This article describes where to look, what to look for, and how to choose day-hiking boots. Knowing where to look and what to look for, you can be sure to get the high-quality hiking boots you need without paying extra for features you don’t need.

Day-hiking boots range anywhere from $40.00 to $150.00. The high end of that range is beginning to cross into backpacking boots, but anything below that range is either an exceptionally good deal or an imitation hiking boot that will disappoint you badly.

So, let’s talk about the kinds of places to shop for hiking boots, features to look for, pitfalls to avoid, and techniques to make sure you have the right fit.

Where to Shop for Hiking Boots

If you have never done any serious hiking, you will want to buy your first serious hiking boots in a hands-on experience. I’m being honest here (habit of mine). Yes, it is in my interest to persuade you to buy your hiking boots through my Web site, but I won’t do that if it is not appropriate for you. Even aside from ethical considerations, it would be bad business for me to create a lot of dissatisfied customers telling their friends about their bad experience. No, I’m just being honest. I don’t want to take your money and leave you unhappy. Buy your first pair of hiking boots at a brick-and-mortar store where you can handle the boots and try them for proper fit. Then, when you have enough experience to know what you want in your second pair of hiking boots (or third, or …), you can take advantage of the lower prices available on the Web.

When shopping for hiking boots, look for an outdoor equipment store rather than a shoe store. The sales clerks in a general shoe store are not likely to know the difference between real hiking boots and fashion imitations of hiking boots. You might pay more money at an outdoor equipment store, but you will realize the savings out on the trail.

Once you’re in the store, ask about some of the things you read in this article. If the sales clerk doesn’t know what a scree collar is or why soft outer soles are better than hard, look for another sales clerk, or another store.

If you are ready to buy your hiking boots on the Web, you can take advantage of the best of both worlds. You can buy from a high-volume store that has the best prices, but first get your advice, recommendations, and reviews from affiliated Web sites that specialize in hiking equipment.

Wherever you choose to buy your hiking boots, make sure there is a reliable, knowledgeable person in the loop somewhere. If the sales clerk or Web site seems too eager about making the sale and not interested enough in discussing and comparing features, you should look somewhere else before you make a final decision.

Especially when you are shopping the Web sites, you may need to pay attention to brands. Certain brands have a well-deserved reputation for good quality, and you should not ignore that. On the other hand, some brands have an overblown reputation that often has more to do with fashion than with genuine quality. The only way to know the difference, and to find the quality you need without paying for fashion that you don’t care about, is to talk to those who know the difference and to read reviews from people who have actually used the hiking boots in the field.

Features to Look For in Day-Hiking Boots

Here is what you need to look for:

* Deep tread in a soft sole for traction.

* Appropriate height (just above the ankle).

* Soft, wide, thick scree collar (the padding around the top that keeps pebbles out without chafing your Achilles tendon).

* Fiberglass shank. Steel is okay, but fiberglass is better in day-hiking boots because it’s lighter. Full-length is preferred, but shorter shanks may be acceptable if you are planning more moderate hiking.

* Tongue attached at least up to the top of the foot, or higher if you plan on crossing streams frequently.

* Crampon attachments (good, but not essential, unless you do a lot of hiking in icy conditions).

* Hooks for the laces above the top of the foot.

* Choose eyelets, D-rings, or webbing for the lower lace attachment points as a matter of personal taste. My experience does not indicate any one to be better than the others for day-hiking boots.

* Good insulation and padding all around, firm on the bottom, with a tough but smooth lining.

* Double stitching on all visible seams.

* More leather and less fabric is better. Split leather is fine (and you’ll almost never find full-grain leather in a day-hiking boot), but not full suede.

* Fewer seams is better.

Most of these features are self-evident, but here are a few techniques for evaluating specific features.

* Tread should be at least two fifths of the total thickness of the sole.

* Measure the softness of the tread surface by pressing your thumbnail into it. You should be able to make a visible indentation that springs out in a second or so.

* Measure the stiffness of the shank by holding the heel in one hand and the toe in the other, and twisting the sole. You should not be able to twist it at all.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Hiking Boots

The biggest problem you’re likely to find in shopping for day-hiking boots is cheaply-made “imitation” hiking boots. They look like hiking boots, but they’re not built to stand up to trail conditions. They will not last long, and they will not give you the traction and water resistance you need.

You can tell an “imitation” hiking boot from the real thing by these characteristics:

* Mild tread, less than about two-fifths the thickness of the sole.

