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	<title>PORTERSHREVE.NET &#187; culture</title>
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		<title>Wedding Dresses</title>
		<link>http://www.portershreve.net/wedding-dresses/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 26 May 2010 14:56:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Owen Jones</dc:creator>
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		<category><![CDATA[britain]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[The wedding dress is just about the most important item in the wedding ceremony apart from the vows and the rings. The bride wants to look her best and the groom wants to look his best too. A gorgeous wedding dress will help the bride's aspiration to look dazzling come true.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The wedding dress is just about the most important item in the wedding ceremony apart from the vows and the rings. The bride wants to look her best and the groom wants to look his best too. A gorgeous wedding dress will help the bride&#8217;s aspiration to look dazzling come true.</p>
<p>Therefore, it is imperative to pick the wedding dress with care, as every bride knows. However, there are a few items that are not as obvious as the wedding dress just looking beautiful and we will list the most significant of these below.</p>
<p>Besides personal taste in fashion, the most important consideration has to be the time of the year. Which season are you going to marry in? What temperature is it likely to be? Could it rain? If it is likely to be cold, you ought to wear a heavier cloth than if it is likely to be hot. You might also permit the season to have an impact on the colours you wear, but that is a matter of personal taste. For example, winter colours might be slightly darker than summer colours.</p>
<p>Another vital factor when choosing the colour of the wedding dress is the skin colouration of the bride. This consideration is also true of the accessories. The bride will also need a head-dress, a veil, gloves and a bouquet, all of which should flatter the wedding dress and the bride&#8217;s hair and skin colouration.</p>
<p>Try to get a wedding dress that fits perfectly. This sounds obvious, but it is easy to think that you can make minor alterations yourself later on. However, making changes is not as easy as it sounds and you could end up making matters worse rather than better. In any case, you do not want to be worrying that a stitch you made will break or come undone at the wrong moment. It is far more important to get a good fitting wedding dress than to get the precise colour that you want.</p>
<p>It is important to bear in mind the quality of the picture of the wedding dress, if you are buying or hiring from a catalogue or website. You also should leave plenty of time to be able to return the dress if you have to. The fact is that photos are not always true to life and packers do make mistakes, so if your choice is not what you expected, when it arrives, you will need to have a couple of weeks to return it and obtain a new one. Allow at least three weeks for the exchange; longer if possible.</p>
<p>White has always been the most popular colour for first time brides, but it is not a rule. Off-white or pastel shades look very nice too and they will set you aside from the norm. Apple white or blush pink are very effective colours for a wedding dress, but as I said before, everything should be colour co-ordinated with the colour of the bride&#8217;s skin and hair and the bouquet, if you are dead set on carrying a certain bouquet of flowers, like, say, gardenias.</p>
<p>Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with <a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org/celtic-knot-rings.html">Celtic Knot rings</a>. If you have an interest in wedding rings too, please go to our website now at <a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org">White Gold Claddagh Ring</a></p>
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		<title>Black Hills Gold Rings</title>
		<link>http://www.portershreve.net/black-hills-gold-rings/</link>
		<comments>http://www.portershreve.net/black-hills-gold-rings/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:09:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Owen Jones</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Most people have hopes for the future. Some people sketch out their lives in intricate detail from an early age, while others just hope that their dreams will come true. I think that that depends on the philosophy of life you have as much as your personality. I certainly remember when I was a boy, that a few of the girls I knew when I was a boy, planning what they would do when they got married to such and such a film star.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most people have hopes for the future. Some people sketch out their lives in intricate detail from an early age, while others just hope that their dreams will come true. I think that that depends on the philosophy of life you have as much as your personality. I certainly remember when I was a boy, that a few of the girls I knew when I was a boy, planning what they would do when they got married to such and such a film star.</p>
