooing starts from and ends in a woman's emotions. Find something that greatly stirs her emotions, then you find her. Many women have been known to continue with partners who provided them with much needed emotional solace and release even when faced with dire financial problems. It is so important to remain in a woman's emotional good books. No where in nature is the saying "a soft tongue breaks the bone" as important as in women folk. Even though the majority of women folk would gladly date and even marry men of fame and affluence, once they discover that their psycho-emotional need are not being met, the relationship is doomed. While of course emotional connection and affection is not the all in all package women desire, it is nevertheless highly significant so much so that as a woman gets older, her need for constant affection and reaffirmation from her partner increases tremendously.

Next to this is physical attention. A man needs to pay serious attention to this. Women are very dress, class and fashion conscious. If you're used to taking walks on the street, you'll probably observe most women observing other women and not men. Most women's sense of esteem is deeply tied to their looks. If they feel they fall short in physical beauty, they try to make up by wearing expensive clothes, make ups, perfumes and jewelleries as for a man desiring a wonderful bedroom life, the rule is always aim to satisfy the things she is physically attracted to and you are on your way to her heart. If for some reason or the other you notice a lull in your bedroom life as a man, you need to ask yourself if there is any thing your partner desires that you have not provided. That can really cause a snag in your bedroom life. Many women have been known to make demands from their partners right there during sex. You can imagine how "pleasant" such an occurrence would seem.

No. 3 of course is social attention. A common cause of, break-ups today is boredom, lack of passion, lack of adventure. Just pitch black monotony. It is mildly surprising to note that complaints about monotony, boredom and a blasé union are more common with women than with men. Men have a lot of outlets to fuel their social needs. Golf games, foot ball outings and a host of other things, women on the other hand have fewer opportunities for social interaction apart from the workplace. It thus becomes increasingly relevant, for the male partner to provide avenues where his partner can find social interaction in order to provide for a healthy relationship to continue. If your woman feels caged, bored and jaded with life, make no mistakes about it, but your bedroom life and your entire union would be on a course heading for the rocks.

Understanding the secrets to sexual health and fulfillment is one of vikky brown's most intense passions. He regularly provides powerful information on this subject on his blog [http://www.malewatch.wordpress.com] Meet him at [http://www.malewatch.wordpress.com]

Baby Shower Invitations & Themes - Hints and Suggestions

Creating a terrific shower is a challenge that begins with the baby shower invitations and doesn't really end until long after the party is over and the next one has come along. If you're looking for a few excellent suggestions or just a little inspiration for your baby shower invitations or a theme for your event then keep reading.

1) Go with what you know about the mom to be. In general we do not organize and host baby showers for women that we do not know. This makes it a little easier to plan something that the expecting mother will appreciate, find humor in, or be pleased to attend as the guest of honor. Baby showers do not need to be formal in order to be remembered and enjoyed. In fact, the less formal baby showers are most often the most widely enjoyed. Let your baby shower invitations establish the tone though by clueing everyone in to the kind of environment they should anticipate.

2) Be inventive. It's easy to copy what has worked for others. If you want to make a shower that is truly memorable do something different and let everyone know what to expect when you send out the baby shower invitations.

3) Choose a theme that is relevant to the baby. If the mommy to be has a theme in mind for the nursery the simple solution is to go with that theme for the shower. You can generally find baby shower invitations, decorations, and party supplies in almost every popular decorating theme these days. If you mention in the invitations that the party theme is also the nursery theme it also provides clues to guests as to what types of gifts might be appreciated or appropriate for the nursery theme as well as the baby shower theme.

When selecting baby shower invitations and creating a theme for a party you do not need to move mountains in order to create a sentimental journey that will be appreciated by all guests and the guest of honor.

If you are planning a baby shower or want to make sure you are not making the classic parenting mistakes. please visit us at Baby Shower Invitations

Most Popular Web Hosting Companies

The funny thing about the most popular web hosting companies that are out today is the fact that they are not always the most expensive. There seems to have been a misconception in years past about having to go with a web hosting company based solely on their hefty price tag. But as time has proven, even the cheaper web hosting companies can and have become some of the most popular around and it isn't just because of the low price tag. Many of them have features just as good, if not better than their expensive counterparts and prove that sometimes good things really do come with small price tags.

You can search and search all you like but it will be hard to find any web hosting companies that are as popular as the following three:

1.    Yahoo Small Business: Maybe Yahoo Small Business web hosting is so popular because of its name and maybe it's so popular because of its very reasonable price. But it is more likely the features that it offers that make it a winning pick every time. They have 24/7 customer service where you can actually talk to a real live person so when something goes wrong you can get it resolved right away. They also give you Yahoo Sitebuilder software for free which enables you to make a great looking website with no knowledge of website design needed. They offer plenty of disk space and data transfer and their uptime is among the best in the industry. Yahoo Small Business proves that a big name doesn't have to come with a big price tag.

