Most of us recognise the words and phrases associated with weddings such as – usher, bridesmaid, lifting of the bride’s veil, ‘something old something new’ and the honeymoon, yet few of us are aware of where these wedding customs come from.So where did they come from?

 The first step along the road to wedlock is for the couple to become engaged.  Incidentally, (‘wed’ is Anglo-Saxon in origin and meant ‘to assign property to the father of the bride as payment’, whereas ‘lock’ simply means a pledge.  Placing a ring on the finger of the bride-to-be is a public statement that she intends to be married and that she is ‘spoken for’.

The word ‘bride’ is also centuries old and originates from an ‘Old English’ word that simply meant ‘cook’.

The next stage in the process of marriage is the wedding itself.It is customary in modern Christian wedding ceremonies for bridesmaids and ushers to be in attendance, but their role in today’s society has changed completely.  During Roman times, from where it seems many of our customs and superstitions originate, it was a requirement at all wedding ceremonies that five young men and five young women, all dressed in identical clothing to the bride and groom, were present.  The Romans believed that by doing this it would confuse the Devil, thereby making it impossible for him to identify the real bride and groom, thus preventing him from placing a curse or evil spell on the newly married couple at the start of their life together.

 In all wedding ceremonies where the bride is wearing a veil, it is never lifted off the face until the priest pronounces them “man and wife”.  There is some confusion as to why this should be; believing that to lift the veil before those words are spoken will bring bad luck upon the marriage.  The truth, however, has no relation to luck – be it good or bad. The lifting of the bride’s veil is actually a public statement.  It shows that the responsibility for the woman has now passed from the father of the bride to the new husband.

 “Something old, something new…Something borrowed something blue” is a centuries-old rhyme that most people will recognise, and a custom that even the modern bride-to-be will try to adhere to today.  But what is its origin?                                   The “something old” in fact refers to a garter that is passed on to the bride-to-be from a good woman who is happily married in the belief that her happiness will be passed on.  If, on the other hand, a garter is passed on by a woman of ‘dubious morals’, then the marriage will be doomed to failure from the start.                                                                                                                            The “something new” was literally anything new at all that the bride carried or wore, symbolic of her new marriage.     “Something borrowed” was a shiny piece of gold, representative of the sun – the source of all life, while “something blue” was a compliment to the moon which was believed to be the protector of women.  If a blue object was not carried or worn, the newly married woman would have no protection from the moon and bad things would happen to her throughout her married life.

 Many people often wonder why the wedding ring, and indeed the engagement ring, is worn on the third finger of the left hand. 

Centuries ago it was widely believed that a love vein ran directly from the heart to that particular finger.  If, for any reason, the wedding ring was removed all the love in the heart would escape through the tip of that finger and be lost forever!  And, for a less romantic reason, the display of the wedding meant that the woman was somebody’s property.

 Today, at the wedding breakfast, the wedding cake is cut by the bride and groom who both symbolically hold the knife and cut through the cake, which is then cut into small pieces and handed out to the guests.  During Roman times however, when wedding cake first became popular, the usage of the cake was entirely different.                                                                                         It was the custom at that time for a piece of a cake made from meal to be broken over the heads of the bride and groom to bring them good luck.  To share in this luck the guests then proceeded to break up the remainder and sprinkle it over their own heads.

 Throwing rice over the heads of the bride and groom as they leave the church is almost as popular today as it was in the past, although in many cases the rice has been replaced by paper confetti.   This custom was started in Asia where rice is regarded as a symbol of fertility, prosperity and health, and was also believed to be an effective method of chasing away evil spirits.  In time the Romans changed the custom and threw nuts.

 On the surface it may seem that tying old shoes to the rear of a bridal car, carriage or cart is a bit of an odd thing to do, but years ago it had a significant purpose.    When it was time for the bride and groom to leave for their honeymoon, the father of the bride tied all of her old shoes to the cart or carriage as a public announcement that the responsibility of the woman now rested on the shoulders of her husband.

 Another custom that dates back centuries is that of the groom carrying his bride over the threshold of their new home.  Generally, people that abide by this old custom do so without fully knowing the reason why.  But, like the old shoes in the previous paragraph it once had real importance.   Firstly it meant that the new bride would not slip or trip over and risk having her bridal gown soiled, but more importantly it prevented her from entering the home for the first time and putting the wrong foot, her left foot, down first.  The result of ‘wrong footing’ would be to bring bad upon the household for its entire life.