<p>They did not know anything about marriage or what being married was like, they were just role playing, but some of those aspirations might have stuck.</p>
<p>None of the boys in my class thought about their future much at all. I did not either really although I knew that I wanted to go to university and travel after that. I studied French and German for three years and passed my exams.</p>
<p>After finishing university, I began working for an international firm and did some traveling. I have always liked jewellery although I do not wear a lot at the same time. I suppose I collect jewellery, but I like to wear it as well.</p>
<p>It was a custom of mine to buy a piece wherever I went, if I saw something I liked and if I could afford it. Anyway, I met a young lady while I was in America and I told her about my passion for collecting jewellery and rings in particular. I showed her a couple of rings that I had taken with me. One was a ring with a Celtic Knot design and another was an Irish Claddagh ring.</p>
<p>Anyway, we got on well and so she offered to take me to a jewellers that she knew. We went to a small back street jeweller, who had a choice of rings I had never heard of before. They were called Black Hills Gold Rings and they looked very distinctive. They have quite a range, including a lot of the common designs, but they also have a few kinds that I had never seen before. I was hooked and wanted one.</p>
<p>My friend really fell for a women&#8217;s wedding set. She had seen it in the window for months, but did not have anyone to give it to her. The engagement ring had two leaves and a grape cluster with a small diamond nestled in the middle of it, while the wedding band had two additional leaves and a grape cluster. This meant that when worn together, the two rings would fit together to surround the diamond completely. It was very beautiful.</p>
<p>I had to grant that it was very beautiful, but felt it necessary to point out that I had not known her long enough to propose. She was a good sort and did not feel offended. I bought a striking white gold ring with the Black Hills gold roses inlaid on the top two thirds of the band, leaving the bottom of the ring plain. It was a lovely addition to my collection. As for my guide, well, she did not get a ring, but I took her for an expensive meal and she seemed happy enough with that.</p>
<p>Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with the<a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org/celtic-knot-wedding-ring.html">Celtic Knot wedding ring</a>. If you have an interest in wedding rings too, please go to our website now at <a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org">White Gold Claddagh Ring</a></p>
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		<title>The Wedding Ring</title>
		<link>http://www.portershreve.net/the-wedding-ring/</link>
		<comments>http://www.portershreve.net/the-wedding-ring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:08:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Owen Jones</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[One's wedding ring is often a person's most important piece of jewellery, because of the huge significance that it has for its wearer. It is intended to signify the love that exists between two people. In most countries, the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand - the ring finger, although in Norway, Germany and Russia, it is worn on the fourth finger of the right hand.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One&#8217;s wedding ring is often a person&#8217;s most essential item of jewellery, because of the huge meaning that it has for its wearer. It is meant to signify the love that exists between two people. In most countries, the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand &#8211; the ring finger, although in Norway, Germany and Russia, it is worn on the fourth finger of the right hand.</p>
<p>It is usually a good idea to have your finger measured by an expert, before buying an expensive ring, because fingers swell and shrink over the course of a life span and a good jeweller will know how much leeway to allow. If the change in the size of your finger is likely to be lasting, it is a good idea to have the ring resized, this is so that it will neither cut into you nor fall off your finger easily.</p>
<p>These days a lot of couples like to go shopping for wedding rings together, because they want to buy a pair of matching rings that both of them likes. However, it does not have to be like that. In fact it never was, because the man bought the ring for his girlfriend as a surprise. So, if you do not share the same tastes, do not worry about it.</p>
<p>There are hundreds of designs to pick from and several varieties and qualities of metal too. Yellow gold is still the most popular, but there is white gold and specialist golds too like Welsh gold, which is very rare. Besides gold, platinum and titanium are very popular too.</p>