* Hard tread surface that you can barely indent with your fingernail.

* Non-attached tongue.

* Non-rigid sole that you can twist by hand.

* No scree collar. There may be patches of leather or a different color of fabric that look like a scree collar, but if it doesn’t have thick, soft padding around the top, it’s not a real hiking boot. It won’t keep the pebbles out, and it might chafe or constrict your Achilles tendon.

Fitting your Hiking Boots

You must fit your hiking boots with any orthopedic inserts, off-the-shelf insoles, and the hiking socks you intend to wear with them. A good rule of thumb is to start with one full size larger than your regular street shoes.

With all the inserts and insoles in place and your hiking socks on, but with no laces in the boot, put the boot on and push your foot all the way forward until your toes touch the front. You should have just enough room behind the heel to slide your finger all the way in.

Next, lace the boot up snugly and walk around. The boots will be stiff and uncomfortable because they’re not broken in, but they should not allow your foot to slide or rub.

Stand on a steep slope with your toes pointing down. (Use the fitting horse where you’re supposed to put your foot to lace the shoe while sitting. Go ahead and stand on it.) You should be able to wiggle your toes, and they should not touch the front of the boots.

If you bought the boots via the Web, do this fit-test as soon as you get them. Even if you think you know your size, boots from different manufacturers might fit differently. Check the size and fit immediately, and return them for a replacement if they don’t fit right.

Conclusion

If you are looking for your first pair of serious hiking boots, you must do your shopping in an outdoor equipment store where you can handle the boots and talk to knowledgeable sales staff. Only if you have some experience with day-hiking boots, take advantage of the bargains available on the Web.

Check for the features that identify a quality hiking boot, and avoid “fake” hiking boots.

Bring all the inserts and socks you will wear with your hiking boots, and check for a firm but comfortable fit with no rubbing or sliding.

Look for quality, and expect to pay for it, but don’t pay more than you have to for features that don’t contribute to the durability and comfort of your hiking boots.

Chuck Bonner is a lifelong hiker and amateur naturalist, and webmaster of http://www.HikingWithChuck.com For more information about hiking boots and other hiking equipment based on many years on the trail, visit http://www.hikingwithchuck.com/Gear/HikingGear.htm

Falling off a horse is a very dreadful scenario. After the fall, the pain is made worse by the thought of giving up horse riding due to serious injuries.

Even if you have been riding for several years, an accident will make it hard for you to regain the confidence to go horse back riding again. It may help though if you think of other people who went through the same ordeal but was able to overcome the fear and enjoy riding again.

The fear that you experience after an accident is normal. If you broke your leg or your shoulder, there is physical pain and you might doubt your abilities to control your horse again. What is important is to look inside you and discover your deep passion for horse riding.

Horse riding is a relationship between two living creatures. The element of trust is displayed when you go on top and the horse is being sensitive to your cues through your body language, look, and tone of your voice. Horse riding is having confidence with your horse and the horse trusting you in return.

Things you can Do to Overcome Fear After an Accident

• Take a Break- it is true that time will heal. Take a long break rather than force yourself to go back and mount a horse again.

• Rediscover your Comfort Zones – When you ride your horse again, try to rediscover situations or places that make you comfortable to each other. You may start out by doing slower gaits during horse riding, or maybe do not ride at all but help grooming your horse. Sometimes it may help if you ride a more mature horse which you can trust. Try to regain your skills starting from the lowest level of difficulty, and advancing at your own comfortable pace.

• Mental Programming- it will help to practice movements through your imagination first. Mentally plan out all moves, from the way you mount the horse, how you gallop, how you canter and how you jump with the horse. You will notice how this mental programming will help when you do the real thing. Through this mental exercise our brain will correlate our movements and help our body execute properly when the need arises.

• Hypnosis- Using self hypnosis will help you overcome your fear, your anxiety, and your doubts. Your fear due to the horse riding accident might be over triggering your instinct of fight and flight even when not needed. Hypnosis will help balance out your negative thoughts with all the positive things you know about horse riding.

• Discuss Your Fears- opening up to friends or support group and talking about your horse riding fears may actually ease up the situation. Holding that fear inside may actually worsen it. Do not let that fear take control of your whole being, use will power that you have inside you.

• Talk Positive- Always think that you will do things to conquer that fear. Before you know it, confidence will be back and you will be enjoying horse riding again.

Remember that it is all in the mind. No matter how much fear has taken control of you, you can always overcome it. The more you know yourself and your horse will give you the courage to trust each other again.

