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The Old Anniversary Favourites

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Are you like me and struggle every time it gets to your anniversary? Buying those anniversary gifts is one thing, but getting it wrong can be a disaster!

My wife and I will often joke when it comes to our anniversary, often declaring the whole period of time as a time of regret. In truth, well at least on my part, I am still madly in love and am still enjoying almost every minute of my time with her.

I say “almost” because as with any relationship it has its ups and downs, that is married life. All being told though, it has been a good marriage thus far.

We have been together for eleven years now, though in truth it sometimes feels like twenty. Life is fairly good and we have a couple of beautiful but painfully testing children now who are both in primary school, which has given us both joy and stress all at the same time.

Anniversary Time Again!

The only problem I usually suffer with at this time of year is trying to decide what kind of anniversary gifts to get her. No matter what I get, it seems to be wrong.

I cannot get away with flowers and chocolates anymore, as much as I wish I could. I think if she saw me coming up the driveway with a bouquet and a box of chocolates, I would be made to eat the flowers and smell the chocolates…after she had trodden all over them.

This has led me to having quite a few dilemmas over the past few years, as I have never really been very creative when it comes to buying anniversary gifts. She already has loads of jewellery, her perfume collection is also massive and if I ever attempt to buy her clothes my fashion sense is way off.

Then if I try to buy her lingerie I get accused of buying something for myself rather than for her, which in many ways is actually true. She certainly is a fussy one!

However, I have since learnt that there are many sites online that specifically sell anniversary gifts, they have done the work for us, whilst being sweet and creative with their thoughts at the same time. You could opt for a romantic weekend away, an engraved locket or something simple such as a personalised bottle of bubbly.

A Smile…Result!

With our anniversary just gone I actually did opt for using one of these sites to get her some small anniversary gifts, which to be honest were not as expensive as I thought they might be. She was certainly much happier this year than last, which is my only true barometer; as long as I improve on the previous year I am doing well.

I actually got a kiss and a smile once I gave her a rather ingenious little anniversary message plate where I was actually allowed to customise it online before they delivered it to me. I simply gave them the date of our anniversary and how long we have been together, they then personalised it and added lots of cute little hand written messages. I added to this with an experience day that the site offers, I bought her a spa day where she can relax and take her mind of things. She can use this whenever she wants and simply has to call and let them know she is coming.

On top of that I bought personalized bubbly, took her out for a meal at a swanky restaurant and ended the night with a few hours snuggled up on the couch watching a romantic DVD. Ok that’s not really my ideal kind of movie, but whatever makers her happy!

She loved it all, each and every anniversary gift I bought her, so the whole day was a complete success. It has taken me over ten years of attempts but I have finally got it right on our anniversary. I just hope I can keep it going next year; I am already having new ideas already. One thing is for sure though, that site I used for the little personalised items has been safely bookmarked on my laptop.

So if you are struggling for anniversary gifts like me, hopefully you now have a good couple of ideas on how to be more successful in the future.

5 Great Tour Groups for Cyclists Visiting Africa

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If you are a cyclist, then you are probably always looking for new environments in which to travel by wheel. You may not be aware that Africa is full of cyclist-friendly adventures, any of which would make a vacation to remember for a lifetime. Are you interested in learning about what Africa has to offer? Here are five great tour groups for cyclists visiting Africa:

 

Wildcat Biking Tours. Bring your mountain bike to Morocco for the Tuareg Trail tour through the Anti Atlas mountains. This tour group offers two tours in Morocco and also two tours in Tunisia, and is great for moderate to experienced bikers, as the guides modify the tour according to the experience level of the group.

Tour de Wilderness. If you are an avid mountain biker, then this unforgettable journey may be the perfect fit for you. Travel down to South Africa for the Tour de Wilderness, arguably South Africa’s most popular mountain biking tour offering. The Tour de Wilderness takes place every year, over a period of five days (so you may need to train for this one!), and it is also a charity tour. Not sure five straight days of biking through the mountains is for you? Then you can choose between the original (challenging) route or the explorer route.

Escape Adventures. This is a sixteen day adventure biking through the Eastern Africa region from Tanzania to Kenya. One thing that makes this cycling tour group so special is that they offer a family friendly expedition, so you can bring the little ones along.

Escape Cycle Tours. This tour group is unique in that it offers customized mountain bike tours, as well as road bike tours. Additionally, tours are hosted throughout the year, covering a broad range of Africa’s scenery, from Botswana to the many provinces of South Africa. Therefore, you are likely to find exactly what you are looking for out of an Escape Cycle Tour. Tour lengths range from four days to twelve, so you have the ability to choose a tour perfect for the experience level of your group.

Rwanda Adventures. Rwanda is known throughout the cycling community as one of the all around best places to cycle in Africa. As the name suggests, the Rwanda Adventures tour group specializes in tours through the terrain of Rwanda.

