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Let Go of the Spatula: Reconsidering Wedding Registries
Published on - February 1st, 2012 (by Tim Sullivan)
This post is from staff writer Tim Sullivan.
My brother, my best friend, and my girlfriend's sister are all getting married in the upcoming year, so I've heard a lot about wedding registries lately, and there seem to be many pros and cons. Personally, one of my least favorite things in life is going to Crate and Barrel, walking around with my scanner gun, and seeing that the only things that fit into my price range are wooden spatulas and the saucers to espresso cups (the cups already purchased). "Congrats on your everlasting love. Here's a steamer basket." I've always thought there has to be an alternative.
Here are two numbers I found interesting:
- In 2010, 1.5 million engaged couples, or 88% of all couples with pending nuptials, set up a registry, according to the Knot Market Intelligence annual wedding registry survey.
- According to research by the University of Denver, more than 70% of couples getting married are living together before the wedding.
Okay, so 70% of engaged couples are living together, and 88% of engaged couples are registering. According to the survey, more than 90% of registered items are bakeware and kitchen appliances. Here's my question: Those couples that are living together, do they not have spatulas, steamer baskets, and toaster ovens yet? Is their apartment filled with mismatched plates and saucers and an uneven fork-to-spoon ratio? Do they not already blend their own smoothies?
The point I'm trying to make is that the majority of couples are living together, and I assume they have a functional household complete with everything they need. As for the couples who aren't living together, it's rare to have someone move out of their parents' house and into the house of their betrothed. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median marriage age in 2010 was 28.2 years old for men and 26.1 for women. In the 1960s, it was 22.8 years old for men and 20.3 for women. Compared with our parents' generation, the 30% of currently engaged couples not living together have an extra six years to accumulate not one, but two sets of IKEA kitchen starter sets and warped cookie sheets.
Apparently, I'm somewhat alone in this thinking.
Things you wouldn't buy yourself
My brother brought up that he would never buy a $500 blender, but it'd be nice to receive it as a gift. Perhaps then a registry is a collection of things you'd never buy yourself. I know that GRS readers are impossible to generalize, but I can't help but think that if we're itching for a Vitamix, most of us would forgo the $599 one from Crate and Barrel and substitute in the $499 one off Amazon listed "like new" (or better yet, chose a different Vitamix then the currently hip 500 professional series and get whatever Vitamix was hip last year, for half the price). We're conscious about where our money goes, and I'd like to take into account my friends' money, as well. (I don't mean that literally…at least, I think I don't.)
I'm not saying to throw caution to the wind and leave yourself open to getting a bunch of gifts that don't fit your tastes, but if you're looking for something that doesn't come from Macy's, there are other options for registries. In my continuing conversations about registries with those closest to me, I've come up with a list of a few fun suggestions:
- The Honeymoon Registry. Okay, this one has been gaining a lot of steam in recent years. Websites like honeymoonwishes.com or honeyluna.com provide an easy way for guests to help a couple afford a honeymoon. What's in it for the gift giver? Whether it's chipping in for the hotel room or scuba equipment for a coral reef adventure, you can be assured that you'll be investing in memorable experiences, as opposed to another turkey baster.
- Big Ticket Items. My best friend and his fiancée were looking at their 500-square-foot Brooklyn apartment and couldn't bring themselves to fill it with more Stuff. They decided to register for big-ticket items. I've seen couples register for anything from new cars to a new mattress, each attendee pitching in a portion. Sites like My Dream Home Registry make it easy.
- Give to Charities. I've talked to couples that want friends and family to simply attend the wedding, not worry about buying the perfect gift. A good alternative is to pick favorite charities for your friends to make donations in your name. Justgive.org has a wedding registry section that's easy to navigate and not only celebrates love, but generosity. (That's their line, not mine.)
- Do It All. I have to admit, I love this couple's wedding site. Cheri and David were getting married and moving to France. The site had all the wedding info and R.S.V.P. forms, but it also had their registry. They decided their tastes didn't fit into one store (and definitely not into a suitcase). They put together a list of things, some objects (everything from one-of-a-kind antiques to easy-to-find box store items), some services (such as Internet for their first three months in Paris or passes for Velib, Paris' citywide bike rental system), and some high-ticket items (trip to Japan or a new dining room table.). You could choose to contribute to an item and that item would be marked off the list. What's even more exciting is that Cheri and David's idea was so popular that they started their own registry site, Merci Registry, and where couples can create their own blend of small boutique items, handmade artist goodies, and travel desires.
Weddings truly are big business and even creative couples who try to circumvent some of the higher costs of the big day itself often fall short in their creativity for registries. Couples can create registries that are personalized without relying on the mainstream box stores.
And to my brother, I love you bro, but when you move four times in the next five years, I know it's going to be me carrying that Vitamix up four flights of stairs.
What are your ideas for creative wedding registries? If you're married, what did you like about your registry process, and what would you do differently?
This article is about House and Home, Relationships
I say give $100 cash and let them choose what they need, rich or poor ($100 is my limit.)
In terms of my spending values, I agree with you 100%. I do think it's important to keep in mind, though, that some guests really want to give a tangible gift, for whatever reason. When my husband and I got married, we were super excited to suggest that one option, for those so inclined to give us a gift, would be a small CSA share at a local farm.,, Nobody went that route, though. I don't think you should abandon your values in favor of those of your guests, but I think it's reasonable to take them into account in providing options.
I suppose this is cultural (possbily promoted by the department stores to begin with?) In India, guests give cash (you can buy fancy envelopes for this). There is usually a person or two from the families who keep track of this cash (can be quite a lot since weddings are so big). There used to be even a book kept of who gave what, so if you went to their wedding, you knew to give atleast that much =)
I think cash makes most sense anyway – give what you want and let the couple use it as they wish – less work for all involved.
I saw once on a TV show (Ugly Betty I think) where at a wedding they had a small white mailbox with a slot in the top where people could drop cards with cash. I thought it was a really cute idea, especially if it was personalized for the specific couple with initials, etc.
Most people I know who have weddings where cash is the common gift hired security and put the cash in a lock box.
Weddings can be targets for thieves.
Even in India, we do have non-cash gifts from extended family. In our family, at most of the weddings, uncles and aunts pitch in for articles of silver, gold or household items like washing machines, fridges. But yes if you do not know what to get and the receiver is not clear on what to do get, cash is the most preferred form of gift!
Yup, this is the case in Japan, as well. For weddings, funerals, retirement parties, holidays, etc, you are expected to bring money. Special, attractive envelopes are sold all over the place for this purpose.
I don't know that it helps much, though. People spend so much money on these occasions that it's a drop in the bucket. Moreover, they have to send gifts to the *guests* after the event, as well as giving party favors. So the guests are kind of paying for their own gifts.
I got married a year or so ago, and although we had a standard registry, I think the best thing we did was also set up a honeymoon savings account through Smartypig.com. That way, anyone can contribute any amount, you avoid the big fees that they charge through regular honeymoon registries, and you get to use that money freely (obviously this service could be used to save for a down-payment, or car, or any of the big-ticket items you mention). Many of our friends prioritize travel, and they would rather contribute to our experience than just write a check, so it seemed like the best of both worlds.
I got married in October and was really loathe to do a standard registry. My husband and I had lived together and both accrued a lot of home goods ourselves before getting together. Our parents were helping with the wedding but the honeymoon was a big cost, looming in the future! So we basically asked people for money. They could donate to our paypal account or bring a check to the wedding (which most people did). That way there was no fee associated with the money (except with paypal but that was pretty minimal). We personalized our thank you cards to let people know exactly what their money helped us to do. We also created a VERY small registry on Amazon for those people who were too uncomfortable to give money. Honestly, we put very expensive items on there to dissuade people from using the registry! Sneaky sneaky.
I wrote about it briefly on my blog: http://myorangechair.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/wedding-registries/ in part to convince our families that this was the best idea ever.
We also created a wedding site (using google sites) where people could find out all of the info about the wedding, RSVP, and donate to the honeymoon paypal. We saved SO much money by not using a service, not using paper, and keeping track of everything right there on our very own site.
THANK YOU ! For this awesome piece of writing !
I feel exactly the same, and it is really nice to read me own opinion.
A lot of my friends are getting married (I'm 26, so it's this time…), and most of them have registry. On one of the registry, half of the Macy's catalog was on it !!
I like the alternatives you present better.
I don't know if I've missed it in the comments, but I have to address the author's statement: "I'm not saying to throw caution to the wind and leave yourself open to getting a bunch of gifts that don't fit your tastes".
We didn't register. If you don't register (at least here in Philadelphia), the vast majority of your guests will give you cash. Sure, we got one or two things that were really mismatched for us, but mostly we got cash. We also got a couple of really thoughtful, lovely gifts that we likely would not have gotten had we registered.
We're actually going to a wedding this weekend. As far as I know there's no registry. It doesn't change our plans as we always write a check anyway for a wedding, but I think the no registry sends a message loud and clear: cash only, please. Of course, some people won't give cash, but they'll be a small minority.
Don't know if this advice holds true for everyone, but in my experience here in Philadelphia and also in NYC, cash gifts far outweigh physical presents anyway, so if you don't register, you're only going to get a handful of gifts that aren't cash.
That's awesome. I hope that custom spreads.
After the annual Christmas list debaucle, where we ask for low-cost or sustainable items and give a list of charities we'd like donations to instead, but get something the giver thinks of as a good gift instead, we solved the entire wedding question by not telling any family members until afterward.
You have to consider your guests; most people have a firm idea of what is an appropriate wedding gift, and they are going to give that, regardless of your requests or attempts at guidance. Weddings and other traditional events are not as mutable as couples would like to think.
This comment pretty much sums up why telling your friends to help pay for you vacation is tacky.
"Dear Miss Manners,
We received an invitation to a wedding and reception that had a note on it stating that since they have been living in comfort for a while they didn't need the normal gifts and came right out and asked for money to foot the bill for their honeymoon plans.
We were shocked, having never before received such a thing. Are we in the dark or is this very, very tacky indeed? I might add that one of the couple is from another country and could this have been the way it is done in that country? Even then it seems so improper.
Gentle Reader,
