During these rough economic times, going on that exotic honeymoon may not be the best financial choice; however, the newly married couple should not forgo a honeymoon vacation. What about a honeymoon staycation? If you live in or near a big city, this could turn out to be a fantastic idea and discover fun an exciting new things right in your own backyard. I for one grew up in the city of Chicago; however, there are so many things which I still have yet to discover in this beautiful city. Chicago and the surrounding areas are filled with history and I am not just talking about the history surrounding the days of Al Capone. Chicago has so much more to offer than that. If you travel to the different suburbs, you can discover how people lived during the pioneer days. You can see how the Native Americans settled on the land.
The great thing about Chicago during the summertime is there are so many things to do which will either be free or not cost too much money. Certain museums are offering free entry on certain days, so if there is a museum you have never been to before or that you absolutely love, search out the dates of their free entry and add that to your honeymoon.
Concerts are another way to enjoy the city for free. Certain suburbs and the city will offer summer concert series for free, so you and your newly betrothed can pack a picnic dinner and enjoy some wonderful music together.
Have we even discussed food yet? Chicago is a city which is definitely known for its marvelous cuisine. We definitely brag about our pizza, hot dogs, and Italian beef sandwiches, but there is a vast array of fine dining establishments as well. Maybe one of the honeymoon nights, you as a couple could catch a wonderful musical and follow it up with a fabulous dinner. If you are still not ready to call it a night, there are so many clubs in all different genres you can go to and dance the night away.
Another fantastic thing about a staycation in the area is if you want to get out of the state of Illinois, you can easily cross the borders of Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Each of these neighboring states have many things for people to do. You can enjoy a romantic weekend in Lake Geneva, WI or do some shopping in Michigan City, IN. If you really want to get away for a weekend and get a stamp in your passport, you can easily drive up to Canada which is only a few hours away. In fact, Ontario is home of the largest mall in the world, so bring some money for souvenirs to give to people.
I do realize this honeymoon staycation focused on the Chicago area; however, if you live outside of Chicago or even Illinois, there are many things to do in your area as well. So do not get frustrated because you could not go on that European vacation you dreamed about. Your chosen area for a staycation may have a great European influence to it that you can still get the feel of being in Europe without having to take a long flight. If all else fails, it can be done as a second honeymoon when the economy is better.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Being Wedding Fit-Part 2
Last time, I spoke about fitness as a part of your wedding fit regimen; however, all of the fitness in the world will not work if you are putting the wrong things into your mouth. That is correct; nutrition is also a part of being wedding fit. Notice how I said nutrition and not diet. I am not one who likes the word diet because number one, not too many people are able to stick to a diet, and number two, diets tend to only have temporary affects. I prefer people to change their nutrition lifestyle. Changing your lifestyle will have long lasting, beneficial results. This does not mean you have to completely give up everything you are currently eating for rabbit food. This means you are able to eat the things you love by just making some minor adjustments.
As an example, if you are one for hamburgers, rather than eating 80/20 ground beef, try a leaner beef, such as 97/3 or even ground turkey. The other thing with ground turkey is that it can be substituted for ground beef in so many different meals-spaghetti, lasagna, chili, tacos, etc. Since I have mentioned Italian food, it is definitely better to choose a tomato based sauce rather than a thick creamy sauce. If for nothing else, you eliminate so many fat grams with the tomato sauce.
Another way to still eat what you like is as simple as going from deep frying to baking. Fried chicken and french fries are two of my favorite foods both of which can taste just as good baked as they do fried. Also with French fries, you can substitute a regular potato for a sweet potato. If you do not wish to turn on the oven, then it's a great thing the weather is warming up because all you have to do is fire up the grill. This is just another form of healthy cooking and so many amazing meals have been done with the grill.
One thing which needs to be incorporated into any nutrition plan is water. A person needs to consume at least 64 ounces of water per day and I say at least because if you are doing some major physical activity, you will want to increase your intake of water. However, you do not want to consume too much water because you can actually drown yourself. I know it may sound weird being able to drown outside of a body of water, but it is true. If you are unsure whether or not you have consumed enough water (ways to tell you are dehydrated), first of all, check yourself to see if you are thirsty. If you are, this is one of the beginning stages of dehydration. Another way is to check the color of your urine. The lighter it is, the more hydrated you are. Another advantage of consuming the proper amount of water is that it also benefits the skin, so you are able to have that wonderful wedding glow.
A great source for nutritional ideas is www.pyramid.gov. The food pyramid has changed from standard 2000 calorie diet to one which fits your needs and goals. This site will show you the amount of foods from each group you should be consuming in accordance to either your current weight or the weight you wish to be.
So with these tips to be wedding fit, you should look fabulous in your dress or tuxedo by the time of your wedding. Not to mention, with all of the water you will be drinking, your skin will be glowing.
