Live Love Mom

 By: Rev Dr Stéphanie Noircent

I share a lot about myself on this blog. I feel comfortable being myself and coming out of my shell through writing. There are still a lot of things to know about me. Here are 10 facts about me that you probably don't know unless you're in my immediate family.

Never broke a bone. The closest I came was a chipped tooth and bruised ribs. I'm not sure if it's because my parents encouraged both my brother and I to drink at least one glass of milk a day, but he and I both have never broken a bone in our bodies. It's pretty incredible since I fell off a horse, fell off my bike at a high speed and jumped off from a high tree, as well as flew straight into the air after jumping off a swing while swinging the highest possible. I easily could have broken a bone if my bones were less strong, but miraculously I never broke a bone.

Weight struggle. I struggled with my weight starting when I was about 12 years old. I was told by my pediatrician that I was about 25 lbs overweight and needed to lose some weight. It wasn't until he said this and I went back to school, that I started noticing that the girls in my school were skinnier than I was. I was 165 lbs and my doctor wanted me to be at 145 lbs max. The first time I was able to lose weight, I did some simple changes. I stopped taking seconds during meals, and I didn't finish my plate if I wasn't hungry anymore. I would serve myself smaller portions, and I started walking the dog twice a day and I went on a 20-minute run with him. While watching TV after finishing my homework, I worked out. I did lunges, sit-ups, push-ups, and squats. I became so good at it that I beat the boys in both track in gym class and push-ups and sit-ups. I did reach 140 lbs but only for a day. I fluctuated between 141 lbs and 150 lbs throughout the rest of my adolescence, but once my doctor saw me he knew I was at a healthy weight and he didn't bother me with losing weight again. I stayed around the 150-155 lbs range until my first pregnancy. 

I prefer horror movies. This started in my teens. My parents liked watching scary movies, and my brother would jump-scare my mother and I by hiding in places and jumping out and yelling. After years of this, I eventually became immune to jump-scares, I just looked at him like ''really, again?'' so he stopped because it was less fun for him, but he kept going with my mom. Watching scary movies I watched my mom jump, or even a boyfriend or friends jump while I stayed calm the whole time. I watched a bunch of scary movies to see if any could scare me, and I have yet to find one. I like them because they don't give me jump-scares and I am one of those people who can watch it without having nightmares or being afraid. If anything, it's the gorey movies I don't like because I am empathetic and it just makes me cringe.

My favorite holiday is Halloween. When I was a teen I got into wearing black clothes, eyeliner, the typical goth attire. My parents vehemently disapproves when I would do makeup on my face that wandered from my eyes. My mother even forbid me to wear eyeliner under my eyes because she didn't like the way it looked. I noticed people who dressed like me and liked the same music also enjoyed halloween, but I started enjoying it more because it was the one day my mom let me go crazy with my makeup. I could paint my entire face if I wanted to. So, I began to see it as the only day of the year I was allowed to fully express myself. To this day, I still dress in costume every Halloween, and I probably will even when my kids reach adulthood. You can be whoever you want and you get to play dress up! What isn't fun about that!?

I'm a dog person. I grew up around cats and dogs my entire life, but ultimately I am a dog person. The main reason is because I hate cleaning cat litter, it stinks and becomes expensive to have to change out the entire litterbox weekly. At least with dogs, they do their business outside and I never have to clean up their pee (at least with big dogs). I prefer big dogs too, because I found out that smaller dogs often need pee pads and that is something I wasn't expecting. I would rather go outside with a plastic bag and pick up dog poop twice a day than to change the litter daily for poops and pees every day. Plus it's all outside, so it doesn't stink up the house. If someone else were to change the litter every day and replace it, I would probably perfer cats. I do like that they aren't always all over you and it makes the time they want to be with you that much more precious. I like their independence.

My dream was to be a doctor. I wanted to be an artist at first, but my father shot that idea down saying that artists don't make enough money to make a living. It was a real soul-crusher, but I knew in my heart that I wanted to do something that would help people. I thought maybe art therapy, but I did some research and I found that the medical field had a high demand. I wanted to be many things in the medical field, but the main thing I wanted to be was a doctor. If I dared to dream further, I wanted to be an OB-GYN. I wanted to deliver babies amd care for pregnant people. However, the hours and hours of work with little pay didn't mesh with my desire to start a family in my 20s. So, I never became a medical doctor, and I never will be. I thought about possibly being a physical therapist or an ultrasound technician, and I even went to nursing school for a bit. I did complete a doula course, so the pregnancy and birth aspect was still there and fulfilled. In a sense I did become a doctor, a reverend doctor. In small ways I accomplished my dream; I am a reverend doctor, I am a doula, and I have nursing experience.

I used to hate documentaries. They were the most boring types of movies ever, when I was younger. I was, and still am, very much into action movies. It's all I would watch for a long time, I liked the thrilling aspect of fast-paced movies and television series. Recently however, I actually choose to watch most documentaries that show up on Netflix. The ones that pop up in my feed are almost always something I would be interested in watching. Whether it's crime, historical or political, I seem to enjoy learning about these things. I have always had a love of learning, and just being able to sit back and cuddle on the couch while learning something new is the perfect way to do it.

I avoided comedy. I had tried watching comedies or comedians for a while growing up, but I was never really into it. It was hard to make me laugh out loud, I would maybe giggle inwardly a few times but that was it. This became an issue in later relationships because as it turns out, two of my most serious relationships, the man ended up loving comedy. Each of them would ask me to watch a comedian with them and I was bored out of my mind. I didn't find anything funny and I would refuse to watch more. The first time I started liking comedy is when I watched Adam Sandler movies. My brother also introduced me to Family Guy, and at first I found that humor stupid and offensive. After watching it over and over again, I started to see some of the humor in the tv show. I watched a few American Pie movies and as I reached adulthood and understood the sexual jokes, I started to understand movies more. My high school friend introduced me to FlufeeTalks and I found him hilarious. These were the only times comedy were part of my life in most of my 20s. It wasn't until a few years ago that it became part of my life daily, if not weekly. I got into Laura Clery with her viral flirting videos, and I ran into some prank videos by Charles And Alyssa and the ridiculous videos by Ginger Billy. I am subscribed to them all and I enjoy watching their videos. I watch comedy movies too, and I also enjoy Kevin Hart. Who knew?

I considered being a volcanologist. In seventh grade, science class was one of my favorites. We learned all kinds of things like earthquakes, cells, and volcanoes. I became so mesmerized with volcanoes and I told my mom that I wanted to be a volcanologist. I would look in my textbooks and see people in protective gear taking samples near an erupting volcano and I said, I want to work there. I learned all about the magma and the rock formations, sulfur, all of it. To this day, earth science still facinates me. Why didn't I become a volcanologist? They aren't exactly colleges teaching this around where I lived and live now, and it turns out extreme heat flares up my eczema.

I used to hate pizza. Oh, how I used to dread seeing pizza boxes coming my way! I hated tomatoes with a passion and tasting that tomato sauce and sometimes tomato slices in there was too much to bear. I hated olives, the onions they used, the peppers, pretty much everything on a pizza. It was hard to get invited to parties after I avoided several pizza parties because of the pizza part. There was nothing about it that I liked when I was a kid. When I would tell people, they were always so shocked. They couldn't believe that out of all the things in the world to dislike, I disliked pizza. To this day I never met another person who dislikes pizza. Thankfully I grew to love it, but to this day my favorite type of pizza is cheese.

There you have it, 10 things you didn't know about me! What about you? What would people be surprised to know about you? Comment below!

By: Rev Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

Who doesn’t want their hair to look gorgeous on their wedding day? However, not everyone has the budget to pay a fancy hairstylist hundreds of dollars just to place their hair pretty. Here is how you can get the hairstyle of your dreams without losing a large chunk of your wedding fund.

Updos

Here are some of the best updos for weddings that are simple to do.

1. French twist. It's a fancy twist on the regular bun. Look it up in google images and show it to your hairdresser. You can also pin a gorgeous hair piece.
2. Braided bun. Divide your hair into two sections down the middle of your scalp. French braid each side until you run out of hair, and tie it off. Twist the braid into a bun and pin it up.
3. Drape. Do a backwards french braid on your hair and tie it off. Then, tuck the braid underneath itself and pin it in place.
4. Braid. You can braid your hair in corn rows, have a regular loose braid, or have pigtailed braids. Add some flowers or barettes to complete the look.
5. French braid. French braid your hair either in one or two sections and add some flowers in your braids for a gorgeous look.
6. Fishtail braid. Look up youtube tutorials on how to do a fishtail braid. Keep practicing until you get it right and you can wear it on your wedding day.