It is supremely tacky for people living in comfort to go begging from their friends. But Miss Manners regrets to say that you do not have to look abroad to see where this now-common practice is coming from. It is rampant among Americans who allow their greed to destroy any dignity they may have had."
Most people, invited to a wedding, feel that they ought/must give a gift, completely regardless of the recipients requests. Pressure comes from all over – general social expectations, but also your mother calling up and saying "you have to come, you have to wear something that covers your tattoo, and if you give cash for God's sake wrap it up in a box so Aunt Gertrude sees it and doesn't call me later."
The registry is to make it easier for them, as much as for the gift recipients. It may be more Miss Manners approved to lay the burden on them to contact your mom/mother-in-law and ask her what to get, but if there's no avenue for information, they will have to put the mentla effort out to solve the problem themselves – and many will just call you up and demand you tell them, anyway.
We didn't need anything. When we built our site (which we did partially so we could cut down on the amount of information that needed to be mailed) we made a page for "Registry" and on that page explained that we didn't need anything. We gave links to two charities that we'd made arrangement with before hand.
Most people were pretty good about it – I'd say less that 30% actually gave us stuff, and close to 50% donated something to one charity or the other.
I guess when I got married in 1999 – 2003, we were more "traditional". I was very young, broke and we didn't live together. The registry in my case did come in handy in this case. I still have a few tings to this day, especially kitchen items. At this point in my life, I wouldn't do it again though – the registry that is. Just remember not everyone's path to marriage is the same.
I tend to like registries, but maybe that is because I don't really know anyone well off so the registries are always for needed things.
I dislike how the registries are set up to also accommodate the bridal shower. There is so little left on the registry that I end up skipping it and buying them something else. I don't go to showers.
When my husband and I got married, it was at the courthouse with no guests. We owned two forks and our only dishes were a set we pulled out of a dumpster. One year later my family threw us a belated reception and begged us to make a gift registry. It felt uncomfortable, but I'm glad we did. Every item we received from that registry is still in use in our apartment 10+ years later. Since we had no real wedding or honeymoon and very little money, it was nice to get a few gifts.
I honestly don't see why people are so offended by gift registries. It's a tradition, and a way to avoid duplicated gifts. The people on here basically are acting like the newlyweds are too stupid to know what to put on their registries, which is a bit much. And as someone else said, it is a suggestion, a way to avoid you spending money unnecessarily. I have seen 1 or 2 registries that had very high dollar amounts on, but then someone explained that people do that because they can get a discount or apply money to items which are listed on their registry (they are intending on buying it for themselves, not expecting other people to buy). Most the gift registries I've seen have not looked unreasonable. I do think it is lame to not give a gift for a wedding. That's why we either get something on the registry, give a piece of art, or give cash. I don't care if some people think it is tacky, cash is always appropriate for a wedding.
I typed up all my recipes (about 200 of them), along with and index and table of contents. I made a cover sheet and print it all on heavy paper. I have a black and white laser printer to print. I use a 3-hole punch, punch holes, then use the little rings they sell at office supplies to hold it all together. I give this with a card and advise them to find a pretty binder to move it into. The cost is $5 or less and everyone loves it!!! People always remember this gift and it gets oohs and ahhs at showers. This works for couples regardless of their circumstances.
That's a lovely gift, but why on earth don't you just buy the binder??
I agree about the binder! Maybe you could use the registry to find out what color they like. I keep my recipes in a binder. I keep them in clear plastic folders to protect the recipe. You could also include a dry erase marker. I use it to check off the items I already put in the recipe or I check off the steps in the recipe.
Another option is to make an online recipe book at shutterfly or costo.com!
As someone who has been a guest at weddings where I don't quite know the bride and groom to know their personal tastes (extended family) it's nice to have a guide like a registry to help. In the past I've bought gifts off the registry (or gone in with other family members) and sometimes bought stuff not on the registry.
Charity donation registry could be problematic if there are differing philosophies. I'm close to several members of my extended family, but we have different views on many subjects and issues I find to be extremely important they think are wrong/sinful. Maybe an animal charity would be okay.
Personally, I don't mind being given a list or registry to work off of, if that means the recipient gets something they want rather than something they feel obligated to keep.
Finally, my view on gift giving is this – I like giving gifts to show that I care about someone and I try to get the right thing. But after I give it to someone it's theirs and they can do whatever they want with it – keep it, exchange it, regift it, whatever.
If someone regifts/gives away/exchanges something I gave them, I'm not offended. I realize I made a mistake and should have paid more attention to their wants rather than getting something I thought they might like.
I'm wondering if you don't know the bride and groom that well, why you wouldn't just give them cash? Is it just a cultural/regional thing that cash is an appropriate gift?
I'm reading some of these responses – 35 crystal bowls??!!! How does that even happen? Honest to goodness, I've known couples who registered who had guest lists of more than 200 who didn't get 35 physical gifts total – cash is definitely the most common gift for weddings around here. Registries in these parts are more for the shower than for actual wedding gift suggestions.
I informed invitees to both my small bridal shower and wedding that I did not want gifts, but people still brought some. The problem was that I was living in South Africa at the time and husband-to-be was based in Europe. There was no way we could lug things around so I had to give the gifts away. I had told the guests that I just wanted us to enjoy each other's company but apparently people still felt obligated or just wanted to give presents out of love.
I am not planning on getting married anytime soon, but this article got me thinking. What if you received a card in the invitation that said something like this:
"We're Building a House!
Since we won't be living in our new house for awhile, we don't need much. For this reason, we are accepting contributions towards its construction in lieu of gifts. To help with this, we have created a non-traditional registry at http://www.merciregistry.com.
On this site, you have the option of choosing something specific to contribute to – such as the shingles for the roof or the French doors for the living room – or not.
We dream about looking around our new home, thinking about all the wonderful people who helped it become a reality.
If this isn't your thing, we understand. We have also put together a small, more traditional registry at Target."
Hypothetically, would people consider this a good or a horrible idea? All comments welcome.
Although I personally wouldn't do it, I would not be offended by someone who did – I want to get people what they want.
As an alternative, can you just include a link to a weddingwire website that happens to lists the two registries among all the other info? I always look online to read people's wedding websites. Lately, the wedding wire websites even have an option to RSVP which I think is great. Saves money, time, and paper.
I wouldn't write that and I'd be offended if someone did. I think it draws attention to the gift giving. I like the suggestion to include a link to your wedding web site. There you can write that! Just don't include it with the invitation!
This may have already been posted in the comments, but GiftRegistry360.com (by The Knot) is a great "do it all" registry service.
I did a registry for a few reasons –
one: it let me list some "upgraded" items. Sure I have a well used set of measuring cups, baking sheets etc, but it would be nice to get some new ones from a better brand.
two: the registry I used had the bonus of sending you a discount card good for anything NOT bought from your list. So even if friends weren't going to splurge on that $XX knife set that I was drooling over, I could get it at a much better price than anywhere else.
I never listed anything I wouldn't eventually buy for myself (like the expensive knives, I would have saved and gotten them because they are worth it) because if I can't budget for it, it's rude to "expect" my guests to.
And THAT, is good money sense I think.
My fiance and I are getting married next year, and we have been living together for about a year and a half. We will definitely be doing a registry because I've seen that people have no idea what to get a couple if there is no registry. No, they're not required to get anything (and if they don't that's perfectly fine!) but they will, because in this society during a joyous occasion (birthdays, holidays, weddings, etc.) gifts are given.
We do have a 'household' set up for the most part. It's makeshift, combining my fiance's mom's plates and cutlery from 1986 and my cheap water glasses from wal-mart, but it does the trick. However we live in a small town where the tradition of giving gifts is alive and well and I'm perfectly ok with asking for matching cups and plates, and maybe some cutlery too.
The way I see it, is if you already have a home set up with all the things you need and want, then ask for cash (discreetly of course, don't frickin put that on the wedding invitation!!) and that's the end of that, but if you don't, then a registry is a good thing.
We register for a lot of stuff because we felt that was what we were supposed to do. We didn't get hardly any of it – which was a blessing in disguise because seriously. Do we really need couture china place settings? We ended up with mostly money, which we then used for our honeymoon. It was great. I don't like the idea of honeymoon registries or anything like that – why can't people just give money (if so inclined) and the couple can use it however they wish?
My husband and I got married in 2005 right after college. We registered at Walmart, Target, and Amazon.com for things we thought we may need in our first apartment together and made sure the invitations were very clear that presents were not necessary – we just wanted our loved ones to attend. We ended up getting quite a few basics that we registered for and quite a bit of cash. I was so appreciative and thought it all worked out really well.
I completely agree. My husband and I got married in 2009 (I was 29, he was 33), and we picked three charities to which guests could donate if they so chose – the American Cancer Society (which will send you a notification so you can write a thank-you note), the local county humane society, and the state park and gardens where we held the wedding.
I always questioned how much to spend on wedding gifts too. I have given cash and bought off registries but I never have a good idea of what is acceptable to spend. I had decided on $50 unless it is a really good friend or close family member and then I went to $100. I brought this up a few times and was told by different people that I was a) too cheap and should spend in the $100-200 range for everyone and b) that I was too generous and I should never exceed $50. I have no idea what to think!
When I got married in 2001, I received gifts ranging from $20-$200 value. I am hoping anything goes!
In general people gave me $50 each. I'd been thinking I'd receive $25 each. I was surprised. But, not all gave gifts so my estimate for # & $ of items placed on the registry was accurate. I received a large amount of gifts from my mom, grandma, sisters and a long time family friend all from my registry. Those must have added up to at least $150 each. My grandpa gave me a cuisinart (not on registry) but I really do like having it now. Uncle gave me a nice knife on my registry. Got lots of $50 though. Or real junk like a "just married" frame with a bride and groom hanging out of the car. LOL
I bought the $500 blender (well, $400) out of my own cash. It's something I use several times a week.
I still have mixed feelings about the darn thing, though… I use it regularly. It works. It does what I need. (I'm a texture freak. This thing gets the job done right.) BUT I STILL SPENT $400 ON A BLENDER!!!!
My wife and I set-up a registry on one of those sites that let you list a bunch of items you like, allowing people to pay all or portion of the money towards the item. You get the cash and then go buy the item where you prefer (Amazon over Bed Bath and Beyond, etc.).