Prestige Horsebox is a leading manufacturer of Horseboxes in the UK.

It’s perfectly acceptable and, actually, highly recommended to take a surfing lesson when you’re just picking up the sport. You might think surfing is logical and that you will have the natural ability to pick it up right away, but the reality is that surfing is a very awkward sport when you first start out and there are tons of little tips that you can acquire only from a surf instructing professional.

Surf lessons can be private or in groups and last for about an hour. You will likely ride on a completely foam board that is nearly 10 feet long and very lightweight, which catches waves easily and gives you a lot of float. Most surf schools guarantee that you will stand up on a wave. If you don’t, you can usually come back for another lesson for free until you do. It might appear unnecessary and dorky, but a beginning surf lesson will likely accelerate your surfing ability more than the trial and error of learning on your own. If you go it alone, your learning curve will likely be slower, more painful, and in some cases more dangerous.

Another thing you must keep in mind is that friends who surf are not the same as surf instructors. Some of your friends may have been surfing for years, but if you ask them to go surfing with you to help you learn, they could well be worse than your least favorite middle school teacher. You and your experienced surfing friends might paddle out together, but your friends might leave you treading water at the lineup while they’re catching all the waves.

That’s why you are much better off shelling out the $50 or so for a first lesson. Surf instructors get paid to answer questions and push you into a wave. Their main goal is for you to have a good time while riding your first wave. To take full advantage of the time you have with your instructor, it is advisable to prepare a list of questions you can ask. There’s no limit to the silly or stupid questions you can ask a surf instructor, so fire away.

Surf instructors take their students to beginner surf breaks that are usually a bit crowded. This will be a most humbling experience, but you will be among others who are in the same boat as you. One thing is for certain: Wherever it is you go with your instructor, he or she won’t paddle you out to a break that you can’t handle, so you know you will be safe and taken care of. For this reason, surf lessons ensure that you will paddle back out another day wanting more. Goodness knows you don’t want to be in over your head or get injured and be too scared to try the sport again. So start off on the right foot by taking one surf lesson. Once you get that initial lesson out of the way, you’ll feel far more confident going it alone thereafter.

Robb Bailey works for South Coast Surf Shops, San Diego’s premiere surfboard distributor and surf apparel dealer for more than 30 years. He has been inducted as a lifetime honorary member of his college surf club, the Cal Poly Surfer’s Association, and has traveled the world surfing for the past 11 years. Find out more about Robb at SouthCoast.com

Many people love to give gifts to their loved ones at Easter. There are so many things to consider when trying to find the perfect gift for someone special. Ideas for Easter gifts are endless and can be customizable. If you are planning to make this Easter a time that your gift recipients will remember for a long time, now is the time to start thinking about what kind of gift they would like to receive and could even come in use long after the holiday is over.

Of course, everyone knows that the Easter Basket is the more traditional gift for Easter. There are so many things you can do with a basket. For children a basket full of Easter chocolates and other candy is an excellent idea. If you are giving an Easter Basket to an adult, the contents of the basket should be a little more adult orientated. You can still through some chocolates in the mix but also add things like bubble bath and body wash for the women and after-shave and shaving cream for the men. Gifts like this can last for a while.

If you are looking for a more sophisticated gift idea try looking at real or even fake floral arrangements. Flowers are greats gifts for parents or grandparents. Some flowers that represent Easter are daisies and tulips. These are the flowers that are most often associated with Easter, also associated with Easter is the Easter lily. The Easter lily also has religious meanings and is a really good gift for the grandparents. You can make your own floral arrangement, buy a premade floral arrangement or have one custom made for your recipient. You can also have a candy floral arrangement, these are more popular for Valentines Day but can also make a great Easter gift.

If you want to go with a less traditional gift basket there are many variations and endless possibilities. You can do a meat, cheese and wine basket or even a mini sausage, cheese and liquor or beer basket for your adult friends. For teenagers who have grown out of the candy and stuffed bunny stage you can create as basket around their particular interests. For example, a couple of small books, a book mark and a reading light for the book lover or a portable CD player, a couple of CDs and batteries for the music lover. You can also throw in some chocolates and a card.

Once again, ideas for Easter holiday gifts are endless. These are just a few that I personally thought were good ideas, and some less traditional options. Whatever gifts you decide to give to your family and friends they are sure to love them because of the simple fact you took the time to think about what they would like, and thought long and hard about them.