2.    GoDaddy.com: GoDaddy.com may have gained much of its popularity by the women in bikinis commercials, but they have grown to be a web hosting company that more and more consumers are trusting. They too offer 24/7 support and they have all sorts of website building features that can be utilized. There prices are super low and they practically give you service for the first few months. There data transfer rate is very plentiful and their disk space is unlimited and they too have an uptime that is hard to beat. They have certainly come a long way from the pretty girls in the commercials, though they still do that too.

3.    BlueHost.com: BlueHost.com has been in the game for many years and their popularity has surged on a yearly basis that there are now over 915,000 domains that are currently hosted there. With the features they have to offer it is really no wonder. Along with 24/7 support you also get unlimited data transfer, unlimited disk space, and you can host unlimited domain names under one account. They also give you an unheard of 2,500 e-mails to use for your website, not that you will ever use all of them, but they are there if you need them. Oh, and all of this is only going to run you about $7.00 per month.

While there are many other popular cheap web hosting companies that you will find online, one thing is for certain, if you search for the most popular web hosting companies on Google or Yahoo you will more often than not be bombarded with these three.

Jason Kay recommends reading reviews of cheap hosting sites to find an affordable, reliable web hosting service that meets your needs.

Marriage Requires Love and Patience

My wife and I just celebrated our seven year anniversary as a married couple and we are happy. Given the fact I served over 20 years in the military and never married positioned me to become a confirmed bachelor.

I vowed to never get married because I loved making my own decisions, doing what I wanted to do whenever I wanted to do it. The last statement held up until the day I met my future wife and what a moment in time it was.

In 2002 I retired from the United States Air Force in the rank of lieutenant colonel and was working for a defense contractor. After a 20 year career in the military I was fortunate to date some nice women, however marriage was never in my thoughts, nor having a family.

One day was taking care of some chores, a lady looked at my hand and said, "Where is your wedding ring?" I looked at her and said I have never been married and do not plan on getting married because I am a confirmed bachelor.

The lady looked at me and said, "I want to introduce you to a friend on mind I think you will like." How many times had I heard that line, I laughed and told the lady, no thanks I am doing just fine and I appreciate your humor.

A couple of weeks went by and I had to stop by the ladies business to take care of more chores and the lady said, if you want to meet my friend, she is here. I laughed and said sure she is. A minute later this beautiful lady walked from another room near the cash register area and the moment I looked at her I knew I was going to marry her.

I was on my way to Denver, Colorado in support of my employer for a convention which featured speakers such as the Vice President of the united States. I told the beautiful lady I had met, that perhaps we can go on a date after I returned from my conference and she agreed to it.

After arriving in Denver, I decided to bring my new friend some chocolate candy. When I returned home from the trip I called her and went to visit her and gave her the chocolate candy.

We set a date and lo and behold it was on a frigid night, we visited the National Christmas tree on the Grounds of the White House. We held hands and it was the beginning of a wonderful relationship. Our first date was in December 2002.

Fast forward, there was something special about this beautiful lady and it was the fact she was one of 13 children. I am one of 10 children, thus we had the family part in tact. Our love for one another grew by leaps and bounds and six months later we got married.

Marriage must include love and patience and we have both. It took a little getting use to one another ways, however we moved beyond self to unity in our relationships. Today, I am proud to say my wife and I have a beautiful six year old daughter and a handsome three year old son.

Not only is my wife and I growing as husband and wife, we are also growing our love and patience with our lovely family. Through marriage I have learned a lot about myself and as a result, I can now become more of the person I was meant to be. Thank you God for blessing me with a beautiful wife and wonderful children.

To people who have never been married before, I suggest once you commit yourself to marriage put everything in it you have and you will create a wonderful marriage. For those people currently married, the fact of the matter is, it truly takes love and patience and if you are willing to grow your marriage and strengthen it, it is possible.

Paul Lawrence Vann is a entrepreneur, author of the book, Living on Higher Ground and professional speaker who help people maximize their human potential and improve their bottom line. He is a leadership strategist, diversity-train-the-trainer and inspirational speaker. Paul host The Wealthy Speaker Show and interviews cutting edge guest experts, so listeners can position themselves to succeed. http://www.paullawrencevann.com, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/paullawrencevann, (240) 416-5077

Dating Advice for Men: Why Some Women Like 'Em Younger

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. Madonna and Guy Ritchie. Your old high school English teacher and... your best buddy?! Hey, it could happen. These days, if an older woman wants a baby, she can have one.

There will always be the Traditional Tina, scoping out an older fella who's "on her maturity level" as she likes to think- and who's willing to play provider. But what of the ever-growing population of footloose women with their crazy cradle-robbing ways? Is this another Maggie May, who, as Rod Stewart tells it, will "wreck your bed, and in the morning kick you in the head?" Or is she some lonely desperado, hoping to latch on to a kinder, gentler generation of men? Here are some insights as to why some women prefer to date younger guys.