<p>A fast developing trend is for a couple to design or have designed a unique pair of wedding rings. At first, you would think that this would be very expensive, but it is not necessarily so. If you keep your design modest and the stones, if any, equally so, then the rings might only cost 10%-20% more than those off the shelf.</p>
<p>Gold is still the most prevalent metal for a wedding ring, but silver is starting to gain ground too, although it was always looked on as the poor cousin before. Likewise, diamonds are the still the number one stone of choice, but sapphires are also very popular nowadays. Or you could go for plain bands with something like a Celtic knot design.</p>
<p>Shopping for wedding rings can be enjoyable, but it is easy to go over the top and spend much more than you planned to. You could determine how much you can afford and stick to it, not that that always works either. Count on to pay a lot more for the bride&#8217;s wedding ring than the groom&#8217;s. This is because the bride&#8217;s ring usually contains diamonds, whereas the groom&#8217;s is often a plain band of gold.</p>
<p>You could further personalize your wedding rings with an inscription and a date. Personalized, or unique wedding rings often get handed down through the generations. Possibly, yours will too. Or, if you want to wear your grandmother&#8217;s handed-down ring, you could personalize it in some way, so that it is both old and yet something of you as well.</p>
<p>Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with <a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org/celtic-knot-rings.html">Celtic Knot rings</a>. If you have an interest in wedding rings too, please go to our website now at <a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org">White Gold Claddagh Ring</a></p>
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		<title>A Straight-Forward Answer To The Question &#8211; &#8220;Help Me Get My Ex Boyfriend Back?&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://www.portershreve.net/a-straight-forward-answer-to-the-question-help-me-get-my-ex-boyfriend-back/</link>
		<comments>http://www.portershreve.net/a-straight-forward-answer-to-the-question-help-me-get-my-ex-boyfriend-back/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:57:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Orville David</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[get ex back]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[get my ex back]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Are you feeling that regardless of what you do, your ex seems to be pushed further away from you? And are you asking "How To Win Ex Boyfriend Back?" all the time? Well if you do, then these are some pointers to help improve your odds of getting back along with your ex boyfriend.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Do you feel that irrespective of what you do, your ex seems to be pushed further away from you? And are you asking &#8220;How To Get Exboyfriend Back?&#8221; all the time? Well if you do, then here are some pointers to help improve your chances of getting back together with your ex.</p>
<p>It is obvious that the reason you got to this article is the incontrovertible fact that you seriously wished to save or re-kindle your relationship. But maybe that might be the actual reason making you very concerned in making an attempt to get your ex back, which coincidentally caused you to act in a way that that cause your ex to tug away instead. You see, humans are naturally programmed to react to pressure and your anxiety to quickly get back your relationship is making the circumstances worse than it should.</p>
<p>Are you calling your ex too much, consistently writing him e-mails or text messaging him? Are you making an attempt to make him feel sorrowful for you? If you are doing these things, stop! If you are asking&#8217; What can I do to get my ex-boyfriend back&#8217;, then you need to stop doing these things right now.</p>
<p>So what are the ways to get my ex boyfriend back? Let&#8217;s do this instead.</p>
<p>Cut off communications with your ex-boyfriend for a while! Yes, I know it is going to be definitely difficult and challenging. But the actuality is that you will need time off to refocus on yourself instead of the relationship. And you sure need tons of discipline to prevent yourself getting back to your old methods. But if you stick with this no-communications period for a bit and focus on developing yourself and improving your life, you will see dividends.</p>
<p>In this time, your ex is going to experience a shift in how he feels about you, since you will no longer be pursuing him. You will become confusing to him in some ways, because he is not sure what you do or feeling. This is basically something that may work in your favor. Now your ex is in a position to actually miss you, which is not possible when you&#8217;re smothering him.</p>