Have a lovely easter and wonderful spring.

For a fun Easter, visit easter-bunny.org, where you can find both Easter gift baskets and Easter costumes for adults, children and babies so that you can all dress up and have a great time.

Los Angeles, CA, USA August 15, 2008. Amongst the protests of antiwar and economic uncertainty growing stronger with no end in site, I would like draw attention to artwork from the 1960’s that has made an impact on my life. Remember the day glow posters and black lights? Remember the rock art from The Fillmore play bills we all saved? Remember the image from Hair the American Tribal Love Rock Musical? All these and more will always hang in my mind as remembrance of a time of innocence. Drugs, Sex and Rock and Roll were a part of most of the baby boomers lives when we were not afraid to get stoned and attend an antiwar peace protest. I will always remember protesting the Vietnam War in NYC and a blurry instance of running over the rocks and hills in Central Park when we were chased by police at a Schaefer Music Festival Concert in Central Park. We can all relive the experiences of going to Led Zeppelin, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter, Black Sabbath, and Grand Funk Rail Road concerts…what a time we had….Quaaludes, Benzedrine, Tuinals, Seconals. Boones Farm anyone? Though the majority of of us are all clean and sober now…it is still fun to reminisce those great days.
The memories I have of the Hippie movement are resonating more today than ever with the revival of Hair the American Tribal Love Rock Musical free concert at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater. The message is resonating more strongly with the youth and young adults of the world today than perhaps ever before. When asked recently about the resonance and resurgence of this iconic symbol on today’s young adults, the plays legendary producer, Michael Butler, answered emphatically, “It isn’t coming back, it never left, Hair’s message is more relevant today than its ever been. Over 11 million people have seen the play, an estimated quarter of a billion have heard the music. It’s in dozens of productions around the world as we speak. In fact, a third of all American actors have had some association with Hair. Its been a force for good for almost four decades.”

The Age of Aquarius times of running around as free as a bird was a time in history when we lived in the moment without a worry in the world. Hair, the first ever rock opera, opened in 1968 and all of us would travel into the city form Long Island and New Jersey to participate in this communal offering giving us an insight into the decade of the flower children which we were all very much a part of. It shocked audiences for its lyrics and subject matter, as well as onstage nudity. The original script contains a nude scene, but it is not essential to the plot and individual productions may or may not choose to include it. The original script also contains some racist language which again, may be edited on today’s stage.

As reported recently in “USA Today” the New York based trend forecasting think tank, The Trends Research Institute, found something unique in American history, a new generation looking back in time for inspiration… specifically, the 1960’s.

“Hair” grew out of a new downtown ethos embraced by the radical – and charismatic – Joseph Papp, who in the mid-’60s was adding the Public Theater to his New York Shakespeare Festival in Central Park. After a brief run at a nightclub called Cheetah, the show was picked up by Michael Butler, heir to a Chicago paper fortune. He had it restaged by Tom O’Horgan, and readied for Broadway in 1968.

“As I look through my old posters, play bills, and concert flyers I’ve collected through the years I have such fond memories of growing up in the 60’s. As a young girl living in Southern California life was quite enjoyable. Saving my allowance to buy the latest albums, going to concerts…it was all so exciting. One of my most happy memories is seeing the touring production of the musical Hair…and I still have the play booklet. Over the past few years I have been collecting Hair posters from all over the world, in different languages from different Tribes! The best poster in my collection is the reproduction of the original from the 1968 Broadway opening There is something mesmerizing about the aura photographed around the actors head. I love the colors of this art piece of which promote brotherly love and world peace.”…..states Myrle Atchley from Mississippi.

There are many great 60’s pop artists; I love Andy Warhol, John Van Hamersveld, Roy Lichtenstein, and Bob Massy. There is something really special about the work that Russoli and Rodriquez created for Hair. They were experimenting the aura technique in photography. When approached by Producer Michael Butler with the idea to create the marketing for the new play, he introduced them to Steve Curry, one of the original actors in the soon to open Broadway production of Hair. The play opened on April 29th at The Biltmore Theater in NYC and sold out every night and ran for 1,750 performances. I was 16 years old at West Hempstead High School when my girlfriend’s mom took us into Manhattan to see the show.

Forty years later, I love the art hanging on my wall. Frame and hang and enjoy as art takes you through the memories and the journey of our lives.

Art imitates life and as we witness today’s youth letting there hair down and getting that what we lived through in the sixties parallels with what is happening in the world today.