Down dos

Rather have your hair loose on your wedding day? Here are some examples of beautiful down dos for your wedding day.

1. Half up half down. Take the top half of your hair and tie it back, and there you have a half-up and half-down hairdo. You can also braid the top section or twist it into a bun.
2. Braided crown. Section off the top half of your hair, then divide it into halves. French braid each half and tie them together in the middle in the back of your head and you have a braided crown.
3. Curled. You can get a perm for your hair or you can curl it with a curling iron for your day. Use some hairspray to keep it fixed.
4. Crimped. You can crimp your hair or get the loosest perm you can get. You can add a flower in your hair or a nice headdress.
5. Straight. You can relax your hair or straighten it to look sleek and elegant on your wedding day.
6. Sideswept. Pin your hair up with either hair pins or a nice hair piece on one side of your head. You can pin it up above the ear to show off some earrings you're wearing on your special day.

Once you have your wedding hairstyle picked out, print out a photo and head to a hairstylist school. See if any students are willing to do your hair for your wedding. They will charge a fraction of the prize that others would.

See if you know someone who is good at doing hair. Show them the photo of your hairstyle and see if they can give it a whirl. If they aren’t sure, go see them before hand so they can do a practice run.

By: Rev Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

Losing a child, whether your embryo didn't implant at the IVF clinic or they're 70 years old, is the worst thing that can ever happen to anyone and is the worst pain anyone could ever imagine. It goes against the natural order of things. No one should ever have to bury their child. 

Even in 2022, it's still a taboo subject to talk about sometimes. Most people don't know anyone who has said they had a miscarriage, even though 25% of women have had one. It can be hard to know how to grieve or honor your baby's memory. Here are some ideas that should help you mourn. You can choose whichever one you want, no matter how simple it is. 

Light a candle. You can buy a candle and light it with a lighter and send your thoughts to your baby. You can also light one at your local church if you are religious. On National Pregnancy Loss Awareness Day, mothers from all over the world light a candle at 8 pm. You can be one of them too.

Have a memorial. Funeral homes often offer memorial services for a low cost or free of charge for babies lost during pregnancy. You can also host a private one at a park or just with you and your partner. Share in memories of the pregnancy that make you smile, the moment you found out you concieved, and anything else that was a happy time for you. 

Raise money in their honor. You can run a fundraiser or donate to charity in your baby's name. An appropriate charity would also be for survivors of loss, grief counselling, or other children's charities. It's a way to keep your baby's memory alive.

Get a tattoo. You can always get a memorial tattoo for your baby. You can get a miscarriage ribbon, foot prints, their name, their date of birth, a quote, or anything you want. Some mothers want the same tattoo for all of their children, living and passed on, so they get a tattoo of birds sitting on a branch and a baby bird flying away. The baby bird would represent the baby that was miscarried.

Make a memory bear. Whatever clothes you bought for your baby you can have sewn into a memory bear. You can also custom order a bear online and have your baby's name embroidered in it. It's something physical you can hold, kiss and hug. This often helps grieving couples.

Make a time capsule. Put a lock of hair, an ourfit, a rattle, a pair of baby shoes, or anything else you want and place it in a time capsule. You can bury it in your backyard, display it on a shelf or simply keep it nearby.

Get a plaque. You can order a custom memorial plaque for your garden. You can also order a tombstone or urn if your baby was stillborn or died young. This way you can bury your baby or keep their remains close if they were cremated.

Name your baby. It can help to have something to call your baby by. If you don't know the sex, you can always choose a gender-neutral name such as Riley, Dakota, Jordan, Leslie, Angel, Ashley or Rene. 

Lay them to rest. There is an organization called Memorial for the Unborn you can look up. They offer certificates of life, name plates, and more. You can have a place to lay flowers and remember your baby. There are about 18 locations throughout the states. Keep in mind that these places are pro-life, however. If you're outside of the states, you can always start one of your own if that's possible. 

Start a charity. If you want to volunteer your time, you can always start your own non-profit organization. A friend of mine crocheted baby headbands and with every sale, she would donate one to a children's cancer ward in a hospital. Another example is Angel Whispers, who creates angel baby birth certificate keepsakes for grieving parents. You can also just donate the baby items you had gathered for your baby to the needy so less fortunate parents could use the items.

Name something after them. Whether it's your boat, a street, a building or your first living child, you can always name something or someone after them. You'll have a touching story to tell if people ask where the name came from.

Talk about them. It's the best way to keep their memory alive. When parents are asked if they would get rid of the pain they feel from the loss, most of the time they say no. Why? It's all they have left of their child. Most mothers love talking about their babies, it brings them a sense of peace. So talk about your baby.

Plant a tree. A tree planted in their honor is a great idea, it's something you can watch grow like your child would have grown. It can give you something to nurture and take care of like you would have with your baby.

Got any more ideas? Comment below.

Has your dream wedding always been during the summer? Is summer your favorite season? Do you enjoy long, hot days? Then a summer wedding sounds right for you. But how can you get more bang for your buck? Despite being a peak wedding month, you can still save lots of money on your wedding day.

Avoid a long pause between the ceremony and reception. Photographers and musicians charge for the wait time. Instead, opt for an adorable photoshoot of the bridegroom before the ceremony seeing eachother in their wedding outfits and the looks of surprise and awe. Then do poses with others so that it’s all out of the way in time for the ceremony and the reception. Speaking of the reception, have the ceremony and the reception in the same place. This will save travel costs and guests will appreciate the lack of traveling.

Avoid food you don’t need such as chips, bread, and other things that may be served before your meal that you don’t want. This will slash quite a few bucks off your bill.

Save on rentals with a standing ceremony. In pagan tradition, guests participate in the wedding as well by vowing to support the couple, and even joining hands and making a circle around them. Keep a few chairs on hand for the elderly or for those who cannot stand, like your 8 months pregnant cousin.

Instead of wasting paper and hundreds of dollars, email or text your guests seating plan ahead of time. Tell them which table they are to sit and let them take it from there. You can even forgo a seating plan altogether since everyone is family now. To save on wedding programs, just use a large sign that everyone can see, like a chalkboard. Don’t bother with invitations or save the dates. Go virtual and invite guests via email, a wedding website, wedding app or even a Facebook event.

Save on favors by skipping them altogether, or offering one per family. Make sure it’s something they can share.

Skip the three course meals and opt for simple and sweet. Gourmet pasta bar, taco bar, potato bar, and even a buffet style dinner will save you on caterers as well as food costs.

Flowers can be made DIY, bought in silk, or using cheaper blooms. Carnations, daises and baby’s breath are cheap options in a bouquet and look just as gorgeous as others.

Have your cake and eat it too? Not if you don’t even like cakes. Have a dessert bar that can offer pies, doughnuts, even just a candy bar. The variety will make your taste buds dance! Insist on having a cake? Have a single tier for cutting, and place it atop a tower of cupcakes. You can even serve cake pops which are a fraction of the price!

Hire teachers instead of professionals to do your makeup, hair, music and more! Scour beauty schools and music schools for the ones with raw talent that you can buy.

BYOB will save you plenty of cash and allows guests to bring what they like, and turns it into a wine tasting receptions for the others. Offer wine and beer, which saves than if you served the harder stuff. Use a signature cocktail if your guests prefer spirits. Ask if you can pay for just the alcohol guests consume rather than prepaying for more alcohol than anyone could drink.

Candles cost less than flowers so buy them in bulk for your centerpieces. They can also save you on lighting since it illuminates the room naturally.

Venues are more likely to lower the cost per person if you invite lots of guests, even exceed the maximum guest limit. Compare prices with venues of the minimum number of guests and the maximum. Play around and find out which numbers suits your budget the best.

Caterers will often halve the prices of kids meals, so be sure to mention how many children will attend your wedding reception. Meal options rich in carbs and starches such as pasta, potatoes, carrots and rice costs less.

Got a summer wedding story you would like to share? Do you have advice for bridegroom’s planning a summer wedding? Comment below!

