January 24, 2012

All work and no play …

“A time for everything:
a time to relax and a time to be busy,
a time to frolic and a time to labor,
a time to receive and a time to give,
a time to begin and a time to finish.”
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Claire gets out of bed at seven. She leaves the house at around half past eight and then works from 10AM to 8PM. These are the days when she doesn’t stay back for overtime. Working late would be till 11 or 12. She has zero knowledge of any gossip in her neighbourhood and the last time she went to party was a month ago. Drinks with friends start from a “maybe” to “I will try” and end up with a “sorry can’t make it!”

For women who are living this life, I think it’s about time to reconsider your priorities in life. No doubt that you effectively use the 24 hours of a day but how you spend them is a bit questionable isn’t it? It doesn’t take long before you start sensing those four imaginary walls that you have surrounded yourself with and are now struggling to find the key to the door that will lead you out, from isolation to the real world.

The herculean task for many working women is to figure out where to put the line between work and leisure. We all want to be out there and be successful but it shouldn’t be done at the cost of murdering our social life.

Without breaks even a star employees lose their charm to perform well. Life becomes boring, dull and absolutely colourless. You certainly don’t want to be caught by your boss taking a nap in your cabin! Everyone has a limit to perform and it’s important to understand that we are no ‘wonder woman’ from comic books but the average women who live life to the fullest and perform the best they can at work. So stop overburdening yourself and learn how to relax!

How can you possibly not miss those luncheons, dinner and birthday parties that you’ve bailed out on? All those fun times where you can car pool and go out with your girlfriends for a spa break?

Shopping, girls’ night out and checking out single guys and laughing around with your besties.

Don’t give up on your faithful commitment to work but frequently take a bit time off to ease of the pressure building up on you. I can guarantee, it will not only improve your professional life but will have a positive impact on your private life too!

- Shivangi raj

January 22, 2012

My bright best friend

“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”! No, I am not referring to the famous song where Marilyn Monroe in her extravagant pink dress dances about gracefully in the movie ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’. Here I am also hinting towards the fact that maybe, diamonds are capable of being our best mates.

It is astonishing how a rigid life-less compressed carbon structure can successfully fill certain gaps in our lives. Well I guess for 80 percent of us women, it can. The other 20 percent have obviously found something more glittery and shiny that appeals better to their eyes!

For starters I’d say ‘Diamonds are forever’. Isn’t that true anyway? People may enter your lives and take the exit sometime in the future but diamonds, you buy them and they are yours. It is something that you have acquired and will last. Of course I am not going to discuss issues of theft and jewelry snatching here but, we’ll agree on the point that at times when we feel lonely or unhappy by our loved ones, a little self pampering with the help of materialistic possessions pulls us out of that darkness.

They make a women feel special. When the question is popped surely we all want a grand celebration. Wine, lights, good food and magnifying the intensity of the moment is that big diamond that rests beautifully on your hand. It symbolizes everlasting love and the sacred commitment that you have made to stand by your partner in happiness, sorrow, in sickness or in good health.

A friend of mine once said, “The number of cuts in my diamonds will surely determine how secure my future is”! To be noted, I am not promoting the idea that diamonds can replace love in our lives. I am merely acknowledging the fact that a perfect gentlemen would definitely buy presents to thank the important people in his lives. What would be better than those sparkling gems that would make your wife, the mother that raised you or your girlfriends eyes glow greater than the diamond itself!

All this has really got me thinking and I am going to stop listing reasons and rush down to my nearest jewelry showroom and reward myself haha!

Life is busy, responsibilities are never ending, problems are faced daily, diamonds are expensive but, it never hurts to occasionally spend a little just to remind ourselves that we are special and need to be taken care of too.

- Shivangi Raj

January 22, 2012

My bright best friend

“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”! No, I am not referring to the famous song where Marilyn Monroe in her extravagant pink dress dances about gracefully in the movie ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’. Here I am also hinting towards the fact that maybe, diamonds are capable of being our best mates.

It is astonishing how a rigid life-less compressed carbon structure can successfully fill certain gaps in our lives. Well I guess for 80 percent of us women, it can. The other 20 percent have obviously found something more glittery and shiny that appeals better to their eyes!

For starters I’d say ‘Diamonds are forever’. Isn’t that true anyway? People may enter your lives and take the exit sometime in the future but diamonds, you buy them and they are yours. It is something that you have acquired and will last. Of course I am not going to discuss issues of theft and jewelry snatching here but, we’ll agree on the point that at times when we feel lonely or unhappy by our loved ones, a little self pampering with the help of materialistic possessions pulls us out of that darkness.

They make a women feel special. When the question is popped surely we all want a grand celebration. Wine, lights, good food and magnifying the intensity of the moment is that big diamond that rests beautifully on your hand. It symbolizes everlasting love and the sacred commitment that you have made to stand by your partner in happiness, sorrow, in sickness or in good health.