In addition to being an eco-friendly way of travelling, cycling is also a great way to see the beautiful continent of Africa up close and personal. There are many different tours to choose from, so check out all of these great options before you decide which is right for you.

About the Author: Elwood Holtberg loves visiting the country and exploring differen African safari tours. He’s currently training for a cycling race at home and then hopes to stay in shape enough to enjoy a cycling tour the next time he visits Africa.

photo by: Tjeerd





Work, overtime and guitars

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My husbands been busy working a lot of extra shifts in the last week or so. One of his co-workers is on holiday and he’s been covering some of her shifts so he’s been working almost continuously. He’s pretty tired.

The one good thing about it one my side of things is the house is quite so I’ve been able to get more studying done. That’s a good thing. Well .. at least until he comes home. Sometimes Chris picks up his guitar when he gets home and starts playing as it helps him relax .. and of course because he enjoys it. I don’t mind the music at all, but it does disturb my studying. Oh and he found yet another guitar to drool over. It’s a fender electric guitar at musicians friend. He just loves Fenders, the older the better. He has six or seven guitars already so I don’t think he’ll be buying another anytime soon, but I guess he’s got another on his wish list.

Perhaps he’s thinking of using all his overtime money on this new guitar? Hmmm .. I’d better have a talk with him just in case that’s what he’s thinking … LOL

photo by: gedankenstuecke

Time for a new bed?

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I think it’s time to get a new mattress. Don’t they say that you should replace your mattress every 10 or 15 years or so depending upon what kind you purchased? If that’s true mine is due for a change very soon. The bed in our bedroom as well as the mattress was purchased when we moved into our house in 2001 so that means that it’s 11 years old.

I haven’t been sleeping as well lately and my back has been hurting a little bit on and off and I’ve been starting to wonder if it’s because of my bed. The mattress still seems like it’s in good shape but I suppose it’s quite possible that it’s starting to wear out.

I think in a few months when I’m back working at the hospital I might go looking for a new bed set. Especially if I’m still having some trouble sleeping and my back has continued to bother me. I’m actually taking a trip in a couple of months to LA … maybe while I’m there I’ll do some shopping and check out mattress stores los angeles while I’m there. Of course I think I’ll probably be pretty busy and if I go shopping it will be clothes shopping rather than for something I can’t bring on a plane … but there’s nothing wrong with a little window shopping no matter where you are, right?

Any suggestions from anyone on the best brands to buy? I can’t afford to spend thousands on a bed set but I know the higher the quality the longer they last.

photo by: bedzine

How to Redecorate Your Master Bedroom on a Budget

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Are you desiring a new look for your master bedroom, but not the expense that may come with it? If so, then you will be pleased to know that there are many things you can do to restyle your room without forking out a lot of cash. Here are some great tips for how to redecorate your master bedroom on a budget:

 

Change your bedding. Your bed is the focal point of your room, and what you dress it with can set the entire tone of the room, as well as guide you on how to decorate the rest of your room. Fortunately, there are literally thousands of bedding styles to choose from – in an array of colors, fabric textures, and patterns – and it’s possible to find complete bedding sets that include sheets, a comforter, a bed skirt, pillow covers, accent pillows, and more for a relatively low cost, especially if you are willing to shop around. Check out bedding stores, as well as Internet sites, closeout stores, and retail department stores to explore your options and find great deals.

 

Rearrange your furniture. Creating a new layout with your existing furniture can completely change the look and feel of your bedroom. Roll up your sleeves and recruit some strong arms and try a number of different arrangements to find one that works for you.

 

Treat your walls. When it comes to giving your walls a new look, you are really only limited by your imagination, and one of the best things about treating your walls is that you can get a lot of effect for a very little amount of money. Of course, the simplest and cheapest thing you can do is to give your walls a fresh coat of paint in a new color. However, if you are creative (and a little artsy-crafty), you can apply a wall texture, create a faux finish, or even paint a wall mural. Additionally, consider options like wallpaper, fabric, and decals.
Refinish your furniture. Give tired, old furniture a new look by refinishing it. You have a lot of options here, some more labor intensive than others, but the hard work will be well worth the dramatic results you can get from a refinishing job. Consider re-staining wooden furniture to give it a new tone (or even just to make it look like new again), or choosing a solid paint in either neutrals or a bold statement color.

As you can see, it is possible for you to create an entirely new master bedroom environment without spending a lot of money as long as you are willing to invest some resourcefulness, creativity, and legwork. Draw from these ideas for inspiration, and happy decorating!

About the Author: Alvaro Nydam and his wife just finished redecorating their master bedroom. They found a modern bedroom set at a discounted rate and then went on to change up the colors and decor with inexpensive paint, artwork, and window treatments. The room looks completely different and is more relaxing than ever before!

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