The problem? Most people didn't use it. We set up a backup registry after people mentioned they prefer to get the gift and physically bring it to the wedding. We got a lot of gifts and were thankful, but we could definitely have saved about 20% of they cash they spent by price-comparing and buying online.
People didn't shop on amazon for my friend's registry. They like to go into a store a day or two before.
So unlike either she or I. We shop around and look for coupons and sales as soon as we get the invitation. Once I even bought someone a gift after I found out she was pregnant. Wasn't invited to shower so realized we weren't close friends. I kept the toy I'd found on clearance. Kids that come to my house love it to this day!
I just give cash especially if the couple has been living together and have already acquired household items. Giving to charity is awesome though. I did that for my birthday – hosted a paint party with proceeds going to a local homeless shelter.
Tim, maybe your thinking applies in some cases, but as a generalization, this is crap. Setting up a household is not cheap, and there's a big difference between the college/single young professional lifestyle and a married lifestyle.
My wife and I are graduate students with very little "wiggle room" in our incomes for discretionary purchases. We only registered for items under $50 when we were getting married, and all of them were kitchen and household necessities designed to complement a frugal lifestyle. Should we feel guilty for registering for a decent ~$40 slow cooker? For the matching lid to our one cast-iron pan? For $25 Amazon gift certificates that we could put toward a good rice cooker?
Tim, you make it sound like all that people use wedding registries for is to pile on a bunch of expensive luxury crap that they don't need. Maybe that's what your friends and family have done–in which case they're just abusing a good system. But don't think for a minute that all young married couples either have everything they need already or else can magically afford to pay out of pocket to set up their marital home.
The counter to that is, why does the married couple get to upgrade their lifestyle as a reward for getting married? If all of your friends are still young and poor (as I was, when my friends got married the first time around), why should they subsidize your new life?
Wow. I think this post is in EXTREMELY poor taste so soon after JD's divorce announcement.
I'm not saying it is not valid, but surely it could have waited a few weeks?!
You are not alone in your thinking. When we were planning our wedding we initially had no registry. Because we had been living together and were 30-ish, we had a functioning household.
Somewhere along the planning process a couple of relatives pestered us until we caved and made a registry. Funnily, when I am invited to weddings and am able to make a gift, I am grateful to have registries to shop from; however, I was uncomfortable making ours. It felt wrong somehow. We registered for matching plates and flatware (ours were of the "mismatched plates…uneven fork-to-spoon ratio" variety) and for a handful of household items we lacked, mostly kitchen stuff. It seems like a racket, though. I remember the Macy's saleslady telling us we needed at least 400 items (!) for our guest list of 70. The sample list recommended, for example, three sets of plates (everyday, fancy, super-fancy for formal dinners). Sheesh. I think if we had been younger or had a household catastrophe that left us without the basics the registry would have made more sense for us.
In the end only a few folks used the registry, not including one of the pesterers. The rest gave us nothing (which was A-OK), something else entirely, cash, or gift cards. Five years later we still have some value on two gift cards (I know they may lose or may have lost their value) because we didn't need anything more. We bought the rest of the matching plates and flatware ourselves and gifted their predecessors to a friend who had recently split up and had zero housewares.
I had a conversation with a friend who hemmed and hawed after she got the invitation and finally revealed she didn't want to come because she couldn't afford a gift. I was so surprised. I explained I see wedding invitations as simply an invitation to come share in someone's wedding. It's not a demand for gifts and requests (and not requires) nothing but your presence and maybe a "congratulations." And perhaps that you shake your booty on the dance floor. She came.
With regard to baby showers, I nearly always give a hand-knitted cardigan for new babies. I look at the baby shower registry to get an idea of the parents-to-be's color and style choices and design something that goes along with that. So far have had a great success rate with this practice.
Oh, and if you do buy something listed on a registry, get a gift receipt. People don't necessarily buy from the store that has the registry and recipients can end up with duplicates (we sure did).
Yes! ALWAYS get gift receipts. Someone bought something on my registry then another person bought a similar item not on the registry. I was stuck with two because there was no receipt for either!
Wish I'd been a GRS reader before we got married!
We registered, even for some things that weren't necessities. For example, I love my nice set of towels, pots and pans and knives. That's about it. I like that I have matching dinnerware; however, I would have chosen a cheaper set. Dishes are one of those things you tire of, even if you loved the pattern when purchased. So, I will be stuck with these for the next 30 years! Oh well!
I feel like I was urged on by the gift registries themselves. I'd never registered so I didn't know how it worked. I found myself putting tons and tons of things on the list that I didn't need because it said you should put x # of items on the list based on the number of guests invited.
If I could do it all over again I'd register for some things, but only those for which I'd eventually have bought for myself. I used the registry like a wish list, for which I regret. If I ever have a baby (unlikely) I'll not register but I will say no clothes please. A friend had a baby last year and I could feel the greed oozing. But, she got WAYY too many clothes from people that weren't registered for and they were all the same size. What a hassle. She had to return things to 12 stores!
baby registries are another thing that is so much stress on the recipient, and I haven't found a good way to opt out of a baby shower if your mom or your partner's mom wants to have one. A friend of mine had a perfectly nice shower locally, with friends – and her mom was so put out to miss out on that part of the grandma experience, she went ahead and threw another shower for *her* friends, in a totally other city.
I got out of "my" baby shower by being on bed rest, but it was planned (again, in another city – they had expected me to drive interstate at the end of my 7th month for "my" party) without my knowledge or consent, except for the demand/criticism of my tiny baby registry – first that I didn't have one, and then that it wasn't the kind of things they wanted to buy.
We registered with china and stainless, so people could tell our tastes. Generally everyone looked at the patterns and bought something that went with it. We received several items that we would never have thought of using this approach.
We were not going to register until my mom told me to pick out the china and crystal so people had something to match.
We tried to go sans-registry, and our family gently encouraged us (and then demanded) that we do register. Yes, we lived together before the wedding. And, yes, we had just a few mismatched dishes. We only registered for things we actually needed — no use registering for pots or knives, since we had nice ones. But we didn't have enough dishes to have folks over without using paper plates, so we registered for and got those.
We also got lots of nice things that weren't off our registry. And I wrote a thank you card for every present received, and I am finishing up the thank yous to folks who came but didn't give a present (I am still grateful they were here). It's just been a month since our wedding, but I love to see reminders of the folks I love scattered around our apartment. The few things we did get that were upgrades of existing items meant that a big box went to Goodwill.
Registries are not all bad. It's one thing if the couple put all $100+ presents on a list and presume folks will buy them. We followed the rule that we wouldn't register for anything we wouldn't buy ourselves. It was a nice metric. And, now that the wedding is over, we are purchasing a few things that did not get bought. It's been great to finally have a fully equipped apartment ready for entertaining.
My cousin is getting married in Vegas this March, so that our extended family can fly in from around the country.
The part of the country we originated from has a tradition of gifts at the shower and cash at the wedding. I've noticed that the customs vary greatly in different parts of the country.
We will be giving them a cookbook of family recipes. The tradition started a few family weddings ago, and with sites like Tastebook, you can turn out a professional looking cookbook. Instead of food photos, we include a photo of the relative who submitted the recipe to make it even more personal.
When I was married 17 years ago, my co-workers chipped in and bought us a small chainsaw. They'd hear me complain enough times about the laurel hedges at my house to know it was a gift we would use. To this day, whenever I use it, I think of the fun I had working with that crew.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that gifts that are thoughtful are much more meaningful than gifts on a list.
I just got married last weekend, so this is timely. My husband (still seems weird to call him that) and I both hate receiving gifts that people feel obligated to give – i.e. Christmas when someone gives you something just to give you something. Also, the last thing we need is more stuff!
We did a secret 'family and dear friends only' ceremony – our wedding cost $164 for licenses and fees, and only the people who truly mattered to us were there. We tried the 'no gifts!' thing, and ended up receiving random household items (from extended family who found out ahead of time) that we did not need or want. So we did an Amazon registry that consisted of lots of board games, books, and video games, which we love. We had items as low as $8, up to the $200 range for a couple of kitchen appliances that we would not buy for ourselves. Only one friend donated to the charities we asked people to (in lieu of a gift), and it was the same charity I had donated to for her wedding.
The registry was absolutely the way to go! After we did it, people either bought us things we actually wanted, or gave us cash if they did not approve of our selections. People want to give housewares. Seriously. I will never need another casserole dish as long as I live.
But what I did learn is that people want to give you a gift as a celebration, not just out of tradition. Everyone was so happy and wanted to show it, so I am glad we had the registry.
I like the honeymoon registry and also charity. Most of the rich would rather have like to help and give out to others.
But I think I would want to have the Do it All sort of thing when I get married. At least I can decide what I want and not be limited to choices from any store.
I haven't read all the comments, but from the ones I looked at, I have not seen the idea that we used for a "registry". We did not want to be tied to things from a specific store. My mom and MIL-to-be were each given a different list of things we could use, which made it easier for them since they didn't have to cross reference with each other all the time.
The invitation said nothing about gifts or registries. So people would call Mom or MIL and ask where we were registered. They would say, no registry, but here are some suggestions from the list. They could tailor the suggestions to the person asking, so aging aunts on fixed incomes were not stuck with only expensive things left on the registry.
It worked very well. Some people didn't use the suggestions, but in general that was because they had a "better" idea. In most cases, they were right that these were things we could use that we simply hadn't thought of. One aunt got us fire extinguishers, for example. Some other relatives simply preferred to give cash. And for what it's worth, some of the things we thought we needed, we really didn't use much once we had them. So it seems that there can be room for multiple approaches to gifts for the same wedding.
I've also been to fabulous potluck weddings where those who wanted to brought a dish to serve instead of registry type gift. Someone has to coordinate this, so you don't end up with 40 salads, but the best wedding food I've ever had has come from potlucks where many of the contributing guests were professional chefs. Some consider this tacky, but consider that not everyone comes from the same family background, and if this is 'normal' for your family, no one bats an eye.