<p>All that we have done is to work with human nature instead of against it. That&#8217;s really the key to get your ex back. When you understand this guiding principle, responding to the question &#8220;Will I Get Back Together With My Ex Boyfriend&#8221; will begin to show you some extraordinary solutions. Balance in the relationship will be slowly revived and your hubby may begin to recall the reason why he loved you in the 1st place.</p>
<p>So let&#8217;s summarize. Keep your distance for a while, appear puzzling to him and let him miss you and all that attention all over again. Play to win to get once in a while ( simply do not over do it though ). Make him be the one to make the first move. If you keep to this strategy, you&#8217;ll increase the likelihood of getting him back. And then you can stop asking the question <a href="http://getyourexback.smartconsumerbuys.com/Get-Your-Ex-Back-Now.php?pg=uaw">How To Get Back With My Ex Boyfriend</a>?.</p>
<p>Come and learn more about how you can improve your chances of getting back your ex at <a href="http://getyourexback.smartconsumerbuys.com/get-your-ex-back.php?tid=uaw">What Are The Steps To Get My Ex Boyfriend Back</a> and claim your 7 FREE Tips to help you get back with your ex. You can get a unique content version of this article from the Uber <a href='http://www.uberarticles.com/home.php?id=3293192&amp;p=31980'>Article Directory</a>.</p>
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		<title>Investing In Gold</title>
		<link>http://www.portershreve.net/investing-in-gold/</link>
		<comments>http://www.portershreve.net/investing-in-gold/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:39:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Owen Jones</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[A very diversified investment portfolio has a minor opening for a position in gold. Some people think that investing in gold means buying gold coins, usually South African Kruger Rands, which are one troy ounce in weight. Other speculators buy gold futures on the commodity exchange.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A very diversified investment portfolio has a minor opening for a position in gold. Some people think that investing in gold means buying gold coins, usually South African Kruger Rands, which are one troy ounce in weight. Other speculators buy gold futures on the commodity exchange.</p>
<p>However, futures contracts are extremely risky because you are betting that the value of gold will rise or fall in the future. The contract itself requires a relatively small up front payment, but you will have to put up guarantees called margin to take care of daily changes in cost.</p>
<p>The reason investors are interested in gold at the moment is because often in the past, when the stock market is down, the gold market is up. Weakness in the dollar usually brings a rise in the price of gold too.</p>
<p>Another route to investing in gold is through bonds and precious metal funds, which can be purchased through a stock broker. However, you will need to choose your adviser very cautiously, because this field of investing takes highly expert expertise.</p>
<p>The following tips are meant as examples only as you will need up-to-the-minute information, if you are considering investing in stocks, shares and funds. One of the names that will come up in any search is Agnico-Eagle Mines, which trades on the NYSE and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker AEM. They have 30+ year history in the production of gold and In that time, they have produced 4,000,000+ ounces of gold.</p>
<p>Gold has made massive profits for investors in gold since the late 1970&#8217;s. However, the key to making profits from gold is knowledge of the different resistance points in the price and the evaluation of the global market for the use of gold. It is used primarily in jewellery and electronics and some other types of manufacturing.</p>
<p>The biggest markets for gold jewellery is India and other Eastern countries. China&#8217;s new-found prosperity is also having an effect on the markets, although manufacturing is still of prime significance there.</p>
<p>You will need a good stockbroker or consultant, because the gold market is so complicated. If you are speculating on gold as a hedge against a vulnerable dollar, you are taking huge risks and you will need to watch for any increase in the dollar like a hawk. A fairly sensible tactic is to set yourself reasonable goals. For instance, are you happy with a 10% profit or are you going to hang out for a 25% profit?</p>
<p>Gold can be influenced by seasonal events. Check out when people in India get married. It is seasonal and around Christmas time. Then St. Valentine&#8217;s Day is a realistic stimulus too, but you or your adviser will have to study the trends and the graphs.</p>
<p>You can get into gold mining stocks for fairly small money, but it is not the price of the share certificate that is important, it is the yield on those shares. Be on your guard with small mining companies, because the expenses of exploration are ruinous. Likewise, profits on hitting a big seam would be wonderful for a small company.</p>
