My Cupcake Kid

You might think that a kid with a sweet tooth is, while normal, not exactly ideal. We want our children to eat their veggies, have balanced diets, and to the extent it is possible avoid over-eating in categories that we know to be harmful to them in one way or another. Sweets are characteristically in this latter category, as they are rumored to cause hyperactive children and definitively rot teeth according to dentists and tooth-oriented businesses everywhere. So you’d be forgiven for thinking that my own little cupcake kid is for some reason a bad thing. You’d be forgiven for … Continue reading

Weddings And Kinship Terms Part 1 – There Are No Cousins In Law

Last week, my sister got married. It was an incredible event, complete with a sunset cruise on a beautiful schooner. I am very happy for my sister and her husband, and I really enjoyed visiting with them and meeting his family for the first time. As is the case with any wedding, the uniting of two families brings about family history related discussion aplenty. One discussion that I remember has to do with kinship terms, more specifically how the two totally adorable ring bearers are now related as a result of the wedding. One of the ring bearers is my … Continue reading

Timberlake and Biel’s Wedding Video

As you probably know by now, one of the most anticipated weddings of the year took place last weekend. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel were married last Friday at the Borgo Egnazia Resort in Puglia, Italy before family and friends. The couple, who have been dating on and off since 2007, reportedly called their wedding “magical.” Now you may be thinking I have confused my pop culture blog with my green blog, but wait, let me explain. This wedding is thought to have cost $6.5 million. Now, I know Biel and Timberlake are young, beautiful, talented, and earned every bit … Continue reading

Wedding Rings and Gender Roles, Pt. 2

Last time I examined the discussion over whether or not men should have to wear wedding rings. Just about all of the arguments either for or against skipped one relevant consideration: whether or not women should have to or even enjoy wearing them. Only one article I found briefly acknowledged the idea: the author said that neither of her parents has worn a wedding ring for decades, for a variety of reasons. That’s all we’ve got: in the wedding rings debate we have in-depth considerations of male class traditions, shifting perspectives of masculinity, and a man’s role in a marriage, … Continue reading

Wedding Rings and Gender Roles, Pt. 1

The practice of wearing wedding rings has roots in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians might have believed that circles represent eternity, fitting for a marriage vow. Wearing the rings on our left hand dates to the Roman era: Romans apparently believed that the fourth finger on our left hands had a vein that went directly to the heart. While women have worn wedding (and engagement) rings for centuries, the practice of men donning the former only dates to the 20th century. Some sources speculate that it had to do with World War II: men started wearing the rings while deployed, as … Continue reading

Anti-Cheating Ring

The wedding ring is a symbol of holy matrimony. It is when a couple makes a vow before God and others that they will be together until death departs them. But it also puts others on notice. It says, “I am taken.” So when someone doesn’t necessarily want others to know they are married, what do they do? They take the ring off. Let’s face it…this is something men are mostly accused of. So what is a woman to do? How about purchasing an “anti-cheating ring”? Thecheeky.com has come up with a $550 ring that comes with a “lifetime guarantee.” … Continue reading

Unpleasant Wedding Humor

I love injecting humor into weddings. The occasion can sometimes be taken too seriously, either made especially solemn or fraught with the nerves of invested parties that want everything to be perfect. So I’m all about taking things a little more lightly; my imagined and actual wedding invitations are proof of that. What I can’t get behind, however, is a certain brand of humor I often see or hear about at weddings or in the course of wedding planning. I hesitate to call it chauvinist or sexist but that’s ultimately what it is, or at least it springs from the … Continue reading

Fashionably Pregnant During Wedding Season

It’s wedding season, and you’re pregnant. If you have a wedding (or two, or three) to attend this summer, don’t despair. Here are a few tips for staying cool and comfortable while looking fabulous. Dresses look beautiful on pregnant women. Whether you need a sundress for a casual day time event or a maxi dress for an elegant evening affair, you will be able to find something that fits your body and your budget. Depending upon how far along you are, you might want to try shopping in the non – maternity dress department before looking to a maternity clothing … Continue reading

I Love My Vacuum

I did it, again. I bought a new vacuum and I think I’m a little in love with this thing! First let me say that I will not pay $500 for a vacuum, I don’t care how well it works, I can’t justify spending that much on a vacuum. My wedding rings didn’t cost that much. I’m not cheap, I’m frugal. I did some research on the internet and of course the name Dyson was everywhere, but even more surprising, so was Hoover, at about a fifth of the price. The reviews were good so I went to Kohl’s. The … Continue reading

Evil Spirits and Sword Fights: More Wedding Tradition Origins

Today I want to share some of my favorite origins behind wedding traditions. The traditions themselves aren’t my favorites, but I’m very tickled by their roots. These traditions have to do with the wedding party and originated in medieval Europe. It’s easy enough to imagine why a bride is surrounded by bridesmaids; they often spent the night with the bride before her wedding to make sure that she wasn’t visited by any men before becoming a wife. But that’s not the only reason for their presence. Centuries ago brides and their maids all dressed alike (which is why bridesmaids still … Continue reading