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If you are looking for a stud for your bitch, look no further, Harley has a better than perfect personality and temperament and the look to match :) please call or TEXT me to speak further :)
Sep 19 -
Boston :
We have a very handsome American boxer stud we wish to stud out live close to syracuse.. to approved female . He's got 2 champion blood lines akc reg flashy fawn full American boxer. Text call or email
Sep 2 -
Central New York :
Still's Aries is a 75% european seal brindle male available for stud only.. His sire is International Ch. Aivengo Andreas our of Ch. Aviengo Mars and Ch. Future Von German Dream and Ch. Atlanta Von German Dream Ch. Caos dei Cavalilieri Del Monferrato. The list just goes on ...
Aug 28 -
Central New York :
RARE BLACK BOXERS (Sealed Brindle) FOR STUD.
I have 2 available for stud.
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Last litter had 6 puppies born on September 29th 2013, 2 Males & 4 Females.
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Will consider all reasonable fees ...
Aug 19 -
Boston :
AKC Boxer have al been sold,we should have more puppies in the future. Call Claire at 508-761-8571 for more information. This is the Tigers of the Mist Boxers lines, Stud service is also available for $500. Puppies start at $1200 to $1800
Aug 16 -
Boston :
im looking for a male boxer to stud with my female she is very healthy up to date on all shots she has akc papers very friendly. please call 4132775007
Aug 9 -
Springfield (MA) :
We are now offering our purebred AKC, CKC fawn boxer male for stud. He has had five beautiful litters and one more on the way now. He has German lines and that nice solid build and short nose with pronounce under bite. He will produce traditional fawns when bred to a ...
Aug 7 -
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AKC registered. Champion Bloodlines. Proven Sire, 2 litters, 9 and 11 pups. Very large brindle boy with great temperament and family raised. His 2 prior litters not only produced large litters but very healthy and a variety of colorings. Stud fee $800 or pick of the litter.
Jul 26 -
Albany :
Ballston Lake
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Skipton budget discount hotel with en-suite rooms at cheap hotel rates. Perfect for families and the business traveller alike. Wi-Fi service.
Travelodge Skipton budget hotel (often searched for as Travel Lodge Skipton) offers discount hotel rooms and great value deals from as little as £29 per room per night. Situated around Skipton, this value hotel accommodation is ideal for cheap budget holidays or short weekend breaks in the countryside. WIFI internet access is possible in all rooms.
Book online with Travelodge using the group booking facility for a great room rates & hotels with excellent onsite facilities. If you are looking to include your pet in your summer holiday plans, Travelodge is a great option with many hotels accepting pets for a small charge.
Whether your visit is on business or for pleasure, you can be sure of a comfortable night's stay at a Travelodge Hotel. Each of our en-suite rooms has a king size bed, remote control TV and tea and coffee making facilities. Should you be travelling with children we offer family rooms and cots are available at most of our hotels, on a first come first served basis. We have a fast check in service, with no need to check out, and reception is manned 24 hours a day.