By: Rev Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

I saw my mother playing the piano and learning different songs that she heard from her favorite movies. We had a piano in our house growing up, and I always loved it. I enjoyed the sound it played and my mom was very passionate about it. She would play for what seemed like hours and kept practicing, and she got better and better. I still remember the melody of the main song she played, and I even recorded it on my tape recorder. When I played it back, she heard some of her mistakes and she pointed them out, but I didn't care. I heard my mother playing beautiful music and doing something she loved, so I didn't notice the mistakes. I saw my mom being happy and reproducing something beautiful.

I wanted to play a musical instrument since I was in elementary school. I could play the recorder well, I tried the flute but it didn't quite work out. The guitar required longer fingers, so contorting my hands to reach the necessary notes would cause me pain. The piano seemed to be peftect. One day, I sat down and I started playing the keys. I could listen to sounds that clashed and knew not to play those keys together. 

I was in the school chorus, so I knew my scales and what they sounded like, and I had some knowledge on how to read sheet music. But I never really tried following sheet music because it would take me a while to figure out what it even means. So, I would play each note until I could hear the proper sound that played ''Do''. Then I would press the other keys to find Re as well as Mi and the other notes. Once I figured that out, I was able to play my scales and I practiced doing those in different tones. I would play them on the highest notes they could go, to the left end of the piano keys where it played very low. When I had mastered that, I started to teach myself how to play some songs.

I knew some nursery rhymes like Mary Had A Little Lamb, and I would play those keys until I got it right. I learned different variations of that song and added my own little twist to it. Now this was the first song I could properly play so I would show everyone who cared to watch and listen. I was very proud that I could finally play a song. 

In the school chorus, we had to learn a few songs to play at the end-of-school concert. I would always be learning classic new songs, so I would use the lyrics and the notes I learned and try to reproduce it on the piano. I didn't try to learn anything complicated like the background music, just the notes that I would be singing. I would play the keys until one sounded right, then keep that going until I had the entire song done. I would learn by ear. No one could ever accuse me of being tone-deaf because I could hear the differences between the notes very well. 

Eventually, I started playing around with playing more than one note at the same time. I came up with some notes to play together that I could use as some background music for something else. I remember one time, I was playing that song and my mother was in the kitchen doing the dishes. She listened to me play this song many times before, but this time she came out of the kitchen and came to join me. She told me that every time I play that song, there is a little tune that plays in her head. So she asked me to scoot over on the bench and I did, and she experimented with the keys until she found the right notes. She then started to play the tune. I loved it! I started to play the notes I was always playing, and she added in her little tune. Both sounded so perfect together. We looked at each other with grins on our faces. We had just created a song together!

I would eventually practice both tunes at the same time, which was challenging, but taught me some dexterity and flexibility in my hands and fingers. It also takes tremendous concentration to be able to do two things at once at the same exact time. I learned other tunes here and there, but to this day the first thing I play if I have access to a piano is the song that my mother and I made together. 

I may not be as knowledgeable as professional piano players or those who took lessons, but I am proud that I was able to teach myself the basics without any help, and even create a song with my mother. Those are some of the best childhood memories that I have, is doing those little things with my mom. Art is something we shared a passion for, and we even drew together. It's something I'll never forget and I'll always be thankful for.

Did you teach yourself how to play an instrument? Comment below!

By: Rev Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

Winter weddings are beautiful. The holidays are coming up. everywhere is covered in a blanket of white snow, temperatures drop and lace every rooftop with icicles. Who isn’t in the mood to celebrate in winter? Here are some ways you can save on your winter wedding.

Have an outdoor wedding. However crazy this sounds, it will save you thousands. If you’re in an area who is known for its warmer winters, that the coldest months don’t drop far below freezing during the day, it’s the right place! Also, venues will be much cheaper since they never expect couples to wed outside.

Buy lots of paper. You can easily make paper decorations for your wedding. Do a little DIY crafts. Make paper snowflakes, snowmen, and any other shapes you want. It’s cheap, and it’s white, which goes with the theme!

Use your local stores. Winter items and decorations often come out after halloween. Wreaths and more show up even in dollar stores. Buy what you need in bulk.

Do you have any money-saving tips for winter weddings? Comment below!

By: Rev Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

Here are common birth myths dispelled by a birth doula. 

If you are pregnant, you’ll probably be told a lot of stories about labour and birth. While some of them might be useful, it’s important to remember that your experience will be unique to you. You should always discuss anything you are unsure about with your doctor or midwife. This article looks at some of the common myths you might hear.

Myth: There are natural tricks that will bring on labour

Truth: Although there are many suggestions for ways to bring on labour naturally, there are no proven methods that are guaranteed to work. Some of these methods include:

nipple stimulation

drinking castor oil — although this can also bring on nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting, which can result in dehydration

walking

hypnosis and acupuncture (although both can help with relaxation and pain management during childbirth)

having sex

eating spicy food

You should always consult your doctor or midwife before trying any of these methods.

Myth: Babies stop moving just before you go into labour

Truth: Babies’ movements do not increase or decrease just before labour. If at any time you feel your baby is not as active as usual, contact your doctor or midwife who will check that everything is OK.

Myth: Once you have a caesarean, you can’t give birth vaginally

Truth: Many women will have the option of having a vaginal birth after a previous caesarean is an option for many women. It can depend on the reasons for your caesarean, and your health during this pregnancy.

Myth: Having an epidural increases your chances of a caesarean

Truth: There are risks and side effects associated with having an epidural for the pain of labour. Epidurals may increase your chances of needing a vacuum or forceps birth, but epidurals don’t appear to make a caesarean more likely.

Myth: Mums instantly bond with their baby

Truth: Skin to skin contact between mum and baby soon after birth can help the bonding process, but not all women feel bonded to their baby straight away. It can take time and you shouldn’t try to rush or feel like you are doing anything wrong.

Myth: Childbirth is like what you see on TV

Truth: Childbirth on TV and in movies is often very dramatic, suggesting that birth is risky and very painful. It’s important to get accurate information about labour and birth from your caregivers. You can also call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to speak to a maternal child health nurse about what you can expect.

Myth: You must give birth on your back

Truth: You should choose the most comfortable position to give birth. You don’t need to be on your back — in fact, it can be helpful to be upright when giving birth. Find out what happens during the second stage of labour.

Myth: You will know when you are in labour

Truth: If you haven’t already had a baby, it can be difficult to know when your labour has started. For most healthy women, there is no need to go straight to hospital when labour starts. Ask your midwife or doctor for a number to call for advice if you think you might be in labour.

Myth: You must go to a hospital labour ward to give birth

Truth: Birth centres, which are usually attached to a hospital, and planned home births with registered midwives in attendance are good options for healthy, full-term mothers and babies. Hospital labour wards are the best option for women and babies with certain medical conditions, or those at a higher risk of experiencing problems during birth.

Whichever you choose, make sure you trust your care provider, and be aware that the birth might happen somewhere other than where you planned. Some women plan to give birth in hospital but give birth at home. Some women plan to give birth at home or in a birth centre and need to go to a labour ward.

Myth: Good hips or small babies make for an easier birth

Truth: You may have heard the expression ‘good childbearing hips’. In fact, the size of your hips won’t tell you much about how easy or hard your birth is likely to be.

A woman’s pelvis is not a solid bone. It is made up of ligaments and several bones that are designed to move and loosen as you give birth. Your baby’s skull bones are also not fused together yet, which allows for them to fit into and move through the birth canal. There is a condition, however, known as cephalopelvic disproportion, in which a baby’s head does not fit through the mother’s internal pelvis. Your antenatal care provider will screen for this condition.

Truth: It’s also not true that the size of your baby will make birth more or less painful, but the position you are in can make a big difference. Some women find that squatting or being on all fours can be more comfortable than lying down. The position of your baby as they move through the birth canal can also affect how the labour will progress.

If you are concerned about giving birth, speak to your midwife or doctor or call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436

by: Rev Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

Autumn is one of the most popular seasons to get married. Enchanting colors, the weather cooling down, and cuddle-weather just makes you want to get married. How can you penny-pinch on your autumn wedding? Here are some tips and tricks to help you through it.