<p>Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with <a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org/clogau-welsh-gold.html">Clogau Welsh gold</a>. If you have an interest in wedding rings too, please go to our website now at <a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org">White Gold Claddagh Ring</a></p>
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		<title>About Gold Coins</title>
		<link>http://www.portershreve.net/about-gold-coins/</link>
		<comments>http://www.portershreve.net/about-gold-coins/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:56:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Owen Jones</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[collecting]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Gold coins are extremely beautiful items and collecting them goes back to when coins were first issued in pre-Roman Europe. However, it was only in the Middle Ages that the hoarding of gold coins became a leisure pursuit amongst the aristocracy and merchants who could afford to save such valuable items for their beauty and historical importance alone.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Gold coins are extremely beautiful items and collecting them goes back to when coins were first issued in pre-Roman Europe. However, it was only in the Middle Ages that the hoarding of gold coins became a leisure pursuit amongst the aristocracy and merchants who could afford to save such valuable items for their beauty and historical importance alone.</p>
<p>Coin collecting in general is still a very popular hobby enjoyed by millions of people of all ages. School children all over the planet have small collections of foreign coins. Later, that hobby might develop into collecting coins from one&#8217;s own country. For example, it is simpler and cheaper to collect a cent or penny from every year in the 20th Century in your own country than a foreign country.</p>
<p>This higher level of collecting coins can later become an expensive hobby once one has started working and has more money to spend. One might choose to concentrate on collecting gold coins from a particular period or of a certain denomination. Dollar and sovereign coins are very popular in this regard.</p>
<p>In the USA, gold coins were in distribution from 1838 to 1933. The first design was the Liberty Head Bust but this was changed in 1907 to the Indian Head and Saint Gaudens motifs, which were used until 1933. The problems presented by the Great Depression caused gold coins to be recalled to be melted down. This made them rarer and therefore more valuable.</p>
<p>In the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, gold was used for coins from before the birth of Christ and many exemplars of these Roman and Celtic gold coins still exist today. Gold is no longer used as currency in Europe either, although in the UK, a gold sovereign is still worth one pound. The motif on the reverse is George and the Dragon, while the reigning monarch&#8217;s head is on the obverse</p>
<p>South Africa minted its first gold coin named the Krugerrand in 1967. The Krugerrand has no face value because it was not intended to be used as currency. It is made of one ounce of pure gold and is usually purchased solely for investment reasons. Since then other countries have also issued bullion or investment coins. For instance, Canada manufactured the Gold Maple Leaf in 1979 and Australia made the Nugget in 1981.</p>
<p>In the days of the Gold Standard, countries promised to match the value of their currency with the amount of gold they held in reserve. That meant that if a country issued paper money without buying more gold to support it, the value of the paper currency would fall in relation to foreign currencies.</p>
<p>Different countries came off the Gold Standard at slightly different time, but most of them dropped the standard in or around 1971.</p>
<p>Collecting gold coins is a fine pastime, but it should not really be seen as an investment, because old gold coins carry a premium to the value of gold within them. This value is sentiment and that can change quickly. If you want to collect gold coins all well and good, but if you want to buy gold for an investment, then buy bullion coins or bars.</p>
<p>Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with <a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org/clogau-welsh-gold.html">Clogau Welsh gold</a>. If you have an interest in wedding rings too, please go to our website now at <a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org">White Gold Claddagh Ring</a></p>
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		<title>Celtic Weddings</title>
		<link>http://www.portershreve.net/celtic-weddings/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:22:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Owen Jones</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Celtic wedding are an perfect way of showing your being a Celt. It is also a way of incorporating traditional values, symbols, themes and customs into major events in your life. However, Celtic wedding are hugely popular not only among people with a Celtic tradition, but among other couples who are taken by the ancient Celtic culture.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Celtic wedding are an perfect way of showing your being a Celt. It is also a way of incorporating traditional values, symbols, themes and customs into major events in your life. However, Celtic wedding are hugely popular not only among people with a Celtic tradition, but among other couples who are taken by the ancient Celtic culture.</p>