text:
Anonymous asked:
are you the Franklin Willoughby who attended school in Baltimore MD?
More about the Change Detection and Abolishment Framework
Anonymous asked:
The Father Agatho story was cool. But if you claim that a picture was taken in 1924, you should probably make sure it doesn't show a building that wasn't built until 1933. I know you make these stories up, but at least try and make the picture support semi-believability.


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Melamine yellow curved mug
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Debenhams is happy to exchange or refund your purchase within 28 days providing the goods are in a fully resaleable condition (including tags) and not within the exclusion policy*. This policy does not affect your statutory rights. You can return unwanted items either by visiting your local store (the fastest way to get a refund), by arranging a courier collection or returning by post. Exclusions apply to selected products. For instructions on how to return products and information on Debenhams refund policy visit the returns and refunds section of the website.


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Just as we recently looked backward at the key trends from last year that we believe will have significant longer-term impact (see 1305RA, A Year in Review: Looking Back at 2013, 26Dec2013), we now turn forward to 2014 and identify three additional key emerging trends that we believe are important to track.
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First of all, internet people, I want to start out by assuring you that I don't have Munchausen's Syndrome. Before 2010, I had not been sick in five years, and I can't even remember the last time I was in the emergency room. You may doubt me on this because in the year(!!!) that I have been doing this whole blog thing, I've had three mouth surgeries and have been to the ER after smashing my fingers in a garbage chute. This new little incident takes the pain cake, though, I can promise you that.
Yesterday, being the athlete that I am, I bent over sideways to pick something up from the floor in my bedroom. It immediately felt like I pulled a muscle in my lower back, and it got steadily worse all day. My GP gave me a prescription for Vicodin and muscle relaxers, but after taking four of them in two hours, it became apparent that something more serious was going on, so my beloved and sainted mother took me to the ER at midnight.
After a delightful five hours in which I writhed in pain on a gurney while we listened to a man in the area next to us complain loudly about women, minorities and not being allowed to order a turkey sandwich, it turns out that I sprained a muscle and a joint between my hip and my back. I have bed-rest for five days (I think- details became a little fuzzy after they gave me Valium and something called Norcos) and have to eventually have physical therapy. It apparently won't feel better for several weeks.
Well let me tell you, it feels great being 32 and injuring yourself by bending over. I am guessing a medic alert alarm and a senior living facility are next. Imagine all the guys I will get, though, when I'm 40 years younger than every eligible lady there. My social calendar is going to be chock full of dates with guys with pockets full of Werther's Original candies, hip hip hurray!
This whole lovely experience has really made it hit home that I have to start going to the gym again. When I started losing weight three years ago, my goal was not to be skinny but to be strong. Somewhere along the way I lost that, and being in intense pain after bending over has reminded me of the importance of not being immobile in a wheelchair at 40 years old. I really do feel motivated to get back into shape to avoid having this whole frickin thing happen again.
So for the next couple of days, I'm flat on my behind and drugged out of my mind. On the plus side, my DVR finally taped "Sister Wives" so I am sure this will be time well spent.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Hips Don't Lie
Posted by Taryn at 9:09 AM
9 comments:
- AnonymousNovember 4, 2010 at 9:15 AM
ouch! I hope you feel better.ReplyDelete
Feel better, taryn.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 4, 2010 at 9:55 AM
Karma? Perhaps.ReplyDelete
A similar thing happened to my back in August. I've been in physical therapy and laying on heating pads every since. I too am using it as a motivator to get back into shape because this pain/laying around/being injured from sleeping has got to go! On the plus side, "Sister Wives" is as scarily addictive.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 4, 2010 at 11:59 AM
I can't believe you're awake!ReplyDelete
Oh, ick. Hope you feel better soon!ReplyDelete
- Jess L.November 4, 2010 at 2:46 PM
I hope you feel better that stinks! Let me tell you sister wives is GREAT!!!ReplyDelete
Oh, ick. Hope you feel better soon!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 24, 2011 at 5:59 PM
ouch! I hope you feel better.ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Email me when discounted:
Developer website: Oliver Matuschin
PADEdit is an application which lets you view and modify PAD-files (PrivatAbrechnung Digital) used for the voucherless data carrier exchange between medical scientists and the PVS (Privatärztliche VerrechnungsStellen). Exchange-files exported by other applications do sometimes not correspond to the format specifications by the PVS, making manual postprocessing necessary. With PADEdit this is no big deal.
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Quotes & Info
|AB > SEC Filings for AB > Form 8-K on 16-Aug-2013
|All Recent SEC Filings
Other Events, Financial Statements and Exhibits
AllianceBernstein L.P. ("AllianceBernstein") and AllianceBernstein Holding L.P.
are furnishing a news release (the "WPS Release") issued on August 15, 2013
announcing that AllianceBernstein and W.P. Stewart & Co., Ltd. (Pink Sheets:
WPSL, "WPS") have entered into a definitive agreement whereby AllianceBernstein will acquire WPS, an equity investment manager that currently manages approximately $2 billion in U.S., Global and EAFE concentrated growth equity strategies for institutional and retail clients, primarily in the U.S. and Europe. At the closing of the transaction, AllianceBernstein will pay WPS shareholders $12.00 per share in cash and will issue to WPS shareholders transferable contingent value rights entitling the holders to an additional cash payment of $4.00 per share if the assets under management in the acquired WPS investment services reach $5.0 billion on or before the third anniversary of the closing. WPS currently has approximately five million shares outstanding. The closing is expected to occur in approximately four to six months and is subject to customary closing conditions, including WPS shareholder approval and requirements relating to retention of assets under management and cash. The WPS Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.01 and is incorporated herein by reference.
In connection with the proposed transaction, AllianceBernstein will file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a prospectus of AllianceBernstein relating to the contingent value rights and a proxy statement of WPS, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. Shareholders of WPS are urged to read the Registration Statement and the prospectus and proxy statement when they become available and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information.
A free copy of the prospectus and the proxy statement may be obtained at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) after they are filed. When they are available, persons will also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from AllianceBernstein at www.alliancebernstein.com under the tab "About Us" and then under the heading "Investor & Media Relations" and then under "Reports and SEC Filings". Copies of the prospectus and the proxy statement also can be obtained, free of charge, by directing a request to Investor Relations, in writing, by email or by phone, at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019; tel: 212-969-2416; email: firstname.lastname@example.com. This Form 8-K is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the contingent value rights, or a solicitation of proxies from WPS stockholders in favor of the proposed transaction.
AllianceBernstein, WPS and their respective directors and executive officers may
be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the
proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of
AllianceBernstein is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2012
fiscal year, which was filed with the SEC on February 12, 2013. Investors may
obtain additional information regarding the interests of the participants in the
solicitation by reading the proxy statement regarding the proposed transaction
(once available).
(d) Exhibits.
99.01 WPS Release.


text:
Marcia 'Marcy' Smalley
Marcia "Marcy" Smalley, 74, of Burkburnett, Texas, passed away March 11, 2012. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at 10 a.m. at Owens & Brumley chapel in Burkburnett with Kerry Finley officiating under direction of Oweens & Brumley Funeral Home of Burkburnett.
Marcy is the daughter of the late Gene and Margurite Minor of Fairfax, Iowa. Survivors include her husband of 53 years, Ted Smalley; daughter, Cindy Culwell and her husband Larry of Wichita Falls, Texas; brother, Lee Minor and his wife Priscilla of Fairfax, Iowa; sister, Myra Holley and her husband Bob of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; two grandchildren, Lauren of Portland, Oregon, and Mathew of Wichita Falls, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.
Marcy loved the outdoors and her animals. Be it training horses, raising llamas or breeding registered miniature donkeys. Marcy was a professional cow-girl, trick rider and rodeo timer for many yearsl She also competed in the goat tying and steer un-decorating in all girl rodeos. Marcy held two gold cards, one in the PRCA and one in the WPRA. Ted and Marcy and daughter Cindy rodeoed for many years finally setteled down in Burkburnett, Texas.
She will be greatly missed by her many rodeo friends, close friends and family and her beloved dog "Dally."
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, Texas, 76309.
Condolences to the family may be sent to www.owensandbrumley.com.
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text:
Updated: 04/12/2014 10:29 PM
Created: 04/12/2014 9:12 PM WDIO.com
The Duluth Photography Institute (DPI) is displaying a panoramic of Lake Superior that's practically as big as the real thing.
Brian Rauvola, owner and founder of DPI, created the image by virtually stitching 252 images together into a single photo. The entire image, printed on fabric, is 5 feet by 12 feet.
"The entire 252 images for this took about a half an hour to shoot," he said. "Which, if you're doing it manually, it'll take you probably three times longer than that."
The giant photo is on display through April, along with photographs from other DPI members.
Jeff Musial and Sid the Sloth 'Hang Out' in Duluth
"The Animal Guy" Jeff Musial and his baby, two-toed sloth Sid stopped by our Eyewitness News studio today before a community outreach program at St. Scholastica tonight.
Hennepin Co. Prosecutor Files Petition to Protect Adrian Peterson's Son
The Minnesota Vikings star running back was charged with a felony in Texas for using a wooden switch to spank his son while he was visiting Peterson's home in May. Peterson said he was using a form of discipline his father used on him as a boy.
Gordon Fire Hall: Rising from the Ashes
The Gordon Fire Hall has been rebuilt, after a fire destroyed the building and six trucks. And the community celebrated Friday, one year after that fire.
29 Interested in Growing Minnesota Medical Pot
The Minnesota Department of Health says it has received 29 letters of intent from people interested in growing medical marijuana under the state's new program.
Balloon Festival Underway in Bayfront Park
If the weather cooperates, something that hasn't happened for more than a century in Duluth could happen this weekend. If not, visitors to "Le Festival des Montgolfieres a Duluth" will still be able to enjoy numerous free family activities.


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The following is a personal testimony of a fellow Young Living member who is also a professional photographer. He had a potential disaster on his hands when a baby wasn't cooperating. There are many times when a fussy baby can interfere with what parents want to do……like shopping, or going to church, or visiting with a friend…..or handling a phone call or maybe just enjoying some much needed peace and quiet. Read what he thought to do:
Maybe your baby is just overly tired or maybe he is having tummy issues like this baby seemed to be having. In any case, essential oils are an excellent choice for calming babies without the risk of side effects. Check out the book Gentle Babies by Debra Rayburn which gives lots of suggestions for the use of essential oils with babies and during pregnancy too. If you want to sign up for an account with Young Living with a Startup with Everyday Oils kit, (during the month of May 2013) I will give you a copy of this book as a welcome gift. Click HERE and fill it in. Then message me with your address and I'll send your complementary welcome gift.
Happy Oiling!!