If it’s early autumn, you can easily have an outdoor wedding. To save thousands on a venue, book a public park. The most it will cost you is $200 for a license to hold an event there. You can also have a wedding in someone’s backyard.

Natural decorations can be autumn leaves, pumpkins, orange blossoms, anything that comes in fall colors. Line them up along the aisle for a cost-effective but eye-catching decoration!

Mix autumn props with your dream items. Throw in some lace, lanterns, bird cages, anything to make the scenery. Apple-picking is also popular during the autumn. Why not have your wedding in a mesmerizing orchard?

Pose your wedding rings with beautiful fall props. This can include leaves, pumpkins, acorns and more! You can get some yellow or rose gold rings to really bring out the autumn colors.

Need a unique idea for lights? Cut out the tops of apples and put small candles on top. Light them, and voila! You have unique and tasty lights. Wedding closer to halloween? Light up Jack-O-Lanterns. You can even carve out the bridegroom’s initials.

Have a charming wedding invitation theme by having the colors in fall colors. Have colored envelopes, and tie a little autumn leaf to put the package together. If you’re having a barn wedding, tie a leaf with rope.

Have your bouquet in lots of different autumn-colored blossoms. Don’t like flowers? Have a gorgeous bouquet of the most beautiful leaves you can find. Keep it unique, yet simple!

Dress up your wedding cake for an autumn wedding by adding leaves as decorations. Anything orange, red, yellow or brown is perfect for this amazing season. Don’t want real leaves? Get some plastic ones at your local dollar store.

Got any more wedding tips for an autumn wedding? Comment below!

By: Rev Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

There are bullies out there that want to make women feel bad for their weight. BBWs, which stands for Big Beautiful Women, are beautiful and whole just the way they are. Sometimes they need to be reminded just how magical their curves are. To help lift yourself up and remind you of how gorgeous you are, here are a list of songs that are fat-positive and body-positive. 

1. Just A Lil Thick by Trinidad James
2. BBW by J-Roc
3. Shape of You by Ed Sheeran
4. Fat Hungry Chick by Tyga
5. Look But Don't Touch by Empire Cast
6. Thick by Trisha Paytas
7. All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor
8. Fat Girls by Briki Fa President
9. In Love With A Fat Girl by Prissy P
10. Big Girl Workout by Prissy P
11. Big Girl Movement by Prissy P
12. Thunder Thighs by Missy Eaves
13. Thicky Thighday by Lardi B
14. Bodak Jello by Lardi B
15. BBW by Fresh x Okey x Feezy Houdini
16. Go Big Girl by Jadablaze
17. Fluffy Girl Anthem by Lady Essence
18. Big Girl by MIKA
19. They Like That I'm Fat by Lardi B
20. Lardi Pop by Lardi B
21. Cinderella by Trisha Paytas
22. Playground by Trisha Paytas
23. I'm Fluffy by Lardi B
24. Fat Chicks by Trisha Paytas

 Got any other songs you'd like to suggest? Comment below!

by: Rev Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

The days are longer, the nights are shortened. The snow melts, and the promise of rebirth and new life bears fruit. The buds appear in the trees, the flowers grow under the trees, the air is warm and welcoming. It’s a good time to tie the knot with your soul mate.

With melted snow, it can be a possibility to have a wedding and a reception outside. Discover your options for sites, whether exterior or interior. This season is scheduled out of season for weddings, so the discounts will be abundant for anything related to the wedding, or at least the prices will not be inflated.

Do you have really helpful parents? Ask them to present instead of a gift. They can help set up tables and chairs, place decorations, even distribute wedding programs. This will save you hundreds on hiring others for work, and you will save time in doing it yourself.

Do you have talented friends? Ask them to help you with everything you need instead of getting a gift. Ask your makeup artist to make up your cosmetic hairdresser your hair and your neighbor decorator to make your wedding cake. Even better if you know someone who can make your nails, even pluck your eyebrows or wax your upper lip for the occasion.

Know the people that recently has tied the knot? Ask them if they have any marriage remnants they offer. All of the decoration, chairs and extra tables, even silk flowers or centerpieces. Get their second hand of dollars worth. Plus, your friends will be grateful for the space, and happy with their items will help you end up in the trash.

Why get a wedding cake at 7 levels when 4 levels will end up in your fridge anyway. Get a detailed cupcake to cut in front of the guests, then take it to the back in the kitchen to be sliced. Have a leaf cake waiting in the back to cut extra slices if your cupcake can not serve all your guests. You can even get a false-layered cake that has a real coat, cut this diaper, then take it back and serve as slices of grocery leaf cake. Nobody needs to know!

Why waste hundreds of fancy invitations that always ends up in garbage anyway? You can invite guests by email instead. For informal for you? Create a facebook event or wedding site. You still save on paper, but still get that personal touch, and you can design your own event or website for free!

Pluck fresh flowers in a meadow for free. You will have fresh wildflowers for the bouquets, and also spare you a trip to the florist. You can even plant and grow yours, then re-plant the bulbs for a long reminder of your special day!

Do you have other tips and tricks to save a lot of money for a spring wedding? Comments below!

By: Rev Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

There are plenty of old wives tales circulating about. Well-meaning people who swear by them often give these myths as advice for pregnant women. However, is there any truth to them? Here the top pregnancy myths are examined for any evidence.

1. ''Sex during pregnancy will poke the baby.''

Intercourse occurs in the vagina, and your baby is in your uterus. Between the uterus and the vagina is your cervix, which remains firmly closed throughout your pregnancy. It is impossible for a penis or toy to penetrate the cervix. The fetus is perfectly protected in the uterus and surrounded by the amniotic sac filled with amniotic fluid. Barring instructions from your doctor or midwife stating otherwise, you can have sex during pregnancy.

2. ''Pregnant women need to eat twice as much.''

While a pregnant woman of normal weight does need to consume more calories, she should not eat twice the amount of food she ate before she concieved. She should only consume about 300 more calories than usual, the equivilent of an extra glass of milk and an apple. The average non-pregnant woman eats about 1,800 calories a day. She should eat 300 extra calories per day, per fetus. If she is pregnant with sextuplets, then this myth would hold true: she would need to eat 3600 calories a day. However, women who are overweight or obese should eat less than 300 extra calories. Be sure to talk to your doctor who may suggest a referral to a nutritionist to be sure you get all the nutrition you need with the food you do eat.

3. ''Dying your hair can hurt your baby.''

It is thought that the chemicals seep through the scalp, into a pregnant woman's bloodstream, and absorbed by the baby which poisons the fetus. This is completely false. There is no evidence to suggest this is even a possibility. It's recommended women in general dye their hair in a well-ventilated area, even those who aren't pregnant. 

4. ''Cesarians are mandatory for breech births.''

Plenty of breech babies were born naturally before cesarians were even invented. A version can be performed to put the fetus in the proper position for birth. If this doesn't work or isn't possible, you can always go with a provider that has experience with a breech birth, or knows exactly what to do when faced with one. A breech birth is not an emergency by itself. Although many providers in the states do opt for a cesarian when faced with a patient with a breech fetus, it's not mandatory at all.

5. ''Breastfeeding while pregnant will cause you to have a premature baby.''

It is true that breastfeeding contracts the uterus, however it will not cause you to go into labor prematurally. Your body is already used to your uterus contracting many times a day, so it won't take the contractions as a sign that it's time to go into labor. Feel free to breastfeed as often and as much as you want during your pregnancy, unless told differently by a medical professional. Breastfeeding does not mean you will have a premature baby and there is no evidence to suggest that this myth is true.

6. ''It's okay to have a glass of wine while pregnant.''

This is false. It doesn't matter if your grandmother did it and your parent turned out ''fine''. It's simply not worth the risk. FAS, also known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, is a very real disorder that can be prevented. Pregnant women should steer clear of alcohol throughout their pregnancy.

7. ''Pregnant women shouldn't drink any coffee.''

Women who are pregnant aren't required to completely give up on coffee during their pregnancy. They should take it easy, especially during the first trimester since high caffeine intake can increase the risk of miscarriage. It's said that you can safely have one cup of coffee a day, especially during the first trimester. You can increase the amount as your pregnancy advances, just don't go crazy.

8. ''Expectant mothers should get rid of their cats.''