Not every girl wants a father figure. Often, a man who's older than you assumes a protective and paternal role; and to many women, this is a real turn-off. Why? Well, for starters, we already have a daddy! Not to mention, the woman who holds a high-paying exec job Monday through Friday may have some trouble playing Helpless Heather on the weekends. She's used to taking care of herself, speaking on her own behalf, and yes, even paying her own way without the help of Daddy Warbucks.

Younger men are often better in bed. Ahh, the cruel irony of life. Remember sex with your college girlfriend? That 21-year-old 'fraidy cat is now a tigress of temptation. Something funny happens to women as they age. Their testosterone levels increase; oddly enough, around the same time that men's are plummeting. The hormone surge gives ladies a libido lift, which is why women in their 30s and 40s just want to get busy. Meanwhile, our same-age male counterparts are busy studying the inside of their eyelids. Need I say more?

Younger guys look up to an older, successful woman. Let's talk about those corporate power babes again. Sometimes, it's lonely at the top... but not when there's a starry-eyed cutie-pie smiling up at you! There's something to be said for having a younger guy who admires you for your accomplishments. It makes you feel great, and the sad fact is, you can't always get that kind of respect from an older man. Baby Boomers may love Donna Reed, but guys born later can understand and better appreciate women who go after their dreams.

The metrosexual male is our cup of tea. Nothing like having your boy over for some afternoon delight and finding out he borrowed your loofah in the shower. The New Generation of open-minded guys is A-OK in our book! This guy can whip up a Thai stir-fry using organic ingredients, grooms his fingernails and his toenails, is politically-correct to a fault, and won't eat Starkist if it might harm the baby dolphins. To the 40-something who grew up with Archie Bunker, he's a breath of fresh air.

Girls just want to have fun. Some of us are downright immature, and we're not afraid to say it! Perhaps "young at heart" is the better term, but the point is this: some old gals really do just want to have fun. Lots of broads who are pushing fifty still rock out at concerts, drive 70 mph with the top down, stay out all night, flip people off when necessary, and generally wreak havoc. That's not to say we can't find a man of ANY age to engage in juvenile antics with us... but, well, the younger ones just seem more willing to join in the fun.

Some women are late bloomers. Embarrassing as it may be, plenty of chicks spend the better part of their 20s mired in self-doubt and confusion. Instead of kicking back like they should have, the rainclouds of pessimism hung around to dampen their fun and turn them into neurotic freaks. Ten years later, some of those very same basketcases have mellowed into chill ladies who are just now ready to embrace life to the fullest. If this involves cavorting with young fellas in ways they never thought possible, all the better! Better late than never, right girls?

Guys in their prime are ohhhh, so fine. If you had to choose between a thick, juicy steak and some shriveled up beef jerky, which one would you pick? In the same way that men can't help looking at supple young girls, we ladies find ourselves drawn to guys under thirty. Younger men have tight bodies, bright eyes, great smiles, and usually a crowd of buddies to keep them laughing and pumped for excitement. What's the alternative? The balding bachelor with a beer gut who sits home smoking stogies and listening to Springsteen's Glory Days on repeat mode? No, thanks!

In all seriousness, it shouldn't matter the age of two people who mutually respect and enjoy each other's company. We love who we love, not matter what their age or what they look like. If an older woman and a younger man feel comfortable having a relationship, then no one has the right to criticize them. To the lady who simply likes a quick fling with a hot young stallion? Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson.

Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.

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Dress Etiquette: What to Wear

People like to dress appropriately for an event, be it a dinner out with friends or an important wedding. But host and hostesses should be clear when issuing invitations what the desired dress is. I've received many ambiguous related invitations over the years and wanted to help others dicipher the vague dress-requests they might receive.

-If you're not sure how to dress, over dress for an event. Many people interrupt dressing for an event. You'll feel less obvious if you over -dress.

-Formal. Black tie (tuxedo) for men, floor length gowns for women.

-Black tie preferred, optional or invited. Tuxedo is the preferred choice for men, if the man does wear a tux then the women should be in a formal floor length gown. However if the man does not wear a tux, he will wear a dark suit, white shirt and conservative tie. A women in this case will wear a short dinner gown or an evening suit, a skirt with matching jacket.

-Dressy casual. Dress pants with matching jackets but no tie for men and dresses or dark pantsuits for women.

-Business casual. Pressed dress pants or khaki twills with a collared shirt, but no tie. Never wear jeans to a business casual event. Socks and belts required for men. Women can wear pants or skirts with hose and a collared shirt. No flip-flops.

-Casual. Typically anything goes, but if you have never been with the host or hostess and it says casual, it's better to over-dress until you have a better understanding of how they define casual.

Mark Nash is the author of "Fundamentals of Marketing for the Real Estate Professional", "Starting & Succeeding in Real Estate", "Reaching Out: The Financial Power of Niche Marketing", and "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home". Mark is a contributing writer for: Realtor (R) Magazine Online, Broker Agent News, Real Estate Executive Magazine, Principal Broker, and Realty Times. He contributes residential real estate analysis to Business Week, CBS The Early Show, CNN, HGTVpro.com, The New York Times, and USA Today.

View his books at http://www.1001RealEstateTips.com