A friend of mine once said, “The number of cuts in my diamonds will surely determine how secure my future is”! To be noted, I am not promoting the idea that diamonds can replace love in our lives. I am merely acknowledging the fact that a perfect gentlemen would definitely buy presents to thank the important people in his lives. What would be better than those sparkling gems that would make your wife, the mother that raised you or your girlfriends eyes glow greater than the diamond itself!

All this has really got me thinking and I am going to stop listing reasons and rush down to my nearest jewelry showroom and reward myself haha!

Life is busy, responsibilities are never ending, problems are faced daily, diamonds are expensive but, it never hurts to occasionally spend a little just to remind ourselves that we are special and need to be taken care of too.

- Shivangi Raj

September 5, 2011

Art4Play-Hens Party Blog/All veil the bride

So here’s the long and the short of it, a veil can be the perfect final touch to a modern bride’s overall presentation, but with the tradition of the veil long behind us its an accessory that doesn’t always make it down the aisle in 2011. Today’s bride may have her reasons for wanting to wear a veil - mostly having to do with fashion.

With so many different styles, lengths, materials and colours it can be hard to resist the virgin crown on your special day. Even if the custom is ignored a veil can make for a flashy personal statement that brings out the joy and convention of a wedding ceremony.

What is important is that you choose the right veil for you and your features. Faced with such a vast selection, like all-wedding shopping, this task can be a very daunting one. A good starting point is to consult with your hairdresser about an ideal wedding hairdo that suits your dress and soon to be found veil. It’s also important to consider the shape of your face. By now, you’ll know what sort of hairstyle profiles best with your appearance, and so will your veil.

Normally veils have a comb attached, which makes life a lot easier for brides of today. The comb allows for flexibility with your hairstyles and permits the veil to be removed later on in the day without creating a bird’s nest on the top of your head. So if you opt for this kind of veil you won’t really have to worry about what sort of hairstyle you pick. As for the length of your veil, well that’s a whole other story.

It is worth remembering that a veil is in fact an accessory to the actual wedding gown. The length of your veil and all the trimmings that come with it can be a statement piece if you want it to be, but at the end of the day a veil both should flatter you and your gown, as well as act as in appropriate theme and style of your wedding.

So if you decided on a formal wedding, you have probably chosen a full-length gown with train. Team it with a cathedral or a chapel veil and it will do wonders!

There are no rules when it comes to the style of veil a bride should wear, let alone wearing a veil at all. The choice is entirely yours, and other accessories from headbands, to hats to feather bowers are walking down the aisle nowadays. Don’t feel you have to go all out with your headpiece like the guests at the Royal Wedding, just ensure that you choose something that compliments the dress and of course, your character. So whether you have that veil for the groom to lift to seal the ceremony or not, either way, you’re getting that kiss, and a husband!

xxArt4Playxx

September 4, 2011

Art4Play -Hens Party Blog/Bridal garters, a thing of the past?

It’s one of the oldest wedding traditions, and for many, it’s still a valuable part of new age marriages. Wenches were rocking the bridal garter way back in the 14^th century and these days, contemporary designers put as much effort into wedding garters as they do the dress!

Historically, it was believed that owning a part of the wedding dress would bring the holder good luck. As a result, the wedding gown would often be torn to shreds to be shared among the lucky guests after the ceremony. These days, the smallest imperfection to a $10 000 Vera Wang would bring any bride to tears, so fortunately, it’s now a more common occurrence for a bride to wear a garter that can be thrown to a single guest for luck.

Thanks to these little tweaks over time, the garter is still a very popular party favor, only nowadays it’s the groom who removes the garter from the bride and throws it to all the eligible bachelors. But for the brides out there who are uncomfortable with the tossing of the wedding garter there are alternatives. After all, not everyone will be ok with showing more than a little leg on her special day.

For the brides that look forward to wearing the garter as apart of their wedding attire it’s a perfect way to incorporate the ‘something blue’ tradition. This way, you can embrace the custom and keep you legs under your dress. Besides, there’s no reason why you can’t wear a garter just because you’re not throwing it away! Plus, there are so many unique and beautiful designs and concepts these days that you can’t afford to leave it out. Who’s a little extra lace or frills going to hurt anyway?

For others, the wedding garter is a keepsake piece or family air loom that they can’t afford to throw out into a crowd of drooling available men. So, in this case, wearing two wedding garters becomes the perfect solution.

Ultimately, it is entirely up to the bride and groom whether they choose to carry on with this tradition. Whether or not it is tossed, it is nice for the bride to wear a wedding garter to keep as a memento from her special day!