Please don't do this, it can't be further from the truth. The only concern is the risk of toxoplasmosis which can be contracted by touching infected feces of cats in the litter. This can easily be avoided by changing the litter with gloves, or having your partner change the litter. If you've had cats for years, you've probably already been exposed to it and developped antibodies against it. You shouldn't garden without gloves either, because outdoor cats can and will poop in gardens. You should also wash these vegetables you harvest so you don't get the infection. Keep your cats and love on them. Don't ever abandon your cats once you get pregnant.

9. ''Pregnant women shouldn't get on an airplane.''

This is false. As long as pregnant women stay hydrated and get up every hour or so to pace the aisle, there is no danger in pregnant women flying. If you have a history of blood clots in your family or you personally do, wear some support hose. There are some myths saying that the pressure in the cabin will cause your water to break, but this is simply not true. The metal detectors also do not carry nearly enough radiation to harm you or your fetus.

10. ''Expectant mothers should only sleep on their left side.''

There is no truth to this at all. This myth stems from pregnant women sleeping on their backs can feel nauseous or light-headed due to the weight on a vein that brings blood back to the heart and brain. However, often women just turn on their own in their sleep, so it isn't really an issue. You don't want to scare pregnant women when they wake up on their belly, to wonder if their baby is still alive. They should sleep how they are comfortable. 

Have you heard of any ot these myths? Comment below!

Anyone can dream of having their special day last longer than a mere 24 hours. Many couples are opting for weekend weddings, 2-day or even 3-day weddings. Is it your dream to celebrate your vows for the whole weekend? Are you worried making it happen will inch you towards bankrupcy? Look no further! Here are some life-saving cost-cutting tips to throw the wedding weekend of your dreams while saving thousands of dollars in the process!

First, what is a weekend wedding? A weekend wedding often consists of the following timeline:

-Friday dinner

-Saturday breakfast

-Saturday activity with a lunch break

-Saturday afternoon ceremony

-Saturday wedding dinner

-Sunday breakfast/brunch

Fridays dinner is often the rehearsal dinner. You cam rehearse the wedding for an hour or two and then have a dinner and toast with the wedding party.

Saturday can be a brunch or breakfast for the guests. You can have lawn games at an outdoor wedding, which are easily set up and an be bough at dollar stores or discount stores. Want an indoor wedding? Have it somewhere known for an activity, such as a bowling alley, movie theatre or sports arena. Entertainment for your guests won’t be hard to come by.

Have the wedding activities nearby, if not in the same venue. This will save your guests from traveling a lot, which an be ime consuming and frustrating.

If you want everyone to attend your friday dinner, it’s nice if you limit your guest list to little more than the wedding party. It will be MUCH less expensive as well!

Opt for cheaper food options, such as buffet meals, potato bar, pasta bar, even belly-filling hors d’oeuvres. This will cut down on the staff you need at your wedding as well as cost much less in food. Want to save even more? Make one or most of the meals potlucks. You can even have a BYOB wedding and save on alcohol or a bar altogether.

Make your wedding cake according to the guest list and not outrageously big that will leave you with too many leftovers. Don’t get a 5 tier cake for only 25 guests.

Ask your friend to officiate. They can become legally ordained online easily. Just be sure they check their state marriage laws to assure their clergy standing.

Don’t pay for other’s formalwear. Bridesmaids dresses are crazy expensive. Get decent dresses at Sears for much less, or have your party choose and buy their own. Have the groomsmen rent their tuxes in lieu of a gift, or just wear a nice dress shirt with trousers and a bowtie.

Got more weekend wedding advice? Comment below!

by: Rev Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

Treat them. Treat them to a dinner at a nice restaurant and foot the bill. It's almost expected nowadays that the man pays all the time. Unless it's something that he feels he must do every time, pay for your meal out together. It's a nice change of pace and he won't have to worry about anything other than enjoying himself.

Gifts. You can give them a surprise gift just because! You can spoil your partner just like they spoil you, even for no reason at all other than you love them, or if you're impatient like me and can't wait until a holiday or special occasion. Be sure to pay attention to your partner; has he been eyeing something at the mall or online that he wants but doesn't buy? Get it for him!

Surprise party. These are great for special occasions. Gather family and friends together and organize a surprise party with decorations, gifts and cake. Be sure that your partner enjoys surprises and they are sure to have a blast. Make sure no one tells him and he will be pleasantly surprised!

Make a romantic dinner. Light some candles and bust out the nice china and fancy napkins and make a nice dinner. Serve it on your dining room table and eat it together. You can make his favorite dish, or even a three-course meal if you're up for it. 

Breakfast in bed. Wake up earlier than your partner and start cooking some breakfast and be as quiet as possible. Then, serve your partner some delicious breakfast in bed! If your partner wakes up in the middle of it, simply set the table and eat it together. Not much of a cook? Run out and get his favorite breakfast from a fast food place or at the grocery store.

Seduce them. Put on some sexy lingerie and turn on the slow music. Dim the lights and sprinkle some rose petals on the bed, and draw a hot bubble bath. Bust out the massage oil and rub away all that tension in your partner's body. Make love together and cuddle in each other's arms.

Getaway. Book your partner a much-anticipated vacation, no matter what your budget is. It can be at a hotel room in town, a rustic little bed and breakfast, or that second honeymoon trip to a tropical location you always wanted to take together. Enlist the help of friends and family to keep you posted on any plans he makes so you know to avoid those specific dates to book your trip. You can always rent a cottage or log cabin somewhere remote and be just the two of you together for a weekend.

Tickets. Is there a sports game, an opera, a movie, a play that your partner really wants to see? Get some tickets and surprise your partner with them. They will be so happy and find it so thoughtful that you thought to surprise them like this. Be sure your partner hasn't already bought the tickets though! Just in case you end up with two pairs of tickets, make it a double-date and invite your best friends!

Got any more ideas? Comment below!

by: Rev Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

Spring is coming up, and therefore wedding season is beginning, and having a wedding can be expensive. The venue itself can easily cost your entire budget. Why not save thousands of dollars by having a charming backyard gazebo wedding? Why get a big venue when you can save thousands of dollars by getting married in your own backyard?

Now, if you’re not a homeowner, don’t falter. Ask a family member or a friend if you can get married in their backyard! Imagine all the possibilities for food; brunch with mimosas and fresh fruit and waffles; mid-afternoon reception with cocktail party food assortments of cheese, meats, grapes and wine; a festive evening buffet with a salad bar. The possibilities are endless!

Backyard. Many backyards can have eyesores, like if you live next to or near a commercial building, the neighbors have some unsightly decorations in their own yard, or your neighbor’s house is obviously worse for wear. There are a few ways you can keep your backyard enclosed and private. Consider getting a tall wooden fence to maintain privacy and focus on your event. If you’re planning years ahead of time, you can also plant hedges for a privacy screen along the border of your yard for a natural, eco-friendly touch. In a pinch? Get posts and attach clotheslines to them, or onto existing trees or fences, and tie streamers! You can also get inexpensive curtains to go on the clotheslines for a more opaque backdrop. It’s a great way to keep the focus on the ceremony, and you can easily replace your current curtains with your brand new ones afterwards for a lasting reminder of your special day.

Backdrop. Lots of weddings have a specific backdrop just for where they get married. Others also have backdrops specifically for photo-ops, others at the bride and groom’s table for the sit-down meal. On board with this idea? Why not! The cheapest option is to tie paper streamers on a clothes line. You can pick different hues that match your color scheme as well as different shades. Want other ideas? Here are some more.

The Gazebo. If you or your friends don’t have a gazebo, you can either get a tent for the outdoors, rent a canopy, or even buy or borrow a temporary gazebo. You can even just use a simple archway in a pinch. Gazebos are so elegant that you can often leave them undecorated. An enclosed gazebo is ideal for winter weddings, during the rainy season, or nighttime weddings. They can help mask an ugly backdrop in a backyard in the wedding photos.

Furniture. You can easily pull out foldable chairs and tables. Use white tablecloths to help mask the fact that the tables are foldable, and add a touch of elegance to the party. Want to go all out? Get chair covers as well. It’ll also prevent your chairs from getting stained with food or drinks during the reception.

Food. You can hire a restaurant to set up in the backyard to feed the guests. You can put your own drinks or food in an outdoor cooler so it’s in hand’s reach and easily accessible. You can also hire a food truck to hang out in your backyard and feed the guests on the go. You can also set up a buffet table and lay out all the food the guests could ever want. Want to save even more money? Have your wedding right after mealtime, so all you’ll have to serve is snacks and hors d’oeuvres!