<p>Celtic wedding have traditional symbolic motifs, often based on the Celtic knot. Welsh, Irish and Scottish families will sometimes marry in ancient buildings like castles or old manors, but that is not the standard. A traditional Celtic wedding is not greatly different from a normal British wedding in a lot of ways.</p>
<p>However, the number of similarities between Celtic wedding traditions and normal British-style weddings goes a lot further than that. If you want a traditional British style wedding, you will be going unsuspectingly for a Celtic wedding. But you can beef up the Celtic element of the wedding ceremony even further without sinking into silly theatrics.</p>
<p>This is a traditional Celtic poem about when to marry:</p>
<p>Marry when the year is new, Always loving, kind and true.</p>
<p>When February birds do mate, You may wed, nor dread your fate.</p>
<p>If you wed when March winds blow, Joy and sorrow both you&#8217;ll know.</p>
<p>Marry in April when you can, Joy for maiden and for man.</p>
<p>Marry in the month of May, You will surely rue the day.</p>
<p>Marry when June roses blow, Over land and sea you&#8217;ll go.</p>
<p>They who in July do wed, Must labour always for their bread.</p>
<p>Whoever wed in August be, Many a change are sure to see.</p>
<p>Marry in September&#8217;s shine, Your living will be rich and fine.</p>
<p>If in October you do marry, Love will come but riches tarry.</p>
<p>If you wed in bleak November, Only joy will come, remember.</p>
<p>When December&#8217;s showers fall fast, Marry and true love will last.</p>
<p>Here are a few other traditions:</p>
<p><u>Loving Cup:</u> The traditional cup is a two-handled bowl with Celtic designs engraved onto it. The idea of the Loving Cup ceremony is for the bride and groom to share their first drink together as husband and wife and to demonstrate the coming together of their two families.</p>
<p><u>The Bell of Truce:</u> A bell is blessed and then presented to the bride and groom. The couple is required to ring the bell, while thinking tender thoughts of each other. The bell is then kept at home as a token of the wedding day. If an argument arises, the bell can be rung by either the husband or wife to call a truce. The tinkling sound is meant to remind the couple of their wedding vows and to help them recall happy memories from their wedding day.</p>
<p><u>Handfasting:</u> Early Celts used to ?tie the knot?. It originates from a pre-Christian custom of literally tying a couple&#8217;s wrists together in a form of probationary marriage lasting a year and a day, at the end of which a new agreement was made or the couple parted ways.</p>
<p><u>Bride&#8217;s Bouquet:</u> In Celtic wedding traditions brides carried herbs beneath their veils to symbolize fidelity, and spices to ward off evil spirits.</p>
<p><u>Ring finger:</u> Ancient Celts thought that there was a vein in the third finger of the left hand that ran directly to the heart, so ring placed on that finger denoted a strong love and vow to the other.</p>
<p><u>Wedding cake:</u> A thin loaf was cracked over the bride&#8217;s head at the end of the ceremony to indicate fertility. The wheat from which it was made symbolized fertility and the guests enthusiastically picked up the pieces as good luck charms.</p>
<p>It was also common for the Celtic groom to throw a handful of coins into the crowd after the wedding, in the belief that this would bring them good fortune in the years ahead.</p>
<p>Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with the<a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org/celtic-knot-wedding-ring.html">Celtic Knot wedding ring</a>. If you have an interest in wedding rings too, please go to our website now at <a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org">White Gold Claddagh Ring</a></p>
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		<title>Wedding Rings</title>
		<link>http://www.portershreve.net/wedding-rings/</link>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:38:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Owen Jones</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[The practice of giving and wearing a wedding ring dates back thousands of years. A wedding ring symbolizes faithfulness and love between two people and are given on the day of a couple joining forces. Before the time that the knowledge of how to work metal became widely known, people used such things as plants, grass and even hair to 'tie the knot', which is what I think a wedding ring stands for.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The practice of giving and wearing a wedding ring dates back thousands of years. A wedding ring symbolizes faithfulness and love between two people and are given on the day of a couple joining forces. Before the time that the knowledge of how to work metal became widely known, people used such things as plants, grass and even hair to &#8216;tie the knot&#8217;, which is what I think a wedding ring stands for.</p>
