Below is an article I found on AskMen.com that talks about gifts you can give to your man, along with my $.02.

While it’s fun to be on the receiving end of gift-giving, we can’t always be selfish.

Ladies, read up -

Top 10 Man-GIfts

There are many things men will instinctively purchase on their own, such as beer, ale, suds, and alcoholic amber fluid (just to name a few). Unfortunately, upon leaving the confines of childhood — where mothers and fathers are legally bound to provide us with the products, goods and surgeries needed to survive — many adult men tend to forgo purchases that could turn them into fully-rounded, happy individuals.

On the bright side, while your parents have moved out of this pampering role, girlfriends (hopefully more than one) have moved in. So whether you’re a girl reading this list on your boyfriend’s behalf or you’re a guy planning to print this out and leave it on your girlfriend’s face while she sleeps, take note of the products below and make sure they reach the top of your current squeeze’s shopping list.

Upgrading current pleasures

If there is one thing men have an inherent skill for, it’s finding something they love and then buying its cheap, half-ass equivalent. This is why one of the best gifts a man can receive is the first-class version of a product he usually doles out pocket change for.

My husband is a huge video-gamer. He had one of the older PlayStations and during our engagement, I upgraded that version for him and bought a few games that he had been looking at. Yes, my 30+ husband still plays video games. With our neighbors. Online.

Premium liquor

When it comes to alcohol, a lot of men are willing to forego taste and purity if it means they can get four gallons of it for $5. This is why splurging on a premium bottle of liquor remains, to this date, one of the most refreshing gifts a man can receive.

For example, if your fiance loves tequila, perhaps you upgrade and buy a bottle of Patron Silver.

Collector’s items

When it comes to entertainment and hobbies, men and women tend to be polar opposites. After all, no woman has ever celebrated Easter morning by watching The Lord of the Rings, Scarface and an Iron Maiden DVD back-to-back. That’s why when a woman overcomes her own disgust and purchases her boyfriend something rare and expensive concerning his non female love, such as Tony Montana’s belt or Gandolf’s toothpick, it’s like his Christmas, birthday and Jessica Alba’s birthday rolled into one.

My husband is from Ohio, and LOVES the Ohio State Buckeyes (Go Bucks!). As an engagement gift, I gave him an old school pennant from the school.

Magazine subscriptions

Okay, so buying a man a magazine subscription isn’t really an upgrade, as these tend to be cheaper than buying individual copies of the publications. But the real treat here is that boyfriends will never have to go to the magazine stand in the middle of winter to find out why Tara Reid thinks brown hair is “so sexy.”

My husband is also into cars. Like it’s a crazy obsession and he’s a walking encyclopedia of useless car knowledge. So, I found a few car-related magazines and I ordered a few subscriptions. Every month, he’s reminded of how much I love him. All together now, “Awwwww”

Great grooming gifts

When it comes to personal grooming, many men simply don’t possess the skills, know-how or bathroom mirror needed to properly turn themselves from a stinky anthropoid to a fragrant Adonis — making this the perfect area for a girlfriend to take control.

The hubs is one of those manly guys who takes forever to get ready. True story. So any type of grooming gift would be perfect for him.

Axe Lab: Fragrances for men

Across the country, there are numerous men who equate “not being smelly” with “smelling good.” In times like these, it’s the sworn duty of girlfriends to teach their men about the advances made in fragrance technology and why their misunderstanding of “eau de toilette” has made them both stinky and unhygienic.

Ditto.

Shaving kit

Unless a man is part of a militia or an English department, his head is the location of a perpetual war between facial hair and a society that deems it unacceptable. That’s why equipping her man with the weapons needed to make the war as painless as possible — specifically, a top-of-the-line shaving kit — is the best thing she can do to support the troops, uh… trooper.

Great towels

As most of America is accustomed to showering at least once a day, a lot of the problems that have to do with men’s hygiene don’t relate to getting clean, they stem from staying clean when using decrepit, old rags to dry themselves. That’s why girlfriends should take note and invest in their man’s health (and by association, their own) by purchasing them a great set of plush towels.

Need I say more? Muah!

Top-notch textiles

Though men as a whole have taken leaps and bounds when it comes to their personal style, there are still crucial holes in their wardrobes that will go unplugged without the help of a loving female.

Some men have it; some men don’t.