As an example, if you are one for hamburgers, rather than eating 80/20 ground beef, try a leaner beef, such as 97/3 or even ground turkey. The other thing with ground turkey is that it can be substituted for ground beef in so many different meals-spaghetti, lasagna, chili, tacos, etc. Since I have mentioned Italian food, it is definitely better to choose a tomato based sauce rather than a thick creamy sauce. If for nothing else, you eliminate so many fat grams with the tomato sauce.
Another way to still eat what you like is as simple as going from deep frying to baking. Fried chicken and french fries are two of my favorite foods both of which can taste just as good baked as they do fried. Also with French fries, you can substitute a regular potato for a sweet potato. If you do not wish to turn on the oven, then it's a great thing the weather is warming up because all you have to do is fire up the grill. This is just another form of healthy cooking and so many amazing meals have been done with the grill.
One thing which needs to be incorporated into any nutrition plan is water. A person needs to consume at least 64 ounces of water per day and I say at least because if you are doing some major physical activity, you will want to increase your intake of water. However, you do not want to consume too much water because you can actually drown yourself. I know it may sound weird being able to drown outside of a body of water, but it is true. If you are unsure whether or not you have consumed enough water (ways to tell you are dehydrated), first of all, check yourself to see if you are thirsty. If you are, this is one of the beginning stages of dehydration. Another way is to check the color of your urine. The lighter it is, the more hydrated you are. Another advantage of consuming the proper amount of water is that it also benefits the skin, so you are able to have that wonderful wedding glow.
A great source for nutritional ideas is www.pyramid.gov. The food pyramid has changed from standard 2000 calorie diet to one which fits your needs and goals. This site will show you the amount of foods from each group you should be consuming in accordance to either your current weight or the weight you wish to be.
So with these tips to be wedding fit, you should look fabulous in your dress or tuxedo by the time of your wedding. Not to mention, with all of the water you will be drinking, your skin will be glowing.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Being Wedding Fit
Your wedding is coming up and you really want to look your best. What is one thing you should do? Start a fitness regimine early. There is no way you will be able to meet your fitness goals if you start three weeks prior to the wedding.
When I refer to wedding fit, I am not necessarily talking about going from a size 18 to a size 6 by the wedding nor am I talking about muscles bulging in every direction. What I am talking about is looking good in your dress or tux. Now, dropping some sizes may be the goal of certain people, so the earlier you start, the more time you will have to reach this goal. Brides want to look good in their wedding dress even if it means simply working on a few problem areas or adding some tone and definition. The same can be said for the men in their tuxes.
What types of exercise should you do? You definitely want to combine an aerobic activity along with weight training. If you want a customized fitness plan, you are best to seek the advice of a personal trainer. I am one who firmly believes your regimine should be fun because if it is not, you will get discouraged and quit. One great fitness program is Zumba. Personally, I have been doing Zumba since 2002 and started teaching it. The one thing I love about Zumba is that it does not really feel much like a workout as it does a party. Depending on your intensity level, you can burn up to 1000 calories. That's right! I said 1000 calories!
If for some reason you should have some health issues, you definitely want to seek the advice of your physician prior to starting an exercise routine. We definitely do not want you to get sick or injured in order to be wedding fit.
When I refer to wedding fit, I am not necessarily talking about going from a size 18 to a size 6 by the wedding nor am I talking about muscles bulging in every direction. What I am talking about is looking good in your dress or tux. Now, dropping some sizes may be the goal of certain people, so the earlier you start, the more time you will have to reach this goal. Brides want to look good in their wedding dress even if it means simply working on a few problem areas or adding some tone and definition. The same can be said for the men in their tuxes.
What types of exercise should you do? You definitely want to combine an aerobic activity along with weight training. If you want a customized fitness plan, you are best to seek the advice of a personal trainer. I am one who firmly believes your regimine should be fun because if it is not, you will get discouraged and quit. One great fitness program is Zumba. Personally, I have been doing Zumba since 2002 and started teaching it. The one thing I love about Zumba is that it does not really feel much like a workout as it does a party. Depending on your intensity level, you can burn up to 1000 calories. That's right! I said 1000 calories!
If for some reason you should have some health issues, you definitely want to seek the advice of your physician prior to starting an exercise routine. We definitely do not want you to get sick or injured in order to be wedding fit.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Something Old-A Must For A Wedding
Have you ever wondered how things came to be and how time is a powerful force to bring about change? Well, one thing which has changed with time is the punch bowl. By change with time, I mean it was a part of the norm for a celebration and then you just stopped seeing them. Well guess what? They're back and in full force!
Punch bowls originated in India where five ingredients were mixed together (spirit, lemon, sugar, water, and tea or spices). During the 17th century, British sailors eventually brought this concept back to England which spread throughout Europe.