<p>These days a typical wedding ring might be made from valuable metals such as gold, titanium, platinum or even white gold. Women&#8217;s wedding rings often hold a diamond, although sapphires are rapidly becoming more prevalent. Men&#8217;s wedding rings are often just a plain band of gold. There are many distinctive styles of wedding rings, but the most popular for men is definitely the plain gold band.</p>
<p>For those who want something a bit more flamboyant, there are plenty of examples on the market. A man might want a more ostentatious wedding ring, because it is often the only piece of jewellery that a man wears. Some alternatives to the plain band of gold are the Celtic Knot and the Claddagh gold rings.</p>
<p>It is important for men&#8217;s wedding rings to be made from a robust alloy of gold. Most men do physical labour of one kind or another, even if it is only gardening, so it is a lot to ask of a pure gold wedding ring to last thirty or forty years.</p>
<p>A 14 or 18 carat gold ring will probably do it, but a 22 carat ring would not. It would just wear away because it is too pure and consequently too soft. Platinum or titanium are much harder, although most people prefer gold.</p>
<p>In most countries tradition dictates that people wear their wedding ring on their left hand, although in a few countries such as Germany, Russia and Norway, people wear their wedding ring on the right hand.</p>
<p>Some couples would rather have a unique wedding ring and that is not so difficult to achieve as it might first appear to be. The easiest way to personalize your ring is to have an inscription like names and a date engraved on it.</p>
<p>Another way, would be to buy a precious stone separately and have the jeweller set it into the ring for you. The best alternative though is to find a jeweller you can trust and have him or her make up a pair of matching rings to your own design. I have done that and it is not a lot more expensive than a good ring.</p>
<p>Wearing matching wedding rings is a notable experience. People notice that your ring is &#8217;something different&#8217; and many people ask, where you got them from. It all goes to help make that special day unforgettable for ever.</p>
<p>Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with the<a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org/celtic-knot-wedding-ring.html">Celtic Knot wedding ring</a>. If you have an interest in wedding rings too, please go to our website now at <a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org">White Gold Claddagh Ring</a></p>
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		<title>Gold Wedding And Engagement Rings</title>
		<link>http://www.portershreve.net/gold-wedding-and-engagement-rings/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:28:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Owen Jones</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[The most commonly used element for wedding rings and engagement rings is gold. White gold is even more elite. Gold wedding rings look good whether the design is just a simple, plain band or an engraved band like a Celtic Knot. Gold rings can be given on other occasions too of course. Some people give their children a gold ring for their coming of age birthday.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The most frequently used element for wedding rings and engagement rings is gold. White gold is even more elite. Gold wedding rings look good whether the design is just a simple, basic band or an engraved ring like a Celtic Knot. Gold rings can be given on other occasions as well of course. Some people give their children a gold ring for their coming of age birthday.</p>
<p>Until not so long ago, it was customary for the man to give a gold ring when he asked for his girlfriend&#8217;s hand in matrimony. However, nowadays it is more usual for the couple to go shopping for the engagement or wedding ring together. This makes good sense, even if it is less romantic, because the wearer can get the design that she likes.</p>
<p>Gold symbolizes purity in many cultures and that is one of the reasons why it is given to brides and brides to be. The symbolism is all but lost though in today&#8217;s consumer society in the West. For many people though it still symbolizes the hope that they will stay true to each other, until the day they die. It is a way of showing that the wearer has taken vows and intends to stick to them.</p>
<p>There is a huge variety of gold rings available. However, the variety lies not only in the design but also in the purity of the gold. Naturally, the purer the gold, the more expensive it is. In the UK, most gold rings are either 9 or 18 carat. In the USA, most gold rings are 14 carat, but in Thailand, not many people would buy gold that is less than 18 carat and 22 carat is the norm for women. Pure gold is 24 carat, however pure gold is so malleable that you can mould it with your bare hands.</p>
