Wednesday, February 27, 2008 

Wedding Anniversary Gifts - Shop Around

Shop Around for Anniversary Gifts

There's a list of traditional wedding anniversary gifts that should be given each year. Although many couples find these traditional items a little dull, there's still a lot of "old fashioned" couples that follow this list on an annual basis. Whether you're a modern couple or an "old fashioned" couple, you have to admit that some traditional wedding anniversary gifts are a little odd. If youre confused by our term of traditional wedding gifts, were referring to a traditional gift list that many couples follow on an annual basis.

For instance, according to this traditional list, a newly wed couple's first year anniversary gift should be...are you ready? Paper. Well, that's simple enough. We'll take money! If only men read into things like us women do. Instead, traditional men usually opt for cards, magazine subscriptions, personalized journals, engraved albums, and memo pads. Sounds a little boring, doesn't it? If youre snoring at the idea of those gifts than you're definitely more of a contemporary person. Nevertheless, you can always give or receive a gift certificate as a traditional first anniversary gift. It's paper, and you can purchase anything you want with it. Now that doesnt sound so bad, does it?

Despite many couples admiration of these traditional gifts, we advise modern couples not to get caught in the traditional gift trap. While that may sound harsh, we realize that the times are changing. If paper didnt sound like an odd enough gift to you, try the second year anniversary gift ofcotton. Yes, cotton. You can almost see the scenario unfold before your eyes. "Just what I wanted, a pillow!" Yikes. Sometimes being non-traditional has its advantages. There are no guidelines to follow. Anything and everything is open for consideration as a gift.

An excellent anniversary gift idea is a photo album. While it may not sound very appealing, consider a solid finished wood album with your family name engraved upon the cover, or "our family memories." The album doesn't have to contain photographs. It can be a scrapbook of your finest memories. Ticket stubs from years ago when you and your spouse were "dating," a token from your wedding, images of your children. You can fill an album with anything. Just remember to be creative.

There's a number of gifts that can say "I love you" on your anniversary. Roses, cards, chocolates, and jewelry are all gifts that express remembrance of your special day. But liven it up a little! Try wrapping the gift yourself. Add something funny to the card. Show your spouse that it wasn't a purchase which required little effort. It was something that you thought about in advance. Presentation is a very important aspect in gift giving.

Forget about paper, cotton, and traditional gifts; unless of course, you want to receive a box of Q-Tips for your anniversary. Thats a scary thought, isnt it? But heres the point: There's not supposed to be a set of gift related rules! Anniversaries are meant to be celebrated, not dreaded. Use your imagination and surprise your spouse every year. Buy or make something that you know your spouse will adore. It'll show that you've put some thought into your gift. Remind them why they fell in love with you, and they'll do it all over again.

Jen Carter is owner of My Wedding Blog, a free wedding planner. Find more wedding gifts and favor ideas articles in our wedding favors and gifts category.

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Makeover TV Shows - A Favorite Of Reality Show Viewers

Makeovers can be great fun, and in some caseslife-changing. Whether making over someones appearance, house, or other aspects of their life, it also makes for great television. TV producers have taken note of this, resulting in the production of several makeover TV shows.

Makeovers have been featured on television on many occasions through the years. Daytime talk shows were among the first to show pieces about people having their lives transformed through makeovers. In many cases, the recipient had scarring, suffered from illness or other difficulties or traumas in life that reduced their overall confidence and / or in their appearance.

Reality television producers picked up on the overwhelming popularity of makeovers on TV, and they began to explore the possibility of making entire series dedicated to increasing the recipients self-assurance, decreasing their insecurities and improving their quality of life. One of the first makeover shows, What Not to Wear, was a huge success. It started out in the UK in 2001. A United States version began airing in 2003. Both versions are still on the air.

Extreme Makeover started airing in the U.S. in 2001, a year before the U.S. version of What Not to Wear. In addition to a new wardrobe, makeup, and hairstyle, Extreme Makeovers techniques included plastic surgery and exercise regimes. The shows final episode recently aired on ABC, but reruns can be watched on the Style Network is also shown on W on Foxtel in Australia.

Queer Eye has been another popular makeover TV show. It features five gay men who give makeovers and fashion guidance to participants, most of whom are heterosexual men. Production for the show ended in 2006.

Some makeover shows focus on weight loss. Two of these are NBCs The Biggest Loser and VH1s Celebrity Fit Club. The former features everyday people as contestants, while the latter includes celebrities only. Contestants on both shows are subjected to rigorous diet and exercise plans. The Biggest Loser contestants are voted off until there is only one remaining, while Celebrity Fit Club participants compete as teams for the duration of the season.

Makeovers arent all about a persons appearance. There are also makeover TV shows that deal with dwellings. The makers of Extreme Makeover broadcast a special entitled Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in 2003, and it went over so well that they made an entire spin-off series of it. Each episode of the show features a redesign, and in some cases a total rebuild, of a deserving familys home.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition became more popular than its predecessor, and is still on the air. One of ABCs highest-rated series, it has inspired versions in several countries.

Makeover TV shows provide us with a glimpse of the style, appearance, and housing issues that others face and what can be done to solve them. They give us hope and inspiration. These factors make the makeover TV show a favorite of many viewers.

Courtesy: http://www.yourfavoritetvshows.com/
For more reality tv show reviews and articles on visit: http://www.yourfavoritetvshows.com/