Finally we arrive at that post-wedding ‘holiday’ affectionately known as the honeymoon.                                                                      This strange word, that seems to have no logical meaning in today’s world, but has been used by everyone who has ever been married, once had much more relevance attached to it than it has now.                                                                                                         It was customary many years ago for a newly married couple to drink a potion containing honey, most probably mead, on each evening of the first thirty days of their marriage.  This, it was strongly believed, would bring them good luck and happiness throughout their married lives as the moon goes through all of its phases.

However, as we are all aware, honeymoons do not necessarily go according to plan.  It is said that Attila the Hun perhaps took the drinking of his honey mead while celebrating his honeymoon a bit too seriously…he suffocated to death in his sleep!

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Further custom/superstition and ‘origin’ articles can be found by clicking these links:  Superstitions Surrounding Babies…The Civil War Origin of the Humpty Dumpty Nursery Rhyme…The Tudor Origin of the Mary Mary Quite Contrary Nursery Rhyme…The Intriguing Origin of the Little Jack Horner Nursery Rhyme.

Dating is hard work. It often seems the dating pool is full of sharks and bottom feeders. My girlfriends often complain about the various men in their lives. They deal with “men” who cheat, lie, steal, and act the fool in general. Often, their refrain is “All Men Are Dogs!” I only shake my head and offer my sympathy for their plight. Today, however, I want to defend the REAL MEN out there and say that women need to stop this over-generalization because REAL MEN are never dogs.

What is a REAL MAN and does he exist? Yes, my sisters, he does. He’s the guy you passed over to date the thug that seemed more exiting. He’s the guy you cheated on. He’s the guy who’s “just a friend”. He’s the guy you said was boring. He’s the guy you dissed because you thought he had no sense of style. He’s the guy you dismissed. He’s the quiet one, the sensitive one. He’s the one that doesn’t get into trouble, doesn’t drink, and doesn’t smoke. He’s the one that respects others, is active in his community and is a good friend. He’s the guy you never see because you’re too busy looking for your dream ruff-neck who is, oh so BAD.

When you deal with a “Bad Boy” you get exactly what you were shopping for. He’s bad alright. He doesn’t respect anything, including you.

But you are just what he needed to change his bad boy ways, right? Tell me, how is that working out for you? You persist on trying to make him over, and then when he doesn’t, you label him a “Dog”. What does that make you, a “Dog” catcher?

There is a big difference between a Real Man and those posing as men. I hate that those poser men and Real men share a common sex. Don’t think being a poser man is exclusive to black men:  I’ve seen it in every skin tone and socioeconomic circumstance. A poser man is a poser man; whether he’s the broke dude living in his mother’s basement or the rich dude that beats his wife and calls her out of her name.

So ladies, not all men are dogs. If you feel that way, maybe you should look at yourself and find out why you seem to attract these types of idiots. What are you bringing to the relationship table? Are you the “Bitch” to his “Dog”?

Image via Wikipedia Sometimes taking the first lunge is as scary as this!

The Answer to the Question: When is the Right Time to Lunge?

If only there was one answer to the questions. For example, if only we knew that this stalemate could only last ten weeks exactly and the right time to lunge was signalled by a light which switched on (as if from within their heads) in the eyes of the person you are longing to kiss. However, life is never as easy as that and the answers to the questions is (sorry for using this cliché) as long as a piece of string.

The Risk Involved in the First Lunge

You think that if you take the first move towards your first kiss (the lunge) that your attempts will be repelled. That you’ll blow your chances of ever cementing your relationship. That you’ll ruin what you have. This is the risk involved with taking (making) the first lunge.

Some Risks Cannot be Avoided

Face it, some risks cannot be avoided and taking or making the first lunge is one of them. yes, it might herald the end of a beautiful relationship but if it does it actually brings to an end a relationship that was never going to happen. So make the lunge and see. If you don’t end up coming to an agreement as to how your relationship will continue, you’ll end up finishing it and will have to move on. Whatever, taking the first lunge will end the stalemate.