On with the Hairy revolution.

Ace Ross – Friends of Cashmere – http://www.friendsofcashmereboutique.com

This is an guide to help anybody who needs to know if there house is truly haunted, remember there is help available if you need it.

What to watch for – and what to do about it.

You hear heavy footsteps in the upstairs hallway when you know no one is up there. Doors slam unaccountably. Commonly used items disappear and reappear without cause. The kitchen light turns on by itself. There’s the unmistakable scent of a strange perfume in the air.

These may be indications that your house is haunted. True hauntings are rare occurrences, and it may be difficult to determine whether or not any strange phenomena you are experiencing in your home might be due to a haunting. For one thing, no one really knows what a “real” haunting is – what causes it or why it starts.

The Signs of a Haunting

The first step is to determine, as best you can, whether or not you truly have a legitimate case of a haunting.

Not all hauntings are alike, and they may exhibit a variety of phenomena. Some hauntings feature a single phenomenon – such as a particular door slamming shut that occurs repeatedly – while others consist of many different phenomena, ranging from odd noises to full-blown apparitions.

Here’s a partial list of phenomena that might indicate that your house is haunted:

1: Does your home have cold spots…areas where there is no evidence of a draft, but you can feel one anyway? Oftentimes, spiritual activity is accompanied by cold wisps of air and chilling puffs against your skin. They can be a barely-noticeable occurrence, or very strong. Goosebumps can result. Pay attention, these can be very tell-tale.

2: If you hear ghostly footsteps, wait until the phenomenon has stopped (or until daylight, if you’re more comfortable) and try to duplicate the sound by walking wherever the footsteps came from. Was it really footsteps, or the house settling or shifting as the temperature dropped at dusk?

3: Do your dogs or cats tend to avoid or obsess about a particular location in your home? Animals are extremely sensitive to paranormal occurrences and “vibes”. They will often stare at a particular spot for no specific reason, growl at thin air, flee from nothing and bark at something you can’t see. Sooth the animal and get it to calm down. Take notice of when and where these things happen and see what other signs might be going on. Pay heed to your pets. They’re innocently psychic.

4: Do you find that friends or family mention feeling a particular way in your home or specific location in the home? Are they spooked at times? Do they talk about nighttime occurrences or feelings they have? Those who don’t live full time in the house will often feel more spirit energy than those living there. We can grow “immune” to the feelings in our own house. Pay attention to what visitors say.

5: Very common scents that are not usual to your surroundings can indicate some spirit activity. The sense of smell is extremely strong in relation to memory for human beings. We can smell a particular aroma and be taken instantly back to a strong memory we’ve stored that is connected to that smell. Perfumes, flower scents, earthy scents and cooking smells are some of the scents detected in relation to ghostly activity.

6: You can try meditation, open yourself to the experience of feeling the atmosphere of your own home. Clear your thoughts and breathe deeply, drawing in the ambiance around your house and filtering it through your senses. Does it feel charged with energy? Does it feel as though you’re not alone? Does it feel like there are emotions there that don’t belong to your or other inhabitants? These things all can indicate presences of spirit people and ghostly visitors.

7: If you have children, do they seem to have developed a imaginary friend. This is common we know with all children, but sometimes a spirit can attach itself to a child and draw on there energy. Spirits are especially attracted to children as there souls are pure and are very easily manipulated. Children will believe anything.

It is not uncommon for a child’s behavior to change dramatically. Signs of this maybe:

Constant Fatigue, this occurs by the spirit drawing on the child’s energy.

Increase in aggression

Lack of concentration, this may be their performance at school.

An increase in nightmares.

I relise this just sounds like a normal child.

The best way to tell though is by listening to your child’s conversations with so called imaginary friend.

Your child may use particular words or phrases or have knowledge of an event, that they could not possibly know.

Ask your child questions about who he/she may be talking to.

Is this person a boy or girl?

How old is he/she?

Where are he/she from?

What do you talk about? etc!

8: Do you see or hear doors slam shut by themselves.

This is very common and can be miss interpreted for a haunting. Check the surrounding area for any drafts. Put your hand around cracks in doors and windows and try to feel for any drafts that may come through them. You must eliminate any natural causes.

9: If an object seems to move by itself, check the floor or surface with a carpenter’s level. You can pick up a cheap one for under $2, and it’ll fit in your purse or pocket. If the object is lightweight, check for drafts, too.

10: If windows open themselves, check the hardware. Make certain they’re really closed. Try the window to see if the counterweight isn’t right, and the window opens too easily.