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Insects in the Garbage Patch
Plastics in the ocean have increased 100-fold in the past 40 years, creating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, plus other areas of wide-spread trash in the oceans.
It's hard to imagine this waste benefitting any marine life. We've all seen what it does to albatross. And Ed Yong reports further in Discover that:
Everything eats them [the small plastic bits]: fish, crustaceans, even filter-feeders like mussels and barnacles. They clog up guts and bloodstreams. They leach synthetic chemicals into the environment.
But a new study in Biology Letters finds one sea creature that is happy to have the plastic in their neighborhood: sea skaters.
Sea skaters—relatives of pond water skaters—inhabit water surfaces and lay their eggs on flotsam. Usually these floating objects include seashells, seabird feathers, tar lumps and pumice. But in the new study, researchers found that sea skaters have exploited the influx of plastic garbage as new surfaces for their eggs. This has led to a rise in the insect's egg densities in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG).
How will this affect the ecosystem? The researchers say that it could have consequences for animals across the marine food web, such as crabs that prey on sea skaters and their eggs, and the plankton that the sea skaters feed on.
"This paper shows a dramatic increase in plastic over a relatively short time period and the effect it's having on a common North Pacific Gyre invertebrate" says Scripps Institution of Oceanography graduate student Miriam Goldstein, lead author of the study. "We're seeing changes in this marine insect that can be directly attributed to the plastic."
The new study follows a report published last year by Scripps researchers showing that nine percent of the fish collected during a 2009 mission to the NPSG contained plastic waste in their stomachs. That study estimated that fish in the intermediate ocean depths of the North Pacific Ocean ingest plastic at a rate of roughly 12,000 to 24,000 tons per year.
Image: Anthony Smith


text:
Full size version is only available to registered users
Please Register as a New User or Login as Existing User to gain full access to all the photos on this site. Registration is quick and completely free.
Unregistered users can only view full size photos that have been added this month.
The best sidewards dyno in Spain
© S Lacey, Apr 2009
Problem: Gorillas
Climbers: Andreas Wagner
Camera used: Canon PowerShot G9


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< Previous Page
In a letter from Yauch read by fellow Beastie Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Yauch recalled their early days at his parents' home in Brooklyn, "where we used to practice on hot Brooklyn summer days after school, windows open to disturb the neighborhood."
|Join the Discussion
|Post a Comment
The group became a hip-hop trio soon after Horovitz joined and coalesced after Yauch dropped out of Bard College two years into his studies. They released their chart-topping debut "Licensed to Ill" in 1986, a raucous album led by the anthem "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)". It was the first hip-hop album to top the Billboard chart.
"Adam was incredibly sweet and the most sensitive artist, who I loved dearly," Russell Simmons, whose Def Jam label released "Licensed to Ill," said on his website.
In the seven studio albums that followed, the Beastie Boys expanded sonically and grew more musically ambitious.
Their follow-up, 1989's "Paul's Boutique," ended any suggestion that the group was a one-hit wonder. Extreme in its sampling and thoroughly layered, the album (produced by the Dust Brothers) was ranked the 156th greatest album ever by Rolling Stone magazine in 2003.
The Beastie Boys would later take up their own instruments — a rarity in hip-hop — on the album "Check Your Head" and subsequent releases. Yauch played bass.
On "Pass the Mic," he rapped: "If you can feel what I'm feeling then it's a musical masterpiece / If you can hear what I'm dealing with then that's cool at least / What's running through my mind comes through in my walk / True feelings are shown from the way that I talk."
For many, the Beastie Boys' lyrics — overflowing torrents of wit, humor and rhyme — were always the main draw. While other forms of hip-hop celebrated individualism, the Beastie Boys were a verbal tag team. Yauch once rapped, "on the tough guy style I'm not too keen."
Their popularity perhaps peaked with 1994's "Ill Communication," which spawned several of their most famous music videos, including "Sure Shot" and the Spike Jonze-directed "Sabotage" — a hit highlighted by Yauch's bass solo.
Yauch used the group's growing fame to attract awareness for Tibetan Buddists. He founded the Milarepa Fund to promote activism for Tibet in defense of what the nonprofit considered China's occupational government.Next Page >
Copyright 2014 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Years ago, I remember planning my first Halloween storytime for preschoolers. I wanted the program to be lots of fun without being too scary. I know that some librarians or teachers decided not to do a Halloween program for fear of frightening the kids.
If planned properly, it can be fun and entertaining for all. My Halloween programs are usually about 45 minutes in length.
Here is an example of a storytime program that I have done for preschoolers. Please feel free to use it.
Tip: If you have the same kids attending your program, encourage them weeks ahead to wear a costume for the special program.
Opening Song/Rhyme:
The opening song should be fun and exciting so that the children can "get their wiggles out" before settling down for the program.
A Little Witch
A Little Witch in a pointed cap (make cap on head with hands)
On my door went rap, rap, rap. (do rapping motion)
When I went to open it, (pretend to open door, use squeaking sound effects)
She was not there.
She was riding on a broomstick, (put right fist on left wrist and move left arm upward quickly)
High up in the air.
Note: A Little Witch is from the book 52 Programs for Preschoolers by Diane Briggs
Book: Six Creepy Sheep by Judith Ross Enderle
This is a great book for Halloween without being
too scary. Kids will enjoy seeing the characters
that the creepy sheep come across on Halloween night.
This is a simple counting Halloween story perfect for children
ages 2-6. This picture book is the sequel to Six Sleepy Sheep.
Felt Board Activity: 5 Little Pumpkins
The 5 Little Pumpkins poem has been around for a long time, and it is still enjoyed by
children and adults alike. You can also check out my YouTube video above to watch me
perform the poem with the felt board. In case you forgot the words I will post them below.
Action song: 5 LITTLE PUMPKINS
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
(Hold up five fingers and touch each one as the verse progresses)
The first one said, "Oh my it's getting late."
(Touch wrist where a watch would be)
The second one said, "There are witches in the air."
(Swoosh hand through the air)
The third one said, "But we don't care."
(Shake head as if saying "No")
The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run!"
(Hands run after each other)
And the fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun."
(Rub hands together mischievously)
"Wooooooo" went the wind,
(Cup hands around mouth)
And out went the lights.
(clap hands together one time)
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.
(Roll fists around each other)
Tip: You can also read the book Five Little Pumpkins (pictures by Dan Yaccarino).
Book: Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
This is one of my favorite books to read to preschoolers.
Kids will be engaged with this book as the monster's big yellow
eyes, scraggly purple hair, and sharp white teeth appear and
disappear. This is also a great way for kids to learn colors
and body parts. Kids will want to interact with this story.
Game: Pass the Pumpkin
Form a circle and have the children sit "criss-cross
applesauce" on the floor. Play Halloween music and
pass a small pumpkin around the circle. When the
music stops, whoever is left holding the pumpkin
receives a small prize or treat. (This game is from the
book 52 Programs for Preschoolers).
Book: Moonlight: The Halloween Cat
by Cynthia Rylant
Moonlight is a cat that gives us a cat's eye view of
what goes on on Halloween night. This is a beautifully
illustrated picture book with rhythmic prose that
makes for an enjoyable read aloud book. Good book
for 4-8 year olds.
Tip: Kids enjoy getting a special Halloween sticker to
remind them of the wonderful time they had at your program!


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The final sprint on the Pump.
© Rich Kirby, May 2010
Route: The Pump
Climbers: Tom Briggs
Camera used: Canon DIGITAL IXUS 750