Answer these Questions to Discover if Your Man is Immature

1. Does your man have temper tantrums?
2. Does your man run to his mother when the going gets tough?
3. Does your man say the worst possible thing at the worst possible time (i.e. is he undiplomatic)?
4. Does your man laugh or giggle at inappropriate times?
5. Does your man watch children’s television?
6. Does your man have to have the latest gadgets?
7. Does your man have a problem with sharing?
8. Does your man treat your possessions without care or respect?
9. Does your man sulk?
10. Does your man have a best friend (from childhood) who he cannot be apart from for any length of time? 

Read How to Deal with Immature Men if you answer “yes” to more than five of the questions above.
Please Note: that most men have some immature character traits.

1. To create a little eye lift illusion, highlight your browbones and the inner corners of your eyelids with a frosty white pencil. This will draw light to your face and disguise droopiness.
2. To fatten your top lashes, enlist a flat eyeliner brush and a black powder shadow. Wiggle the brush into the makeup, then between the roots of your top lashes.
3. To hide circles, you’re usually advised to use undereye concealer in a shade lighter than your skin. Instead, go with concealer that’s slightly darker, since a shade that’s too light can mix with the blue in your skin and look gray.
4. To open up your eyes, lighten your lower lashlines. Instead of black liner, use nude, then clear mascara.

Make the Most of Your Lips

1. Do a pre-lipstick priming. Apply a little concealer around your mouth and just a touch in the middle of your bottom lip, then add color. Your lips will look more shapely, and your lipstick will last longer.
2. Turn thin lips into fuller ones. To create the illusion of plumpness, apply a light lipstick all over, then use a brush to paint a slightly darker hue along the outer edges of your lips.
3. Keep it creamy. A soft shade of rich, moisturizing lipstick will fill in lines, making lips appear smoother and fuller.

Get Perfect-Looking Skin

1. Go for a subtle glow. Apply foundation with a dampened sponge — it will give you a sheer, natural finish that’s non-greasy, light, and lasting.
2. Make your face look slimmer. Strategic highlighting and contouring will make  you seem svelter, especially in photos. How: Along the sides of your nose, blend (well!) a smudge of base or bronzer in a shade darker than your skin. Then highlight the narrowest part, the bridge, with a shimmer cream to draw the eye there.
3. Don’t powder your nose. Stop shine with blotting paper. Layering on too much powder can cause it to settle into fine lines and exaggerate them. 

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I also have links to my other articles through my blogs: Sharing my Thoughts and Lifestyle Magazine for Moms

Want to know how to earn extra dollars through writing articles like this? Just visit: http://www.jejeizahfaye.com/2010/01/earning-through-writing-articles.html

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Step 1:  Just relax.

Many of the 7,000 steps we walk a day are taken on concrete surfaces that send shock waves through our soles.  As the day wears on, feet can become swollen and weary.   Elevating your feet is proven to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and give your soles a much needed rest.  Prop your feet up for 10 to 15 minutes and simply r-e-l-a-x.

Step 2:   Re-energize

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The healing properties of herbs help comfort and refresh tired, overworked legs and feet.  Fill a basin with warm water infused with two or three drops of healing tea-tree oil, relaxing lavender, invigorating rosemary or refreshing peppermint.  Soak your feet for about 10 minutes, then dry them with a fluffy terry towel.

Step 3:  Invigorate

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Remove calluses and dry skin by scrubbing feet and ankles with a cooling tea-tree oil foot scrub.  Rub each foot for five minutes, then rinse well for two minutes.  Next, briefly go over feet with a foot file or pumice stone to smooth any remaining rough patches.

Step 4:  Massage

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Apply lotion to foot and ankle with long, fluid strokes.  Grasp foot in hands and use thumbs to apply gentle pressure on the tops of toes, the top of the foot, and the ankle.  Work your thumbs in a circular motion, first clockwise, then counter-clockwise.  Use knuckles to knead the heel and ball of the foot.  Repeat with other foot.

Mothers who cosset their sons and turn them into spoilt brats with the personalities of creepy leaches cannot be congratulated for their impact on the world. They cannot be heralded as good mothers for producing the population segment which has to have its own way or else it will sulk. They cannot be thanked for producing male children who will go on to become selfish husbands, partners and fathers. Perhaps if they realised how, if ever, their precious spoilt immature boys finally grow up, they’d realise that they were wrong.