11: If windows close themselves, try propping them with a piece of pipe or other solid object. Ghosts pop those props out, gravity usually doesn’t.

Poltergeist phenomena is its own animal, so to speak. First, try to repeat the incident yourself, using natural means that could have occurred the first time. (A dish can fall off a shelf if the shelf is shaky. A dish cannot fly across the room and smash on the wall unless someone threw it, or rigged it.

For further information please visit the G.A.P.S Discussion Forum At: http://gaps.net.au

Are you having doubts about your husbands commitment to you? How can you tell if your husband is cheating? I am going to give you the tools to find out and also the information you need to make the decision of how to get your life back on track. Below we will discuss the signs of a cheating husband. Please read on and don’t forget to visit me for more information to follow.

Behavior changes

A cheating husband will display certain behaviors. In order for you to catch your husband cheating is important for you to pay close attention to detail. Ask yourself questions like: Is he coming home late? If there has been a change in his work schedule, this could be a good clue. Has he started a new activity? Does he have a new group of friends? Any of these schedule changes would be something to watch for.

Some other behaviors of a cheating husband may include, picking fights with you. Hiding things that he didn’t before. Being distant and changes in sexual desire or performance.

You must pay attention to small details. If you have a feeling that something is wrong, it probably is. Women’s intuition is very strong. There may be something else going on besides cheating. There could be other problems in the relationship that need work. You may not catch your husband cheating, it may be something entirely different.

Suspicious Activity

If your husband is cheating he is contacting another woman somehow. Technology will allow you to track what your husband is doing. Even on his computer and cell phone. You just have to know where to find the equipment to do so. Watch bank statements and credit cards for unusual spending. Hidden video cameras and voice activated recorders can be hidden in places that he doesn’t know. Some of this equipment is surprisingly inexpensive.

Until you know for sure that your husband is cheating you cannot decide what you will do. You must know for sure what is going on. Check in at his office. Call him at unexpected times. Surprise him with a lunch date. Any of these things may throw him off and let him know that you are on to something.

Communicate

At some point in time, hard questions are going to have to be asked. There obviously once was a time that you could talk to your husband. Maybe you can try that again. Please don’t come across accusing. Just question his feelings, try to figure out what is bothering him. You may be surprised how easy this is once you both get started talking. In the end if your husband is cheating there is help available. I hope that you do not catch your husband cheating, but if you do I have been there. I can help you with the resources and information you need. Please see below for more information.

Hi! I am Lisa Sweets. I am dedicated to helping women and keeping families together. For more resources and how to get through this difficult time come see me here

Your palms are sweaty, your throat’s dry, your heart’s beating faster and louder than a marching band – it’s quite likely then, that you’re about to give the all -important wedding speech. But before you drag your feet to the microphone like a person condemned to the gallows, take a little inspiration from our do’s and don’ts that will soon have you leaping onto the stage brimming with confidence.

The Father of the Bride’s Speech

Traditionally, the father of the bride’s speech is the first speech given. As father of the bride, it’s appropriate to welcome all the guests and thank them for attending.

Do
- Welcome your new son-in-law, and his parents into the family
- Let your daughter know proud you are of her and how lovely she looks
- Relate a humourous anecdote about your first impression of your son-in-law
- Offer advice and well wishes to the couple
- Propose a toast to the happy couple

Don’t
- Joke about polishing your shotgun or breaking bones if your new son-in-law hurts your daughter. Just remember: Threats (even in jest) + Weddings = Bad Atmosphere – no matter how protective you are of the bride.

The Father of the Groom’s Speech

Traditionally the father of the groom’s speech occurs after the father of the bride has made his speech.

Do
- Welcome your new daughter-in-law and her parents into the family.
- State how proud you are of your son and how pleased you are to see him married to his bride.
- Tell an anecdote about your first impressions of the couple, an amusing incident involving the wedding preparations or a memorable moment during the bride and groom’s courtship.
- Give advice and well wishes to the couple.
- Propose a toast to the happy couple.

Don’t
- Embarrass the bride and groom with your anecdote. At best, you’ll only get a few uneasy laughs and a whole lot of uncomfortable silence.

The Groom’s Speech

The groom’s speech usually comes next and provides him with the opportunity to respond to the wedding speeches already given by his father and father-in-law. Traditionally the groom would speak on behalf of himself and his bride. However nowadays, a bride’s speech has become commonplace also.