<p>This might sound fine, but it is not. A 24 carat gold ring goes out of shape every few hours, just by you doing what you do every day and then it can pinch your skin. Opening a door can buckle the ring. This means that you can not set stones in pure gold, because they would soon fall out. Pure gold rings are best not even engraved because the design would soon rub off.</p>
<p>Therefore, the best place to begin, if you want a gold ring, is to think about what style you want. Do you want precious stones set into it? Then you should not really go above 18 carat. If you cannot afford 18 carat then 9 or 14 carat is for you. If you want something like a Celtic Knot ring, that is one with an engraved pattern, then anything up to 18 carat for you too, depending on your finances. If you want a pain band of gold, then a thick ring of 22 carat gold would be great, but not if you do a lot of labor-intensive work.</p>
<p>If you really want something special, why not have a gold ring crafted to your own design? It is not so expensive as you might think and you will end up with something unique, especially if you provide your own stone to be polished too. Such a gold ring would become a family heirloom and could stay in the family for generations.</p>
<p>Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the<a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org/celtic-knot-wedding-ring.html">Celtic Knot wedding ring</a>. If you have an interest in wedding rings too, please go to our website now at <a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org">White Gold Claddagh Ring</a></p>
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		<title>Saving Money In The Sales</title>
		<link>http://www.portershreve.net/saving-money-in-the-sales/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:35:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Owen Jones</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Everyone loves to take advantage of the reduced prices during the holiday sales. In fact, the best day to go looking for special offers is the day after the actual holiday is over.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Everyone loves to take advantage of the reduced prices during the holiday sales. In fact, the best day to go looking for special offers is the day after the actual holiday is over.</p>
<p>Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and it is the busiest shopping day of the year. You will get enormous savings, but you will have to get up early, be ready to queue and jostle.</p>
<p>Another example is jewellery and St Valentine?s Day. Many men buy their wives or girlfriends jewellery during this period as a St Valentine?s Day gift. However, in the weeks after St Valentine?s Day, you can save a minimum of 30% on the very same pieces of jewellery that were on sale a week before. This is a clear indication that we are being hood-winked on these holiday occasions and that we should wait until the actual holiday is over.</p>
<p>OK, it may not seem so romantic to wait, but it must be preferable to be able to get 30% more gold for your money or to give the same gift, but be able to go for a meal too. If I were a woman, I know which alternative I would choose!</p>
<p>Or, instead of a nice silver or gold ring, you would be able to afford gold instead of silver or white gold instead of yellow. You could get a exquisite Celtic knot or a Claddagh ring instead of a simple band.</p>
<p>Striking Easter outfits are also expensive before Easter. However, why not buy the items you want after Easter and either make use of them next year or use them for parties, exceptional occasions or church? You can save a bundle of money in this way, just by using a little forward planning.</p>
<p>In order to help cut down on how much money you spend on Christmas gifts, why not try buying them all year long as and when you find something nice in the sales? How many times have you come across something in a sale and said to yourself: &#8216;that would be the perfect gift for so-and-so&#8217;? It is better to take advantage of these opportunities and keep the items aside for when the right event comes up.</p>
<p>Then there are those post Christmas sales too. The Boxing Day sales are a great opportunity to pick up items that you can give as gifts later in the year. And why not buy something for yourself too while you are at it? You can save a fortune on your favourite scents. Buy enough to last you the rest of the year!</p>
<p>You can make your funds go a lot further if you take advantage of the post holiday sales. Rely on serendipity. Buy opportunistically and you will not only save yourself a lot of money, but you will never be stuck for a gift at the last minute either.</p>
<p>Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the<a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org/celtic-knot-wedding-ring.html">Celtic Knot wedding ring</a>. If you have an interest in wedding rings too, please go to our website now at <a href="http://whitegoldcladdaghring.org">White Gold Claddagh Ring</a></p>
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