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United States Air Force Academy: Agenda for Change
Mission and Values
The United States Air Force Academy exists to educate, train, and inspire so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to our core values of integrity, service, and excellence; professional growth throughout a career as an officer in the US Air Force, and; a lifetime of selfless service to the nation. Above all else, the Air Force Academy is a military organization designed to serve the Air Force and our nation. In pursuit of its goal to produce leaders of character, the Academy must establish and nurture policies that emphasize the character expected from commissioned Air Force officers.
To remain relevant to the larger Air Force, the Air Force Academy must focus on the deliberate development of Air Force officers, providing the required mentoring, guidance, and discipline to produce future leaders. The Academy will not be managed as a separate entity; rather, it must reflect the values and norms of the broader Air Force while maintaining the high academic standards of a world-class university.
The Cadet Wing, Group, and Squadron
The cadet squadron is the core military organization of the Academy. It provides the structure for daily life. Cadet Group and Wing organizations function to facilitate the leadership training activities of the cadet squadron.
It is every cadet's duty to uphold the highest standard of integrity, service, and excellence as they progress from Basic Cadet to Firstclassmen within their squadron. Every cadet must aspire to lead, both at the Academy and as a commissioned officer. Their potential to assume the responsibility of command will be measured by how they hold themselves and their subordinates accountable to the Academy's standard of discipline.
Every officer and NCO assigned to the Academy will make it their duty to develop and mentor cadets into model officers. The focal point for this effort is the squadron Air Officer Commanding (AOC) and Military Training Leader (MTL). The AOC and MTL will lead, develop and mentor the cadets in their charge with a deep personal commitment that models the command relationship between the squadron commander and first sergeant. The universal guiding principle for all cadets, officers, and NCOs will be honor, integrity, and mutual respect that is the hallmark of the Academy tradition.
Honor, Integrity, Mutual Respect
The United States Air Force is the greatest air and space force on the planet because of the personal honor, integrity and loyalty of its people individually contributing their utmost to achieve a common goal: unbeatable air and space power for the nation. These characteristics can only be cultivated in a climate of trust and mutual respect: between the service and the nation; between the institution and its members; and, between the individuals who are the institution. In the absence of this fundamental compact, none of the values we cherish – integrity, service, excellence – can endure. Loyalty to these values and the institution must be placed above loyalty to any individual who betrays these values.
The Air Force Academy must bolster those processes and systems that guide honorable conduct, of which discipline for infractions is an integral component. The Academy must ensure cadets understand and exercise the spirit of these values in the context of their future in the Air Force. Discipline must be administered with measured judgment and in accordance with our core values. Ultimately, the success of the Air Force Academy depends on cadets, mentored by squadron-level officers and non-commissioned officers, internalizing these values and emerging from the Academy as officers of high character. The climate we strive to achieve at the Air Force Academy is one in which cadets take appropriate action to deter, stop, or report the criminal actions of a few that sully the reputation of themselves, their fellow cadets and the United States Air Force.
The Cadet Honor Code
The Cadet Honor Code is a statement of intent: the intent to hold both ourselves and our peers to an explicit standard of conduct. Enforcement of the honor code must be based on the goal of instilling in our cadets an imperative to voluntarily live by the spirit of the code rather than encouraging interpretive efforts to evade punishment under the letter of the code. A lie is a lie, the mere construction of which requires intent to deceive. Failing to acknowledge this simple moral truth reinforces an attitude accepting the evasion of responsibility for the consequences of one's own behavior. This behavior is unacceptable in a commissioned officer and is, as a result, not to be tolerated at the Air Force Academy.
A critical characteristic distinguishing a profession from a vocation is the willingness of its members to establish and enforce standards of professional conduct, removing those who fail to meet the standard when necessary. Character is a requirement for a practitioner of the profession of arms in the US Air Force. For this reason, we place special emphasis on the "toleration clause" of the Cadet Honor Code. It must be made clear that loyalty should never be confused with excessive tolerance, and that covering up another cadet's criminal activity cannot be viewed as loyalty to a comrade. Ignoring or covering up illegal activity among our peers is to protect one who has violated his or her own loyalty to the institution and his or her fellow cadets. Active duty officers who oversee and provide advice to cadets about the administration of the honor code should assure compliance with its spirit.
Policy Directives and Initiatives
- The Superintendent is responsible for overall strategic leadership and planning at the United States Air Force Academy. The Superintendent will initiate a strategic planning process, which will define goals, specify measurable objectives, tasks, and metrics. These goals will be aligned with the stated mission and values of the Academy. The Superintendent will review all USAFA Instructions for compliance with the mission statement, the strategic planning goals, and USAF policies. The office of Vice Superintendent will be eliminated and redesignated as Director of Staff.
- The Commandant of Cadets is responsible for creating an atmosphere that ensures officer development and academic excellence are maintained to the highest standards. To enhance and ensure every aspect serves the cause of leadership and character development, the Director of Athletics will report to the Commandant. The Academic Dean, also bound by the leadership and character development mission, will continue to report to the Superintendent of the Academy. These two officers, the Commandant and the Dean, will work closely together in the development of our future Air Force leaders. The Office of the Vice Commandant, under the Commandant, will assist the Commandant in fulfilling his/her duties and act as an ombudsman for the Commandant and Superintendent.
- In addition to other duties assigned to this position, the Vice Commandant is specifically tasked with overseeing Academy sexual climate issues. In fulfilling the duties of an ombudsman, the Vice Commandant will:
- Develop an effective template, along with performance metrics and databases, for the management of sexual assault cases in an expeditious, judicious and sensitive manner with the goal of ensuring justice is served both for the victim and the accused.
- With the support of officers detailed to the Vice Commandant from the Office of the Judge Advocate, the Counseling Center, and the Office of Special Investigations, develop and implement procedures for an Academy Response Team (comprising medical, legal, counseling, and command elements) to provide a victim of sexual assault immediate assistance, develop the facts, and initiate appropriate actions. The members of this team will receive special training on the management of sexual assault cases including victim psychology. The cadet alleging sexual assault will be thoroughly briefed on the investigative and legal process.
- Direct the Academy Counseling Center and maintain liaison as appropriate with community counseling entities.
- Determine the appropriate policies and procedures toward separating those alleged to have committed sexual assault offenses from the alleged victims.
- Every effort will be made to assist the alleged victims throughout the inquiry and assure victims that their concerns will be dealt with through the command channels. We will not tolerate criminals, nor will we tolerate their behavior. We will not tolerate individuals who harbor these criminals. We will not tolerate any individual who shuns alleged victims of criminal activity, nor will we tolerate retribution against these victims.
- Under
guidance from the General Counsel of the Air Force, apply
definitions of sexual assault at the Academy consistent
standard, Air Force-wide
definitions. Ensure all Academy instructions, training
materials, and guidance reflect Air Force-wide
- Academy leadership must communicate with the faculty and cadets in a forthright manner about the status of cases being prosecuted, while protecting the privacy rights of the individuals involved. This will ensure the cadet wing is aware of the seriousness of the leadership's commitment to timely justice.
Cadet Life
- Basic Cadet Training: Beginning in the summer of 2003, the Basic Training program will be augmented to enhance cadet preparation for the military environment they are entering and the interactions that will occur. Basic Cadet Training must emphasize fair treatment and mutual respect. The orientation will provide substantial material on sexual assault prevention and overall behavior expected of cadets. The program syllabus will include guidelines on workplace behavior – including consistent USAF definitions of sexual assault and harassment – as well as demeanor and consequences.
- Fourth Degree Training: During Basic Cadet Training, in order to instill a sense of responsibility and uphold the standards of good order and discipline of the United States Air Force Academy, only First Class or Second Class Cadets will interact with Fourth Class cadets. In the first half of the fall semester, only First Class cadets will discipline Fourth Class cadets. After Thanksgiving, selected Second Class cadets can be given training responsibility for Fourth Class cadets. Third Class cadets will only interact with Fourth Class cadets in academic mentoring/tutoring circumstances or on the spot training guidance. The exercise of discipline toward a Fourth Class cadet by Third Class cadets will by governed by a First Class cadet.
- Billeting/Dormitory Life: Separate billeting arrangements will be established for female and male cadets upon entering the Academy for Basic Cadet Training. During the academic year, Fourth Class cadets will be billeted with their assigned squadrons.
- Rooms will be arranged in the dormitories to provide for squadron integrity. Within a squadron, rooms occupied by female cadets will be clustered in the same vicinity near the women's bathrooms. The intent is to preserve basic dignity, deter situations in which casual contact could lead to inappropriate fraternization or worse, and to aid mentoring of lower-degree female cadets by senior female cadets.
- No cadet will enter the room of another cadet of the opposite sex without knocking on the door and announcing themselves, and waiting for the door to be opened by the cadet occupying the room. Doors shall be fully open at all times when a non-roommate or several non-roommates are present in the room. The Commandant of Cadets will determine the appropriate level of punishment for any violation of this standard.
- The Commandant will establish a 24/7 dormitory security and monitoring system. An officer will be on duty at all times in the dormitories. This duty officer will be responsible for good order and discipline, and will manage a roving patrol in effect at night and on weekends. Fourth class cadets will not be assigned such duty.
- Any cadet found to provide, purchase for, or sell alcohol to an underage cadet will be disenrolled immediately.
- Reporting Incidents of Sexual Assault: All allegations of sexual assault will be reported to the officer chain of command immediately.
- The Counseling Center and the CASIE program will be realigned under the 34 Training Wing and report to the Vice Commandant. The Counseling Center will be staffed with qualified officer counselors.
- All efforts will be made to encourage victims of sexual assault to report any incident. Specific attention will be paid to the education of both male and female cadets regarding action they can take to prevent or to report instances of assault on them or their fellow cadets. Annual Training is required for all cadets, staff, and faculty. The Vice Commandant of Cadets is responsible for establishing, monitoring and documenting this annual training requirement.
- Because loyalty to values and loyalty to institution must be placed above misplaced loyalty to someone who's betrayed our values and our institution, shunning of cadets who attempt to maintain high standards and report sexual assault will not be tolerated and will be dealt with by cadet squadron commanders who have responsibility for maintaining and enforcing standards. Cadet commanders will be held accountable for ensuring that such behavior does not occur.
- Cadet support groups will be organized by the Superintendent to address aggressively the concerns of victims of sexual assault.
- Cadet commanders will be held responsible for the actions of their subordinates. Upper class cadets who are aware of or observe criminal activity will be held accountable if they fail to take charge of the situation and exercise their leadership responsibilities.
- In all reported cases of sexual assault, amnesty from Academy discipline arising in connection with the alleged offense will be extended to all cadets involved with the exception of the alleged assailant, any cadet involved in covering up the incident, any cadet involved in hindering the reporting or investigation of the incident, and the senior ranking cadet in attendance. The senior ranking cadet present will be responsible and accountable for all infractions committed by junior cadets.
- Any false accusations of sexual assault will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
- All medical personnel will receive training in dealing with sexual assault and at least one nurse and doctor will be assigned to the Academy Response Team. Rape Kits will be available at both the Cadet Clinic and Academy Hospital.
- Mentors: The Commandant of Cadets will establish a cadet-mentoring program. Each Second Class female cadet will serve as a mentor to at least one Fourth Class female cadet not in her squadron or group, and each male Second Class cadet will mentor at least one Fourth Class male cadet not in his squadron or group. Evaluations of military performance for the Second Class cadets will in part be based on their mentoring performance.
- The "Bring Me Men…" sign on the Terrazzo wall will be removed immediately, and will be replaced by a statement that more suitably represents the aspirations of the entire cadet wing and the core values of the Air Force.
- An audit of Academy processes to deter, stop, or deal with sexual assault will be conducted every three years by the Headquarters Air Force.
Officer/NCO Selection, Training, Roles
- Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Selection/Training: AOC assignment processes will be enhanced to ensure that selectees are superior officers who achieve commanders' list status. AOCs will be specially selected and academically prepared to assume the unique duties of leading, mentoring, and training cadets. All AOCs will be Majors or Major selects. AOCs will meet a central board established by AFPC. The Commandant of Cadets is responsible for the final selection of all AOCs. All AOCs will be required to live on base.
- AOCs will receive one year of graduate education resulting in a Masters Degree in counseling or similar area prior to a 2-year role as AOC. During the year of study, the officer will have formal OJT with a sitting AOC. AOCs will be considered priority status for post USAFA assignments.
- A specially selected experienced Non-commissioned officer will be assigned to each cadet squadron as a Military Training Leader (MTL). This NCO will report to the Squadron Air Officer Commanding (AOC) and will be senior to any cadet at the Academy. These senior enlisted airmen will be in the chain of command, and will assist the AOC in maintaining good order and discipline.
- Military Training Leaders (MTLs) will receive specific training in the combination of skills required in the cadet setting.
- AOCs and MTLs will be placed on orders in the chain of command to the Commandant of Cadets, and will be noted as such in the organizational charts of the Academy.
- The duties of the AOC and MTL will be clearly defined in written instructions based on parallel activities in the active duty Air Force.
- The primary place of duty of the AOCs and MTLs is in the cadet squadron or all other areas best facilitating their involvement in the daily life and routine of the cadets in that squadron.
- AOCs will be commanders and will be so designated on G-Series orders. They will have Uniformed Code of Military Justice authority and responsibility commensurate with their rank.
Broader Academy Climate
The academic and athletic elements of the Academy will be recognized as contributions to the military purpose of the institution.
- As noted, the Director of Athletics will report to the Commandant. Those engaged in intercollegiate athletics will be required to engage in military and leadership training equivalent to their classmates. Off-season athletes will be required to participate in squadron activities.
- The Academy Board will be re-chartered as the Senior Executive Board. The board members will act as advisers to the Superintendent regarding the balance of time devoted to academic and officer development activities with responsibility for final decisions resting solely upon the Superintendent.
- Department Chairs will participate in an Academic Board that will report to the Dean.
- Communications among the military, academic and athletic departments will ensure that the status of cadet probations, current status of active or inactive participation on athletic teams, and academic progress are openly and promptly communicated across departments.
- Appropriate academic courses in leadership and character development will be made part of the core academic curriculum. A lecture series sponsored by the Secretary of the Air Force and supported by senior Air Force leadership will emphasize the moral and ethical standards expected of Air Force officers. The Department of Behavioral Science and Leadership will offer courses in military leadership.
- All candidates for Permanent Professor slots will be interviewed and selected by the Secretary and Chief of Staff. Unless extended by the Secretary of the Air Force, a Permanent Professor will be expected to retire in the rank held at 30 years of service. The senior officer in each department will be held accountable for all subordinate military officers and will ensure good order and discipline within his/her department.
- Department Chairs will rotate among the faculty within that department. No faculty member will hold a departmental chair for a period exceeding five years.
- Officer assignment policies and tour lengths at the Air Force Academy will be reviewed and revised by the Secretary of the Air Force. USAFA assistant and associate professors should be recruited from the top personnel out of the line force, teach for a designated period, and then return to the line.
- With the exception of those designated at the discretion of the Secretary and Chief of Staff, all graduates of the Academy will enter the Air Force as 2nd Lieutenants in operational line AFSCs at the wing level or below. Our objective is to ensure that all physically qualified Academy graduates become fully immersed into expeditionary wing level operations, maintenance, and staff or mission support squadrons of the Air Force. It is imperative that graduates first gain experience in the front line warfighting mission of the Air Force before branching off into non-combat related fields. Law school, medical school, liberal arts graduate schools or functional career fields such as acquisition or public affairs may be pursued only after these officers have proven themselves as operational Air Force professionals.
- Those cadets interested in cross commissioning to other military services will retain that option under existing regulations.
- Pilot training slots will be evenly divided between Academy and ROTC scholarship accessions. In addition, OTS accessions may compete for pilot training slots.
- In accordance with Title 10, U.S.C., all AFROTC cadets who are appointed as officers in the Air Force in May or June will have the same date of rank with Academy graduates, regardless of their graduation date. After twelve months, the lineal list will be published. The top officer for that year group will be the top graduate from the United States Air Force Academy. All other Second Lieutenants with this date of rank will be slated according to their cadet performance – either at the Academy or in the AFROTC program. Any cadets may have their lineal ranking as officers affected by disciplinary action during their time at the Academy or AFROTC.