Silk sheets

Newsflash! Everyone, regardless of their gender, thinks that silk feels good. That’s why girlfriends need to do their boyfriend’s a favor and rid them of their hand-me-down sheets and show them just how luxurious lying around unconscious can be.

This is a bonus two-for-one gift. He’s happy and you’re happy.

Winter accessories

For some unknown reason most, if not all, men come to the realization that they must, on occasion, trade their puffy “NY Jets” jacket for something more “adult.” Unfortunately, when it comes to gloves, scarves and hats, a lot of men seem to be stuck on their childhood playgrounds. So what do they need? A girlfriend to come in and stylize their heads and their hands so that they won’t die of cold or bad taste.

Underwear and socks

In general, men buy houses more frequently than they do underwear or socks. In these cases, the perfect action of an adoring girlfriend (or simply, a woman that doesn’t enjoy pulling 10-year-old boxers off the person they are about to sleep with) is to invest in their man with sexy-yet-functional underwear and socks, by association.

Bathrobes and pyjamas

Though most women are well-versed in achieving comfort via comfortable clothes, most men are not. That’s why it’s time for women to show their boyfriends their “lounging-as-lifestyle” secrets and surprise them with a comfortable uniform for relaxation comprised of a bathrobe and pajamas.

give the gift of gendered giving

Often, the greatest gift is to give someone something they need. But when an entire gender is in need of something, shopping becomes much easier. So listen up females: Follow the list above to achieve success any time you decide to shower your boyfriend with tangible praise. Just remember not to regift. Not only is it in poor taste, but it could defeat the hygienic goals of many of the presents listed here.

You can find wedding inspiration anywhere you look. For example, who would think that the Loveland Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner could produce such vibrant and exciting tables?

The following BEA.UTI.FUL pictures, shot by the very talented Christina Gressianu of PhotoCG, provides inspiration for a Carnival-themed wedding. You don’t have to incorporate every element shown below, but perhaps find one or two textures, colors, flowers, and use that throughout your wedding.

The key is to keep it simple but use a lot of it….

*THANK YOU to Christina Gressianu for these beautiful images!*

Take a deep breath. It will all come together. Focus on one of the top decisions you must make before anything else.

You can’t plan the rest of your wedding until you have selected your venue. Below are a few tips and suggestions to help you with this process.

Four Questions to Ask Yourself

1) How many guests will be invited and how mobile will they be?

2) Do you want a religious ceremony?

3) How much are you willing to work – or do you want to take on extra responsibilities?

4) Do you want to have the ceremony & reception at the same place?

Traditional Location is Ideal For….

* couples with religious ties

* large guest list

* personal significance

Destination Location is Ideal For…

* want a small, intimate affair

* personal connection to the destination

* research marriage license requirements

* will be more expensive for guests

Unique Location is Ideal For…

* couples who want to express themselves in a fun way

* cost can be unpredictable.

* weddings may not be main source of revenue

* get in writing about liquor license

* make sure it can hold your guest count

* may be required to obtain liability insurance

Things to Bring During Venue Scouting

1) Camera

2) Notebook

3) Venue Checklist

Most important tip I can provide you is to have fun! This is one of the best parts of the wedding planning!

Suddenly, the idea of running off to Vegas to elope doesn’t seem so bad after all.

You are stressed. You are tired of looking at color samples. And frankly, you would rather be anywhere then looking at another cake.

Your time has come to infuse yourself and your fiancé with Love Shots.

Little bits of information to help you de-stress, invest time into your fiancé and take a step back from the planning.

So for today, this one is for the bride.

If you haven’t been to an Aveda Salon for manis/pedis, hair treatment or a sensuous massage, I highly recommend it.

As an faithful fan of Aveda since 2007, I try to get the full salon treatment once or twice a year. Mani/pedi, lunch, massage & facial

You can find an Aveda salon in your area here. Thanks to my hubs, I usually get a spa day for my birthday and wedding anniversary and it’s unlike no other.

Brides, take care of yourself! If you’re snarky and tired, you’re not going to be of help to anyone. And your fiancé won’t be afraid of you anymore.

Courtesy of Aveda

**This post was going to be posted on Wednesday, but in order to support the SOPA opposition blackout for 1/18/12, I posted on Thursday…..

Courtesy of AlohaWeddings