Have a great week ladies

xx Art4Play xx

August 29, 2011

Art4Play Hens Party Blog/Bridal briefs

There is so much attention placed on choosing that perfect wedding dress, and what so many brides fail to recognize is that it’s what’s underneath that really counts!

Bridal lingerie is a crucial part of your wedding ensemble and can make a real difference to the way you look and feel throughout the day. For those brides who have been starving for months, bronzing it up under the sun and doing those painful stomach crunches morning, day and night, this is the part where it’s all about to pay off.

So when it comes to selecting those sheik and stylish items just how much thought actually goes into it? For many brides, it’s easy to be swept up in the sea of wedding planning and preparation, often leading to forgetting to find a suitable undergarment that brings the final outfit together.

My advice, find something that both assists and enhances your overall image for the day and do it in advance. It’s definitely worth having your wedding undies on hand for a fitting or test run at home to be sure everything looks and feels great, even if it means the dress maker catches a glimpse of your naughty knickers! If you’re planning on wearing the set through the ceremony and reception it’s important to keep a balance between style, sass and support. Yes bridal lingerie is all about the sex appeal, but if you don’t think you can handle a g-banger for over 24 hours then leave it on the rack because no one wants to witness a bride picking at a wedgie all day long.

More importantly, the lingerie is about enticing and impressing your brand new hubby. Every bride wants a jaw dropping reaction from the groom on the wedding night so don’t over complicate things. If you’ve been through the underwear fittings and spent your money on a few fancy pieces then you certainly want to pull it off an entrance your man won’t forget. What you don’t want is to get caught in the bathroom with a pair of uneven suspenders or with a corset you can’t get off!

You should be comfortable in whatever you choose, but also go for a style that your husband can really enjoy. Whether it is a red girly number, the full ivory lace set or a simple slip dress, find something that will keep you and your hubby happy. If you give yourself enough browsing time, you’ll find that there is plenty of bridal styles to choose from that can satisfy all your needs and shed those fears of being caught in an impossibly tight bustier.

Your lingerie is something that should give you a mega self-esteem boost and complete the wedding. Find something that suits your style, body type and dress. And besides, every woman knows that lingerie is an investment, so don’t be afraid to stretch those spending muscles, after all, the honeymoon will be just around the corner.

xx Art4Play xx

August 24, 2011

Art4Play -Hen Party Blog/The kids are all right. Or are they?

When it comes to writing up the guest list and deciding who, or who not, to invite, the final decision is yours. One of the biggest walls a pair can hit in the wedding plans is deciding whether or not to invite children.

What’s most important is that you make that final decision clear. Too often will brides-to-be receive an RSVP only to see that Sandy and Tony from down the road have replied for the two little ones as well. So if children are not invited make it distinct to avoid any awkward phone calls or possible confrontations. Although it may seem tough to exclude, it's perfectly ok to only invite children who are part of your or your fiancé’s family. Just because your niece is the flower girl and you’re your cousins the pageboy doesn’t mean every kid from the block should be fishing for an invite. So if you’re afraid of getting muddy handprints on your frock or having to set up a sandpit next to the buffet then simply say no to PG13 and tell your guests to leave the tiny tots at home. People will understand, and sometimes you simply can’t afford to accommodate the extra fingers and toes.

On the other hand, having the kids at a wedding doesn’t have to mean setting up a daycare. After all, kids can provide those sorts of Hallmark moments you can’t prepare in advance. A wedding is a joyous occasions for those of any age, and if properly catered for, you won’t have to worry about the kids interrupting the festivities. So, keep them entertained, supervised and happy so you don’t freak out on the day.

Try to seat the parents and their children together at one table or at tables close to each other. While the idea of a kid’s table sounds ideal, it can also lead to an unsupervised disaster. An even better way to manage the kiddie clan is to hire a chaperone. This way, someone else can deal with the boo boo’s and bathroom trips while you and their rents can kick back with a glass of wine or three.

You also need to be weary of the demands that come with providing for children at a wedding. Smoked salmon with a side of truffle and greens probably won’t go down so well with the youngsters, but at least the party pies and mini pizza’s will save you some dosh. As for a child’s short attention span, be sure to have another room for them to play in or some activities set up in advance to keep them busy.

So when deciding on who makes the cut, keep an open mind. It’s a decision that will suit your wants and needs, and not those of the guests.

August 24, 2011

Art4Play-Hens Party Blog/The Ex-files:

It’s the question no one wants to ask, but is it ever ok to invite an ex to your wedding? For many couples, this is a reality that needs to be faced and clearly discussed before the invitation hits the post box. The issue of inviting that particular person from your past is becoming increasingly common, especially for those who maintain relationships with their former partners.

So if you find yourself fazed with this awkward predicament, don’t whip out the wedding stationary just yet. What needs to be determined is why you want to extend the invite to the former flame, whether it will be ok with the future hubby, and what it would be like situation reversed.