Flowers. You can never go wrong with flowers! Grow your own blooms by planting them in your backyard or front yard so they’re ready to be picked by the time your wedding day rolls around. You can also get some silk floral beauties at your local dollar store. Dead-set on getting flowers from a florist? Tell them it’s for an anniversary party or a birthday party. Never utter the word wedding, or they will double or triple the price.

Decor. Tulle and anything white will look elegant in the backyard. Get creative; paper lanterns, white Christmas lights, banners, and more! You can even add little accents with white bird cages and rose petals, or lanterns with candles. Loop white streamers around branches of your mature trees. Hang paper hearts from the roof of your gazebo. Whatever your heart desires, make it happen!

Cake. Did you know you can even have a gazebo-themed wedding cake? Get a cake stand online or at a second-hand store and make a small cake look huge and elegant. Why not make a statement that highlights your wedding day? Also; if you know anyone that bakes well in your family or friends circle, ask them to make your cake in lieu of a gift. You will save hundreds of dollars this way! Feeling crafty? Get a cake decorating kit from Michael’s and practice, practice, practice! You may be able to make your own wedding cake when the time comes!

Photographer. It’s important not to skimp in this aspect, since a great photographer and camera can turn drab into fab. A good way to save money but keep the quality is to see if friends, family or a friend of a friend can be the photographer at your wedding. Some cameras are expensive, but take amazing photos almost no matter what. Know someone artistic that’s interested in photography? Look at their snaps and ask what type of camera they have. They can even take informative free classes online. Can’t afford a professional? Go to your local art school and hire a photography student. They will be thrilled to add to their portfolio and will charge you a fraction of the price.

Invitations. To save money, you can always make e-invites or make your own wedding website to invite guests. If you’re more traditional, you can always DIY. Open up Microsoft Powerpoint and copy-paste a blank wedding invitation template from google images. Select the font and colors that you want and go from there! Print them out at home on fancy paper or go to your local Staples to have them printed. Cheap, easy and time-saving.

Backyard gazebo weddings are charming, down-to-earth and endearing. They are perfect for intimate weddings, since almost every home owner has at least a small front or backyard. They can be fancy and cost thousands of dollars, or they can be simple and cost just a few hundred dollars. Remember, at the end of the day you are just as much married as the couple that spent six figures on their wedding.

Did you like our ideas? Got more advice on backyard gazebo weddings? Do you have questions or concerns? Comment below!

by: Rev. Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

Want to throw a party but don't know which theme to use? Here are some theme ideas for fun parties you can use!

Winter Wonderland. Decorate with some paper snowflakes, pine trees and pine cones. The main colors used are often light blue, white and silver. You can even get food with frosting this color like cakes, cupcakes and cookies to match the theme. You can play winter songs and even have a dry ice machine.

Out of this World. This is an outer space theme and the main colors are violet, silver and black. You can print out pictures of planets and hang them from the cieling as decorations and use dark purple table cloths.

Roaring 1920s. Bring back the swing dancing and decorate in gold, white, black and silver. This theme is becoming more and more popular since people love to dress pin-up. 

1980s. Poofy hair-dos and oldies blasting on the radio makes you want to throw an 80's themed party! Neon colors often come with this theme as color clash was common in outfits in this era. Bonus if you can whip out some vintage wear like bell-bottomed pants!

Feel the Heat. Summer theme with little umbrellas in drinks, floral and fruit decorations. Even the dollar store has items for sale for this theme. This is a perfect theme to go with a pool party. 

Rave. People can wear things with bright lights and techno-themed. The dollar store also sells head gear and accessories with blinking lights that change colors, so you can be dressed the part for cheap!

Movie. It can be a Harry Potter theme, Star Wars, or any other popular movie or movie that you enjoy. 

Tv show. Star Trek, or kids shows like Dora the Explorer for kids are some good examples.

Murder Mystery. Dress up like the old times and enjoy a murder mystery party. This theme is for those who love mystery books and movies.

Under the sea. With an ocean theme, you can use some beach decorations with sand, seashells, and twine. 

Princess. A traditional party theme for birthdays of young girls, this is the perfect excuse to pull out that princess costume and wear it at the party. You can even hire princess impersonators. 

Superhero. Popular for the birthdays of young boys, invite friends over and dress up as your favorite superheros. You can also hire an animator dressed as a favorite superhero.

Costume. A costume party is popular for halloween, but is also a great occasion for cosplayers alike to wear their costumes to a party.

Got more party theme ideas? Comment below!

Mason jars have gained in popuarity for decorations and their many uses. Even in weddings, they make themselves known as rustic decorations. Here are some ideas of making your own mason jar wedding centerpiece on a shoestring budget.

Already decorated mason jars of all sizes can be found in your local dollar store. Small mason jars with lace cost only $2 and are large enough to accomodate small bouquets. There are even pre-made white silk flower bouquets at the dollar store for about $4 each.

You can fill up the mason jars with water and leave it at that. However, you can add some food coloring to the water to make it look a little extra colorful.

You can also buy vase-fillers for $2 per bag. They are often small crystals, colored granulated sand, or even seashells or pebbles. There are also jars filled with seashells or pebbles already for sale at the dollar store. You can buy them like that and just stick in the bouquet and you’re done!

You can even get tinted wine bottles with LED lights inside for about $4 each. They come in all different colors such as pink, green and blue. However, the lids are sealed shut as inside the lids are where the batteries are for the lights. If you find the bottles are not enough as a centerpiece, you can always include a floral candle ring around the bottle, or flowers, candles or crystals around the bottles.

If you’re having a low-budget and casual wedding, or even a fancy one, you can go with these white party centerpieces. Available at every dollar store, they are pre-made and are easy to set up. Simply plop them on the spot where you want them and voila!

Got other money-saving wedding centerpiece ideas? Comment below!

by: Rev Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

1. Park. Take your kids out to a park nearby and watch them play. You can even join them and swing next to them or chase them around the playground.

2. Picnic. Pack a nice homemade lunch, even just sandwiches, and eat on a blanket outside with your family. Most parks also have picnic benches you can use to eat on.

3. Pool. Plenty of neighborhoods have free community pools. Grab your family and your bathing suits with some sunscreen and towels and you're good to go.

4, Water park. Some neighborhoods also have parks that spray water so kids can cool down in the summer. 

5. Dog park. Bring the family dog along and go to the dog park. You can pet dogs and interact with fellow dog owners.

6. Pick flowers. Find an empty field full of wildflowers and pick them together as a family. You can fill vases with them at home, tie them in ribbon and offer them to neighbors, friends and family. 

7. Nature Park. Many nature parks are free, even some national parks. Go for a walk and enjoy the natural beauty. Nature reserves and nature preservations are also free to explore and protect species of animals as well.

8. Hiking. Go to your closest hill or mountain and go for a hike. Go as high up as you safely can and enjoy the breath-taking view.

9. Watch the sunset. Whether the sunset or sunrise, cuddle together under a blanket on the porch drinking some hot chocolate and watch the sky be painted with the most vivid and gorgeous colors.

10. Bird-Watching. Whip out those binoculars and watch birds. Try to identify or guess which types of birds they are. Even visually impaired people can participate by listening to the chirping and bird calls and try to guess which type of bird it belongs to.

11. Play games. Bust out the dusty board games or card deck that you haven't used in a while. You can also take out puzzles and do them together.

12. Volunteer. It can be as simple as babysitting for friends or family who need a break, or as big as volunteering in a soup kitchen or pet shelter. You can also organize a neighborhood cleanup. You can also organize a talent show to perform for at a local nursing home. 

13. Donate. Go through your clothes and your children's old toys that they never use and pack them up. You can donate them as hand-me-downs to family and friends, or to a discount store.

14. Scavenger hunt. Make a list of items and have a scavenger hunt. You can do one while driving and stopping to find things on the side of the road, or you can do it in one single area.

15. See the lights. If it's around November and December, drive around and look at the Christmas lights. If it's October, look at the Halloween decorations.

16. Potluck party. Throw a potluck party and invite your friends, family and neighbors. You can share in food, drinks, laughter and games and have a grand old time.