There was a time when having a punch bowl at a party would be as normal as having wedding cake at a wedding, but somehow, it faded away. Well, a new decade has dawned upon us and the punch bowl is making a very powerful comeback. In fact, if you are planning something big as a wedding or even something small such as just a group night out on the town, I would highly recommend ordering punch bowls. The only downside I see so far with this comeback is that not all places offer this. One place which is offering the punch bowl is the Rebar located at the Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago. The punch bowls mixed at the Rebar are flavored according to the seasons. For spring and summer, they are doing a Flor Blanco which includes Elderflower of St. Germain and Trump vodka and is mixed with a bouquet of fresh and fragrant fruits. For those who would like to have a signature punch bowl created, they are more than happy to accommodate this request.
I am sure some of you are wondering the price of a punch bowl. At the Trump, the price is $235 which will serve 12-14 people. If your group is not that large, then another option will be to order a carafe for $80 which can serve 6-8 people. If you ordered the seasonal flavor by the glass, the pricing would be $18.
Punch bowls originated in India where five ingredients were mixed together (spirit, lemon, sugar, water, and tea or spices). During the 17th century, British sailors eventually brought this concept back to England which spread throughout Europe.
There was a time when having a punch bowl at a party would be as normal as having wedding cake at a wedding, but somehow, it faded away. Well, a new decade has dawned upon us and the punch bowl is making a very powerful comeback. In fact, if you are planning something big as a wedding or even something small such as just a group night out on the town, I would highly recommend ordering punch bowls. The only downside I see so far with this comeback is that not all places offer this. One place which is offering the punch bowl is the Rebar located at the Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago. The punch bowls mixed at the Rebar are flavored according to the seasons. For spring and summer, they are doing a Flor Blanco which includes Elderflower of St. Germain and Trump vodka and is mixed with a bouquet of fresh and fragrant fruits. For those who would like to have a signature punch bowl created, they are more than happy to accommodate this request.
I am sure some of you are wondering the price of a punch bowl. At the Trump, the price is $235 which will serve 12-14 people. If your group is not that large, then another option will be to order a carafe for $80 which can serve 6-8 people. If you ordered the seasonal flavor by the glass, the pricing would be $18.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The Groom Revolution
Just the other week, I became part of a conversation regarding something of a new phenomenon. Grooms are starting to have a say in the wedding. This was totally unheard of 50 years ago and even 20 years ago. So what is it that has grooms taking an active role in wedding planning? It could be a number of factors.
The old tradition of the bride's family paying for the wedding is evolving into the couple paying for their own wedding. This could be due to the fact that based on the old tradition and during the times it was really prevalent, women were limited to the careers they were allowed to pursue and that is if they even chose to work outside of the home. Today, women have no choice but to work outside of the home and with this financial independence comes paying for their own wedding.
Since grooms are partially paying for their wedding, it only makes sense for them to express their opinions during the planning process. Do not get me wrong, most grooms are not discussing the differences between periwinkle blue and bubble gum pink (they have not revolted that bad), but when it comes to choosing the entertainment (DJ or band) or even the transportation, men are being heard.
Ladies, this new revolution may actually be a good thing for you because they can take some of the planning stress off of your shoulders. These are the tasks you would be able to trust them with. It goes without saying (then why am I saying it?) these decisions will need to be agreed on, but at least the groom now has the authority to do the research. Once the research is done and the appointments have been set, the couple should attend these appointments together because there could be nothing worse than the bride expecting a four string quartet during dinner and winding up with a heavy metal band (I know, that is a little dramatic, but you get the point).
So men, let me welcome you to the world of wedding planning! Women achieved the right to vote in 1920 and you have now achieved the right to voice your opinion for the wedding.
The old tradition of the bride's family paying for the wedding is evolving into the couple paying for their own wedding. This could be due to the fact that based on the old tradition and during the times it was really prevalent, women were limited to the careers they were allowed to pursue and that is if they even chose to work outside of the home. Today, women have no choice but to work outside of the home and with this financial independence comes paying for their own wedding.
Since grooms are partially paying for their wedding, it only makes sense for them to express their opinions during the planning process. Do not get me wrong, most grooms are not discussing the differences between periwinkle blue and bubble gum pink (they have not revolted that bad), but when it comes to choosing the entertainment (DJ or band) or even the transportation, men are being heard.
Ladies, this new revolution may actually be a good thing for you because they can take some of the planning stress off of your shoulders. These are the tasks you would be able to trust them with. It goes without saying (then why am I saying it?) these decisions will need to be agreed on, but at least the groom now has the authority to do the research. Once the research is done and the appointments have been set, the couple should attend these appointments together because there could be nothing worse than the bride expecting a four string quartet during dinner and winding up with a heavy metal band (I know, that is a little dramatic, but you get the point).
So men, let me welcome you to the world of wedding planning! Women achieved the right to vote in 1920 and you have now achieved the right to voice your opinion for the wedding.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)