Country-style Love
Jun0
A dozen red roses, a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, a candle lit dinner… pffttt. Compared to romance country-style, these clichéd dating notions seem old and passé.
I am not sure why - but of all of the romantic gestures I have ever heard of, the very best appear to be thought up by country folk. Perhaps it is because they have so much time to think up wonderful ideas while they drive long distances and sit in tractors for 12 hour shifts or perhaps they are inspired by the beautiful countryside that surrounds them.
My friend Dusty once gave his girlfriend a ring. There was no simple jewellery box or handing over of the token. A gorgeous new lamb delivered the ring tied to its neck on a beautiful ribbon.
My lovely friend Kirstie is married to Josh. Before every party he prepares a 44 gallon fire drum to keep the party guests warm. He adorns the drum with flowers, branches, cuttings of pictures and words to tell everyone how much he loves her. As we sit around the drum we read statements and stories about their life together and it’s obvious to all that Kirstie is the most special person in Josh’s life.
Josh is multitalented too. When Kirstie needed a hat for the races but could not buy one in town, Josh made her a hat. When I say ‘made’ I am not suggesting he lent her his John Deere cap and added a feather to it, but rather Josh created a work of art to make any milliner proud and to this day Kirstie still wears that hat to races.
My good friend Hugh loves to think up wonderful romantic ideas for his wife Mickey. He sets up treasure hunts for her so she can follow the clues to delicious chocolates and plans picnics in the moonlight down beside the lake. He has even been known to invite Mickey to a rodeo only to drive in the opposite direction on the night arriving at a beautiful restaurant with flowers and a prearranged booking.
Living in the country Australia has affected me romantically too. Many years ago I prepared a meal for my boyfriend. I cleaned up the old stables and I lined the walls with candles. With the tall snow gums outside we sat on the picnic blanket on the timber floors drinking wine and dining on a delectable selection of cheeses and fruit.
Romance should never be about the money spent or the things given. It is about the thought, energy and the effort made to make your special love know they are the centre of your Universe. It can be about stopping beside the road to pick wild flowers as you drive home, cooking their favourite meal when you know they have had a long day or crafting with your own hands, a special keepsake which will always remind them of how much you love them.
People in the country know about romance and they realise that the personal touch is always worth more than the florist’s. So, do not wait for Valentine’s Day – take a leaf out of country folk’s ways and show your loved one how much you love them in a thoughtful, original way.
This article was written by sought-after Australian public speaker Lara Wilde of Local Intelligence a site about migration to Australia that is filled with Australian country news, information and anecdotes.
Mother of the Bride Attire
Jun0
Seeking a MOB dress? Welcome to PetiteMotheroftheBridedress.com – your source for all of your bridal needs.
This is a very delicate matter to some brides of how best to approach the matter of what you would like your petite Mother to wear on your big day. There are a couple of guidelines that she should follow. One of them would be, what does your wedding gown look like?Is the dress shorter, a little casual with no sleeves and the cloth made of cotton? Is your wedding during the day, evening or night? These sometimes dictate as to what should be worn.But if you have chosen a formal wedding gown with a bridal train that is flowing, will dictate the theme?Your Mother is going to want to be radiant for that day!
Since you found my site, I am assuming that she is petite. Sometimes being petite is a hindrance. A smaller body looks frumpy in an oversized dress, too much material and mid-calf length, sometimes referred to as “tea length”.Making a decision for what she should wear if she is heavy will be arduous.It takes a special person to be a model! So here are my suggestions to help your Mother decide what length dress she will look best in.Using an assumption that the wedding will be formal, the Bride will wear a long gown and it will be around six o’clock in the afternoon.
The Petite Mother of the Bride could wear a long gown that has a jacket that she could take off after the wedding and during the reception. I suggest this because if it is an evening wedding, it might start getting cooler as the night goes on.A long gown is always fashionable, along with the Bridal Party depending on their length of of dress.
Remember, the Mother of the Bride should try and color-coordinate with what the Bride has chosen for the color theme of the whole wedding. If she has chosen maroon for the Bridesmaids dresses, then the Mother would be fine wearing a pale pink or a little darker pink. If the Bride has chosen a dark green color theme, then maybe the Mother should wear a canary yellow. Just make sure that all the colors compliment each other. You don’t want the Mother of the Bride in a shocking green satin dress and the rest of the Bridal Party in light blue chiffon.
In other words, it’s the Bride’s day, so the Mother should not try to outdo or grab the attention. Also, think what the pictures of the day will look like when everyone is together having pictures done. It should all flow beautifully with great colors that blend together.
The petite Mother of the Bride must use good judgement in finding a uncomplicated outfit and accessories. Understated is always in style, you won’t go wrong with that and it is always classy.
There are many places to buy your dresses for the wedding. Whichever route you decide to take for purchasing your dresses, make sure that there is a return policy just in case you decide that it doesn’t suit you or the size is incorrect. You will save money on your Petite Mother of the Bride Dress by ordering online, and a whole lot of time, which is very important when there is a wedding to plan. And just think, you will also have one more “to do” thing off your list. By the way, Happy Wedding….I hope you have an absolutely smashing wedding, go enjoy!