Do
- Welcome all the guests, with a special mention of those who have travelled a long way to be there.
- Thank the bride’s parents for allowing you their daughter’s hand in marriage and for welcoming you into their family.
- Give appreciation of the comments made by your father and father-in-law.
- Pay tribute to your own parents.
- Acknowledge all the people involved in the wedding preparations.
- Propose a toast to the bridesmaids and acknowledge their unique role as support to your bride during the wedding and reception.
- Thank your best man and groomsmen for their role during the wedding and wedding preparations.

Don’t
- Forget to thank and compliment the bride. It’s a common mistake many grooms make. Though many people need to be acknowledged for all the time and effort they’ve put into the wedding, she’s put in many hours too – especially in transforming herself into the vision of beauty that stands before you now!

The Bride’s Speech

It’s become quite common for the bride to give a speech on her wedding day, particularly if family members or close friends can not be present.

Do
- Thank all guests for traveling to be with you for the occasion.
- Describe the feelings of the day and how happy you are to be married to your new husband.
- Thank the groom’s parents for accepting you into their family.
- Pay tribute to your own parents.
- Acknowledge the help of bridesmaids and others for their role in the wedding and preparations.
- Acknowledge anything notable said in previous speeches.

Don’t
- Hog the limelight! Whilst it is your special day, the speeches aren’t supposed to be your domain.

The Best Man’s Speech

The one that everyone’s been waiting for! Usually the best man’s wedding speech is last and rounds off the formal speeches. However, the best man is often called upon to be the master of ceremonies and can sometimes be the first to toast the bride and groom also.

Traditionally the best man is either a close relative or close friend of the groom and is therefore in the unique position of having known the groom long before he met his bride. This means the speech is often the most intimate of them all. It’s usually light-hearted and fun and demonstrates his affection for the groom and happiness for the couple.

Do
- Thank all the guests for coming (particularly if you are also acting as master of ceremonies).
- If you are a friend of the groom, describe how you met the groom and relate a funny but not too embarrassing story of the groom that others will enjoy.
- If you are a relative of the groom, describe a childhood incident or something similar which may be amusing for guests to share.
- Talk about the groom’s life, experiences and qualities.
- Describe how happy you were when the couple met and began their courtship.
- Propose a toast to the parents of the happy couple.
- To finish, read out letters and telegrams from those who were not able to attend. If there are many, read a selection.

Don’t
- Get drunk. Many best men make the mistake of having a few for Dutch courage and get a little carried away. Slurring and stumbling is not attractive in a speaker.
- Relate incidents involving the groom’s past girlfriends. Nobody – especially the bride – likes to be reminded that they weren’t the only one.

Other Common Wedding Speeches:

Aside from the above wedding speeches, the respective mothers’ of the bride and groom and also the maid of honor may wish to give a speech also.

As mother of the bride, or mother of the groom, you may wish to stand with your husband while he is making his speech and add a few words of your own, finishing off by proposing a joint toast to the couple. Or you may have a full speech of your own prepared along similar lines to topics traditionally addressed by the father of the bride or father of the groom.

Similarly, as a maid of honor, it is common to make a speech similar to that of the best man but with the focus being on the bride’s qualities and experiences you have shared together.

Other Important tips:

Be mindful of your audience: There is likely to be a variety of guests from different cultural or social backgrounds and it’s important to keep this in mind when planning what you will say and the gestures that you use when delivering your speech. You may hold your palm up to stop people’s conversations and to get their attention but in Greece it’s the equivalent to giving someone ‘the finger’. A thumb’s up to an attendee of the wedding may be meant endearingly but to citizens from the Middle East, West Africa and South America it’s hideously offensive. When in doubt, always err on the side of caution. Refrain from swearing and keep your gestures discrete.

Make eye contact: As with all public speaking, it is effective to make regular eye contact with your audience. Making eye contact engages your audience and makes them feel involved in what you are saying. If you are using palm cards or written notes, make sure the writing is big enough to see easily. Rather than writing out the whole speech, consider writing only the main points so that your delivery feels natural and you are able to maintain regular eye contact with your audience.

Don’t rush: Speak at a normal conversational pace, or slightly slower. It is natural to speak more quickly when everyone’s attention is on you but try to resist this urge. Listeners will relax and hear you better if you speak calmly and at a steady pace.

Speak with heart: Weddings are a beautiful celebration of love and unity. Keep this in mind when you are delivering your wedding speech. If you speak with a full heart you will add to the feeling of love and auspiciousness which surrounds the occasion and your words will penetrate into the hearts of all those present.