What You Should Do if Your Man is Immature

If the man in your life is immature get rid of him. 

What to do now you have read this article

When you have read this article send its link to mothers who are in the process of producing the next generation of spoilt brat immature men. They probably won’t think it is about them but – you never know!

You may have seen them on the catwalk at fashion shows all over the world. They may be soft, natural and beautifully coloured. However, that doesn’t stop you looking like road kill when you wear them!

2. Biker Boots

Yes biker boots are warm and they are practical. But think for a minute…If you have big feet, those biker boots might make you look like the Terminator.

3. Tartan Skirts

I wore a tartan skirts when I was three and even then my mummy had to weld me into them. Girls, If it’s not the family tartan – Don’t do it!

4. Wedge Wellies

Nothing looks more idiotic at a festival than a woman in wedge wellingtons. Not only are you at an increased risk of injury when wearing them, you also look like a total charlie.

5. Bum Bags

Bum bags make you look like a tourist. Get a handbag instead.

1. Cleanse. Depending on your skin type, you can start off with a cotton ball soaked in makeup remover solution to rid any traces of makeup on your face then apply a gentle cleanser in either foaming, cream or gel. Work into a lather using small circular strokes with either your fingertips or with a facial sponge for a deeper clean. Wash thoroughly after then pat dry with a fresh towel.
2. Exfoliate. At least once a week, exfoliate with a gentle facial scrub to unclog your pores and to slough off dead skin cells.
3. Treat. Many women are still shocked to find that after cleansing and exfoliating, their skin still shows traces of makeup or oil. That’s why you need to use a toner after cleansing. After, use a specially formulated serum according to your skin type. As concentrated formulas, serums treat or prevent specific skin related problems and offer a deeper penetrating effect on your skin. It helps your skin to absorb your moisturizer even more.
4. Hydrate. Use a gel or an oil-free moisturizer for the day and a heavier cream at night. Remember to use an eye cream — the areas around the eyes are the first to show signs of aging. Eye cream is a great investment because it can also double as a moisturizer to use around your lips where fine lines are also prone to appear.
5. Protect. Use a product with a minimum of SPF 15 everyday. Apply the same moisturizer with SPF you use on your face to the back of your hands where the first signs of sun damage and aging also start to show.

I also have links to my other articles through my blogs: Sharing my Thoughts and Lifestyle Magazine for Moms

Want to know how to earn extra dollars through writing articles like this? Just visit: http://www.jejeizahfaye.com/2010/01/earning-through-writing-articles.html

Immature men are often the product of over indulgent mothers. You can often spot that you are in a relationship with one when his mother calls you with advice and information about how to cook his food. Another way of spotting that you’re in such a relationship is the sulks and you constantly inhabiting Coventry (because you’ve been sent there again) and he’s not talking to you. 

Enough of how to spot them, you know this already and you’ve come here for advice on how to treat them. Here it is under the heading of what you want the treatment to do – cure, kill or allow you to keep sane.

The Best Advice on How to Treat Immature Men

Get out of there! Or: Get rid of him! Leave the stupid, immature man. Let him go home to mommy or get your locks changed. Yes, he’ll cry like a baby outside in the hall or (more embarrassing this)  outside in the street so all the neighbours see – but this won’t last forever. Often Mommy will turn up and lure him away with the promise of his favourite meal. If you are kind you will have called his mother to tell her about your decision to kick her son out. Of course, if you are cruel, you’ll invite your friends for a party at which they can poke fun at Mr Immature crying outside.

How to Cure an Immature Man

There are a number of methods you might consider which may (but probably may not) cure a man’s immaturity. Making him confront his immature behaviour. Telling his mother to sort it for you. Educating him in exactly the same way as people do toddlers. Oddly, leaving them or making them leave can work – if not instantly.

How to Live with an Immature Man

It is (just about) possible to live with an immature man. You will need the patience of a saint or to be on a course of strong antidepressants but it can be done. You’ll need to be a martyr to live with an immature man and never to attempt some behaviour modification. One last thing, you’ll need to be an idiot too.