So if you’ve been out of touch for 5 years plus or dated for 2 months back in year 9 then it’s safe to say that you can leave their name off the list. But if it’s a case of ‘the one that got away’ or someone you still see regularly it may take a little more consideration. If you find yourself nervous or uncomfortable with the prospect of that ex sitting in the stands to watch you tie the knot then chances are your current partner is in even more of a fluster. Since a wedding is the first big occurrence you, as a twosome, will face, it’s so important to reach a compromise and avoid any unnecessary pressures.

You also need to consider the worse case scenario. If their attendance will result in an objection at the altar and the bride or groom running off with the other woman/man then it’s a no brainer, and you have a whole other issue on your hands. But, if you must have your ex present, then consider the dos and don’ts that will ensure an incident-free wedding day.

Do give your ex a plus one. If they come with a friend or better yet, a new partner, then it will definitely soften the blow of their appearance. Seat them with people they know and like (preferably not family) and limit the conversation between the two of you. You may be friends these days, but the day isn’t about them, it’s about you and your life with your future husband, so to avoid any unwanted jealousy or gossiping, keep the chats short and sweet.

As for the don’ts, do not, by any means, dance with your ex. There’s no reason to draw any unwanted attention to your former relationship so keep the saga of ‘men and women can’t be friends’ on the down low and avoid any needless contact that could result in the mother-in-law pointing the finger or giving off the wrong impression. After all, the day will be one to remember for all the right reasons and a chance to celebrate your future as a couple, not a day to dwell on the past.

August 21, 2011

Art4Play Hens Party Blog/Wardrobe warfare

So the invites are out because the date has been set, and like any bride or bridesmaid every female guest out there will be on the hunt for that perfect dress.

So are there any rules or regulations when it comes to shopping for your wedding attire?

Like any occasion, a dress code will be specified and needs to be met, but what about those unspoken rules that no one seems to discuss unless a certain guest does a major wedding no no. Now everyone knows that white at a wedding is a major prohibition but what happens if a guest dares to wear the wedding colour of the bridal party? Will flowers and veils come crashing down around them, or will no one even notice the matching tinge? Either way it’s important to know if the wedding colour is off limits.

If your game, you can enter the ceremony in the identical ensemble, guns blazing, ready to tackle any condemning bridesmaid in your path. But what I suggest is that you run the outfit by the bride-to-be first to get her thoughts on you wearing that same shade of red, green, mauve or whatever it may be.

Odds are, the bride won’t mind, in fact she might even embrace the idea and colour coordinate the other guests with the wedding theme. However, if the answer is no, do not fret, chances remain that you and that demon dress of yours wont be sacrificed to the wedding gods, you’ll simply be required to make a humble wardrobe change.

Even if you can’t afford to splurge on another dazzling gown, you may even be able to salvage the forbidden fashion with a few favourable accessories. With the right jacket, belt or shoes you can transform the unthinkable into the unbelievable with a few personal tweaks, being sure that you and your ensemble can be distinguished from the bridal company.

While the bride and her bridesmaids will be on display front and centre, there’s no harm in wanting to look fabulous on someone else’s special day!

Have an amazing Monday XX

Art4Play

August 19, 2011

Art4Play Hens Party Blog/The grand arrival

With the venue totally sorted all that’s left to decide is how to make your grand entrance, and an amazing wedding chariot is exactly what’s required!

The best part about choosing the transport is that it may just be a part of the preparation the groom will want in on. Picking out the flowers, the colour scheme or the wardrobe can all be a little daunting for the future hubby, but when fast cars and luxury sedans are involved he will probably be a lot more enthusiastic and willing to dive a little deeper into his pockets!

There is so much to deliberate before making this kind of decision and like all wedding preparation there are a lot of practical considerations to make before getting behind the wheel of your dream ride.

While you want the lasting impression of a striking entry the cars need to suit the overall feel and theme of the wedding. So don’t go hiring that purple hot rod just yet! Think about your wedding photos, the style and personality of the day and of course what the mother-in-law would want!

More importantly the decision needs to be practical. If the wedding falls in winter then that fancy convertible won’t work or if the venue is a good 20 minutes away maybe the horse drawn carriage isn’t the best option either. So consider the distance, how many people in the wedding party and the weather when selecting the mode of transportation when making the decision.

But don’t toss out all your ideas just yet. Weddings are all about creativity and expression and what better way to wow a crowd with a one in a million chance to step out of a smoking hot ride in an even more smoking hot dress. Take advantage of the time in every way and treat yourself, because at the end of the day it will be you and your loved one that will be whisked away to start a life together in that special car of choice. So I say revel in the luxury and enjoy the royal treatment!