About the Author:

Article brought to you by Bride Online, Australia’s premier wedding portal. Find wedding dresses, flowers, bridal gowns and bouquets, bridesmaid dresses, reception venues, marriage celebrants, flowers, cakes, invitations, photographers and more. Bride Online have free wedding planning tools, articles and tips, photo galleries and even wedding classifieds listing pre-loved bridal items to make organising your wedding day nuptials stress-free and easy. Also visit Wedding Directory Australia, for more wedding resources and ideas.

Let’s face it, there will always be someone that will say negative things about you behind your back. It’s human nature and something that simply can’t be avoided.

There’s things your boyfriend or husband may say behind your back that if you
only knew the results would be devastating.

I hear it all the time when guys hang out and carry on conversations. They
start talking about what they hate about their girlfriend or wife, talk about
how they cheated on their mate, and even talk about what they don’t like about
their mate’s physical appearance.

I often think to myself in the middle of the conversation, “wow, if that poor
girl only knew what’s really going on”. See you have to take it from a guy’s
perspective. The truth is I hear things that most women will never hear simply
because I’m a guy.

The reason is because guys will often have an easier time letting loose and
sharing things with their guy friends about their significant other. They will
share things they would otherwise have a harder time communicating with their
mate.

It’s unfortunate, because of the lack of communication, some women are totally blinded to
what’s really going on behind the scenes in their relationship.

The best way to combat this is to keep an open line of communication with your
mate so he is not afraid to tell you what’s on his mind. If you always act
defensive or fail to keep an open mind in your relationship then your mate may
be more inclined to share important things about you with his friends instead
of with you.

Also you can’t live your life caring too much about what anybody thinks,
because no matter what you do, people are going to talk about you behind your
back. Matter of fact, the more successful you become the more negative comments
will come out of people’s mouths.

You also have to learn how to be insightful and aware about everything that
goes on in your relationship in order to protect yourself. Of course this is a skill that can always be improved and used on a daily basis.

To find out other relationship secrets men don’t want you to know visit http://www.LoveUnlock.com

I had to learn how to save my marriage and so can you. Even though we had been friends for years, you never really know someone until you start living with them. That’s a saying that is completely true.

Others are not so true. Here’s a look at some good and bad advice that I’ve seen over the years and four important promises to live by.

I Will Not Over Discuss a Subject

When I was trying to learn how to save my marriage, one of the suggestions that I got was this. Never go to bed angry. Sometimes, that’s hard.

If you are discussing or arguing about something and getting nowhere, sometimes the best solution is a good night’s sleep. Agree to look at the matter again in the morning or the next evening, if mornings are hectic.

Make a date to go to the park or sit and look at the ocean, while you figure the whole thing out. Write down what you eventually decide and sign it, both of you.

I Will Make Time for Love

As I was trying to figure out how to save my marriage, I realized that we never scheduled time for romance and love. We both had stressful jobs, requiring us to work late and sometimes work at home. We had kids and homework, lunches to pack, after-school events to arrange.

We were often exhausted by the time we got to bed. But, both of us were off on Saturday and Sunday. We made Saturday night “our” night. We hired a sitter and sometimes stayed in a hotel, when one of our relatives could spend the night with the kids.

We would pretend that we were still dating and “make-out” in the car, before going into the house. It kept things exciting and we had lots of fun.

I Will Take Care of Myself (and Clean up Afterwards)

When I was learning how to save my marriage, I realized that I left crumbs on the counter, whiskers in the sink and threw my dirty clothes in a pile. I never thought about who cleaned all of those things up. It was like they “magically disappeared”.

I also realized that when I wasn’t working out and didn’t pay attention to my appearance, I was “grumpier” and more difficult to get along with. Every day, you need to commit to a “health and beauty regimen”.

You’ll feel better about yourself and get along better with your spouse.

I Will Get Counseling When Necessary

I was at first opposed to counseling, but I truly wanted to know how to save my marriage, so I stopped being a “know-it-all”. I learned about things that bothered my spouse, things that I had not been aware of.

Sometimes, the sharing that you can do in front of a neutral party is amazing. Instead of stifling our communication, we felt free to discuss anything.

To discover the 6 Most Common Reasons for Divorce and How to Stop Them Happening to You, Get Your Free 6 Day Mini E-Course valued at $27 at http://www.DivorceNoWay.com