17. Go camping in your backyard. Have a campfire, roast marshmallows and hot dogs, and have some singalongs. Pitch a tent if you own one and sleep under the stars.

18. Have a bonfire. Got any old wood that needs to go? Burn it in a bonfire and enjoy the blazing warmth that comes with it.

19. Try a new recipe. There are websites that come up with recipes according to what you have in your fridge and cupboard already. Type in the ingredients you have and you'll find some yummy recipes waiting to be made!

20. Pick fruit. People who own fruit trees in their backyard often have an over-production problem. Some will offer to let the public pick fruit for free. You can also go over to your friends or family's places where they have fruit trees or bushes and pick there.

21. Forage. Look up edible plants and weeds that are common and teach your kids about them. Dandelion and clover are two examples.

22. Plant indentification. Teach yourself and your family how to identify different plants, especially the harmful ones. You don't want anyone getting poison ivy by accident!

23. Bake. If you have the ingredients, bake something sweet. You can make cookies, brownies, cake, cupcakes, muffins or pie and you can make it all together.

24. Have a play date. Invite your friends or family over that have kids of their own as well. Let the kids play and have some much-needed catching up and adult conversation.

25. Fish. If you already own fishing gear, go to a local river, pond or lake and fish. Public water bodies are free. Just make sure you have a fishing permit or license if that's required in your area.

26. Visit the beach. Grab some towels, bathing suits, sunscreen, sunglasses and hats and you are good to go. You can bring some plastic buckets and mini-shovels if you have them so the kids can make sand castles.

27. Have a movie marathon. Choose a series of movies, pop some popcorn and cuddle up with your family so you can all watch them together.

28. Star-gaze. If you have a telescope, star-gaze as a family and identify constellations and planets. There are also shooting stars in August, so be sure to look out for them. Even without a telescope, put a blanket on the ground with some pillows and look up at the sky.

29. Ride your bikes. Go cycling down the neighborhood together. You can drive somewhere so you can bike in a scenic location such as by a body of water.

30. Sign up for an online class. Some are just for fun, while others can actually improve your resume. Harvard even offers free online classes, so go sign up now!

31. Visit the Fire Station. Call ahead of time and schedule a tour. Your kids will love sitting in the fire truck and seeing what goes on behind the scenes.

32. Plant a garden. Whether you have land or some spare flower pots, plant some flowers, shrubs, trees, vegetables or fruit. Watch them grow year after year and teach your kids how to grow their own food.

33. Dance like no one's watching. There are plenty of bars and clubs that don't have a cover fee. Go out with your friends and have a girl's night and dance to your heart's content!

34. Play charades. Invite your neighbors, friends or family over and play charades. Guess what the other person is acting out!

35. Write a letter. Whether you want to send a letter to the military overseas, a friend or family member, do so. There are even penpal websites where kids ask to have another child to write in another country or state. This is free if you already have stamps lying around, if not then send an email.

36. Visit your city's website. They often list attractions and upcoming events, most of which are free.

37. Go to the library. You can check out books for free as long as you return them on time, and some even let you rent a few movies for free as well.

38. Watch a local game. Some practice games of college or high school football or baseball is free, so stop by and cheer them on.

39. Give podcasts a listen. Look up podcasts on your favorite subjects and find some that you are interested in. You'll have something to pass the time and you can even play it while you wait out traffick on weekdays.

40. Listen to an audiobook. You get a free audio book a month on kindle and you can listen to them for hours so you can keep your hands free.

41. Introduce yourself. Talk and get to know your neighbors. You just might make some new friends!

42. Teach yourself something. Learn to play an instrument, to knit, crochet, or another skill. You can even learn a new language on free apps like FreeRice or DuoLingo. You can learn oregami, a new dance from an online tutorial, or how to quilt. The possibilities are endless!

43. Take pictures. Memories are the best things to look back on. Take photos of places you visit, your kids playing, or a couple's selfie. Always take pictures.

44. Museum. I've heard of some museums being free, or having free days. Call and inquire about them, or visit museum's websites to see when those days are.

45. Zoo. I read that some zoos offer free days as well, or ''open to the public'' you just need to ask around and do your research.

46. Play a sport. Get your kids together and play a sport together. It can be football, soccer, kickball, or anything you want.

47. Make a time capsule. Find a shoebox and gather items you think will be fun to see years from now. Tape it up and bury it, or hide it somewhere you'll remember to check in a few years.

48. Look at photo albums. Sit down with your family and show your kids their baby pictures. You can look at memories together from when you and your partner first got together, your wedding album, anything really.

49. Host a film festival. Sort of like a potluck, but everyone brings their favorite movie instead. 

50. Try yoga. Use something as simple as a bathroom mat, and look at a Youtube tutorial video and strike some posts. Remember to breathe slowly to keep yourself nice and calm and relaxed.

51. Build some paper airplanes. Teach your kids how to make paper airplanes and fly them together indoors.

52. Make paper snowflakes. You can print out different types of designs from online and cut them out with your family. Tape them to windows or to string and to the cieling for some free decorations.

53. Read a book. Develop a love of literature in your child and have them pick up a book and read it. You can read one to them, or have them read one to you. 

54. Make a blanket fort. Use everything you can find; pillows, blankets, chairs, couch cushions and more! Make a big fort together and crawl in there together. You can also let your kids play around in it for a while so you can curl up with your favorite novel for a bit.

55. Call someone. Call your friend or a family member and check up on them. Reach out to everyone and catch up and talk about anything. They will greatly appreciate it.

56. Have a yard sale. Gather some items you are no longer using and sell them at a yard sale. 

57. Make cards. Grab some paper, markers and crayons and make some cards with your kids. Send them for birthdays, well-wishes or holidays. They're much more special when they are hand-made.

58. Take a nap. Get some rest and nap while your children nap. You'll feel refreshed, energized, and ready to run after those kiddos again once they wake up.

59. Make a family tree. You can do some light research on your genealogy and find out where you and your kids came from. You can do your spouse's as well so your kids will have a full picture of their ancestry. You might discover some surprising things!

60. Turn on the sprinklers. Put on your bathing suits and run around the back and front yard and cool off on those hot summer days.

61. Try meditation. Teach it to your children as well and see if this is something you all enjoy together.

62. Go to a religious service. Whether you go to church, temple or anywhere else, it's free and full of community and faith.

63. Exercise. If you and your spouse start exercising together, the kids are sure to join in. Use your own body weight as resistance, such as push-ups, sit-ups, squats and lunges.

64. Blow some bubbles. Some soapy water is all you need! If you already have some in the house, even better! Go outside and blow some bubbles and watch your kids go crazy running around after them.

65. Write it down. Find a notebook you haven't used yet and start a journal. You can also make one online such as a private blog or just a file you keep on your computer. It can be just to keep track of what you do each day, or you can write down thoughts and reflections. 

66. Massage night. After the kids are asleep, your partner can give you a massage. In return, you can give them a massage as well. This is a great way to unwind and connect as a couple.

67. Join a book club. They often have some in your local library, and if they don't, you can always start one of your own.

68. Watch TV. You can start a new tv series and watch it together as a family, or just you and your partner once the kids are asleep.

69. Make a castle. Grab some leftover cardboard and empty toilet paper rolls and make a castle out of cardboard with the kids.

70. Video game console. Nintendo 64, game cube, Playstation 1, Playstation 2, Xbox; they're all incredibly old. If you still have one, take it out and play your favorite game. You can also teach your kids how to play as well.

71. Make snow angels. Lay in the snow and make some snow angels with your kids! You can fondly look at them in the morning while you drink your coffee.

72. Snowball fight. Make some snowballs and throw them at each other! You can even build walls out of snow to hide behind and duck attacks from the other end of the yard.

73. Pillow fight. Grab some pillows, jump on the bed and whack each other. This is sure to make everyone laugh and have a great time!

74. Water gun fight. Grab some water guns and have fun getting wet to cool off in the summer heat!

75. Catch fireflies. Go out at night with some jars and catch some fireflies. Watch them glow in the jars and enjoy their beauty and take some pictures. Remember to release them soon after.

76. Start an ant farm. Grab a jar and fill it up with sand and then place a few ants inside. Wait a few hours or days and you will see the ants start to dig tunnels. This is a great educational oppurtunity for your kids too. Remember to set them free afterwards!