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Support Chester Foundation
You can support the Chester Foundation through monetary donations, as a volunteer or animal foster and by spreading the word through your social networks.
Your donations save lives every day!Read More
About Us
The Chester Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to provide medical care for stray and disadvantaged pets.
With an amazing record forming collaborations with animal rescue groups and participating veterinarian hospitals, the Chester Foundation has saved the lives of pets who would otherwise have been lost due to a lack of funds.Read More
In Honor or Memory of Our Loved Ones
Supporters of the Chester Foundation honor the animal companions in their lives, and those that represent a fond memory by giving a monetary donation.
Take a look at the different pets that are being celebrated and please consider donating to Chester in their honor or memory.Read More
Happy Endings
Too often, families are faced with heart wrenching decisions because funds are not available to save the life of their beloved animal companion. Here we highlight the happy endings, but recognize too many animals are not so fortunate.
Read about the most recent cases of animals, and the families who love them, who were given lifesaving support through the Chester Foundation.Read More
"Making emergency medical care accessible to all pets."
Recent Blog Posts
Read the lastest news about the work of the Chester Foundation and the generous donors who make it all possible!
Filo's Rocky Road to Recovery
Filo had a tough road to recovery including a week in the hospital, only to need to return for a blood transfusion. Owner Emmet expressed his sincere appreciation to Chester Foundation for helping bring his "son" back to health.
Kuipo and her injured foot
"Kuipo" is a recent patient seen at the Pet Emergency Center and recipient of...
Victims of home fire – Fonzie and Bandit
Both Fonzie and Bandit were victims of a recent house fire. They received life-saving medical care for severe smoke inhalation costing over $5,800. After losing their home and belongings, the family has no funds to pay for the services received. Please help the Chester Foundation raise the money needed to cover the cost of saving Fonzie and Bandit!


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220 Fourth Avenue South, Kent WA 98032 - (253) 856-5200
Custom fitting is available at Riverbend Discount Golf Center. We have fitting systems from Adams, Callaway, Cleveland, Cobra, Mizuno, Nike, Ping, TaylorMade, Titleist, and Tour Edge. Custom clubs can be ordered for no additional charge, and usually are built by the manufacturer and delivered within two weeks.
Free club fitting if purchased from Riverbend.
We fit for:
The clubfitters at Riverbend are:


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The following video has just been released from the personal archive of Craig Elliot, a former Apple employee. It's a hoot.
The video dates to 1985. It was originally made for Apple's sales team to encourage them to sell more Macs and beat IBM, who was so big at the time that it had single departments who were worth more than Apple.
New Career Opportunities Dail


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Hi I'm looking for a quote for 5 X replacement lamps for the Sanyo PLC-XE40 I think its LMP90 but not sure.
prices PM'd
you have mail fella
Can anyone give a price per unit on these as well please?
Many Thanks
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worshiping, painting, drawing, creating, dancing, singing, acting, breathing, photographing, translating, traveling, exploring, dreaming, thinking, doodling, planning, imagining, living.
I love when I figure out: Who I am. Who I want to become. How much I want to grow. Who I want to keep around. How I am going to live my life. Who the people are that truly care about me. What I want and desire for my life in the future. What difference I am going to make in this world. Who's lives I am going to touch and hopefully change. It's invigorating.
I step back and I realize that now, I truly do not give a crap as to what anybody thinks about me. I have this awesome vision as to how I am going to present myself. The real me. I sing in the shower, I rock out in the car while I am driving by myself, I see the world from an artistic point of view, I will go to school with paint all over me if it means staying up all hours of the night to paint a masterpiece, I laugh and get crazy with my friends, I AM crazy, noises just come out of my mouth sometimes, I love food…. and you better accept those things about me because I am not going to change for ANYONE. I know what I want to do with my life (for the most part), and nobody is going to stop me.