77. Attend a festival. Medieval festivals are free, all you need to do is walk around and enjoy the sights and smells. You can even dress up for the occasion.

78. Watch a parade. Often there are free parades such as on independence day or christmas. They are always free, even in neighboring towns. Go as a family, and bring folding chairs so you can sit up front and rest your legs.

79. Make impromptu costumes. Grab some sheets and use them as capes, use underwear as hats, or whatever you want! The more creative, the better!

80. Build an ingloo. Grab some of the snow outside and start packing it together to make bricks. Bonus if you already have a plastic playhouse outside, just put snow around it to make it look like an igloo.

81. Start an art project. Pick up some egg cartons, empty paper towel rolls, and cereal boxes and make an art project out of it. 

82. Make a snowman. Big or small, make a snowman together as a family. Grab some branches, a carrot and some buttons to make the face, arms and nose. Add a scarf and a hat and you're done! 

83. Go sledding. Grab a sled if you have one and go to a hill. Sled with your kids and have a blast!

Got any more ideas? Comment below!

by: Rev. Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

Are you all about being green? Are you very eco-friendly? Do you recycle and compost regularly? Then why not have your wedding on Earth Day?

Use recycled items. This is a bit if a no-brainer. Do you have someone in your entourage that got married recently? Ask to borrow or buy their leftover decor and more. This way you save the items from getting in the trash and you save yourself lots of time and effort looking for similar things in stores.

Throw birdseed instead of rice. Rice is incredibly bad for birds, who will eat it unknowingly. Throw bird seed instead of rice and let the birds feast!

Offer plants or seeds as favors. This encourages planting, the nurturing of plant life as well as helping the environment. Plants filter out the toxins in the air and purifies oxygen. You are helping your loved ones breathe better by offering them their very own plant!

Save on paper and save trees by forgoing menus, invitations, thank you cards, save the dates and table name tags and numbers. Create a wedding website, do email invites, or even just by phone. You will save tons of paper and in turn, save plenty of trees! Tell guests that they can sit wherever since they are all family now!

Donate leftover food to local soup kitchens, homeless shelters and food banks. The homeless and less fortunate will be able to eat quality food thanks to you! What a way to celebrate love; by giving it back to the community!

Donate leftover items to second-hand stores, or sell hem to make your money back. Either way, you give your items a second life and encourage reusing. This minimizes waste and filling the dumpsters and landfills.

If you use real blooms, use the bouquets as the centerpieces for the reception. Less flowers will be cut and uprooted in the process and you save tons of money!

Got more green tips for an earth day wedding? Comment below!

by: Rev Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

Are you missing the warmer months already? I know I am! Here are some refreshing summer drinks to sip during the Indian summer, and stir some nostalgia for those warmer days a few weeks ago.

Lemonade. Always a classic, this has a mixture of acidity along with sweetness with the lemons and sugar. You can buy some flavor packs and mix it with water, or you can always make some yourself. You can even make a sugar-free version with lemon juice, water and stevia. There are also plenty of variations in flavors such as strawberry lemonade, pink lemonade, even limade. You can use a soda machine to make some sparkling lemonade as well to carbonate your drinks. The possibilities are endless!

Fruit smoothies. Grab some fruit, put it in the blender with some ice and milk, and mix them all together. For dairy intolerance, you can mix fruit with fruit juice and ice to make some delicious smoothies. Some popular choices are strawberry-banana, apple-strawberry, and blueberry-pomegranate. You can add some raspberries, oranges, pineapple, kiwi, or whatever fruit you want. Add some sugar for extra sweetness.

Milkshakes. Strawberry, chocolate and vanilla are the most popular flavors. Add some ice cream and some milk, and maybe a fruit if you want to add a fruit serving in there. My husband loves his chocolate banana milkshakes. It gives him some nutrition along with that chocolate flavor he loves. You can also add some caramel syrup to your vanilla milkshake for a wonderful combination of flavors. 

Punch. You can mix some fruit juice and some sparkling juice or some sodas to make some delicious punch. Cranberry-orange is one of my personal favorites, mixed with some sprite. Some people like to mix some pepsi or cola with some cherry juice to make a cherry pepsi or cola flavor. It all depends on your personal tastes and what you would prefer to drink.

Slush. You can grab some fresh snow from a recent snowfall and add your favorite fruit juice and voila; you have a slush! We always have orange juice on hand, so this is often what we go with. Every time it snows now, my kids ask if we can make a slush. More often than not, I'm happy to make them! I've even discovered I can use flavored packets as well with some water to pack a potent flavored punch. 

Mocktail. My personal favorite mocktail is an alcohol-free mimosa: half orange juice, half sprite. It tastes great and is a great pick-me-up for those slow mornings. You can have some tomato juice for a virgin mary with some celery. Dollar stores even sell syrups and fruit mixes needed for margaritas, daiquiries and pina coladas. Simply blend these mixes with sprite and you're good to go. Just because you don't drink alcohol, doesn't mean you can't enjoy the great flavors that cocktails usually come with.

What's your favorite drinks recipe? Comment below!

by: Rev. Dr. Stéphanie Noircent

So you want to get married? Congratulations! Now, how do you start? What are the first steps? Here are the requirements to be married legally.

Be at least 18 years old or be the minimum required age with parental consent from both parents of both children.

Do your research. How much will the marriage licence cost? Where do you need to go to apply for it? What is the delay between the application and the response? When would you recieve the marriage licence? How long is your marriage licence valid for?

Order your birth certificates and proof of no marriage. Have the required funds to order them. If this is your second wedding, provide your divorce certificate or decree of divorce. If you are widowed, bring your wedding certificate as well as your late spouse’s death certificate. If you are annulled, bring your proof of annullment. This is to prove that your marriage would not be commiting bigamy. Have these documents ready before going to the courthouse.

You will need to both take your photo ID cards, preferrably driver’s license since it doubles as proof of residence. You will both need to go to your county of residence’s courthouse or city hall with your IDs and the fees for a marriage licence. Be sure to know your social security number by heart or to have your social security card with you.

Ask for a marriage licence application and both fill out the forms honestly. Submit the forms together. Depending on your state or country, you can obtain your marriage licence in a few hours or a few months.

Be sure to check the mail or p.o. box often so you are sure to recieve your marriage licence. Check the expiration date so you know by which date you have to marry. Will it expire before your wedding date? Either move the wedding date up sooner, get married legally before and just have a reception after, or just get a new marriage licence after the expiration date.

Find an officiant. Check their credentials to make sure that they’re allowed to preform legal marriage ceremonies in your state or country. To be sure they can, you can always get a judge or a justice of the peace, or a practicing religious minister to marry you. Check how much their fee is, and have the money ready to pay them in advance to reserve them for your wedding day.

Choose two witnesses that are willing to be present during the ceremony and sign as witnesses. Usually they re the maid of honor and the best man, but they can be any gender. Make sure they will be available on your wedding day. You need hese two witnesses to get married. If you are eloping, make sure the wo witnesses are included in the package.

Vows can be either written by you or provided by the person marrying you in a standard ceremony. If you are a non-romantic couple and are unreligious, you can simply state that you agree to take each other as spouses. This is the whole point of the ceremony, to allow surity that the couple indeed wishes to be wed, that no one was threatened, bribed or inebriated; and that no one has justifiable objections to the union. If you think anyone will object, it’s best to elope so no one will know where to go to stop you.

Sign the marriage licence and certificate after the ceremony and the vows. Have the person who married you sign the papers as well as the two witnesses. Don’t forget to date the papers as well.

Turn in the signed licence and certificate to be officially declared as married. If possible, bring the person that married you and have them bring their birth certificate, driver’s licence and credentials. You can also bring your two witnesses with their birth certificates and driver’s licences to prove that no fraud was committed and everyone consents.

Literally everything else is optional! Congratulations, you’re married! Unable to afford a lavish wedding of your dreams? Relax, you are just as married as the couple who spent $50k on their wedding. Your wedding is just as meaningful and you sign the same papers.

In the case of marriage of immigrants, such as a natural born citizen and a tourist, you will need to take photos of your wedding and honeymoon. If the tourist wants to immigrate into the citizen’s country, an immigration lawyer will want lots of pictures to prove the authenticity of your marriage and relationship.

Does your state or country require something else? Comment below!