A wedding takes an enormous amount of time and money. From the hall to the dress, the flowers, the cake, invitations, food etc., it is wise to save where you can. You may not want to cut corners with your dress but you can save a lot of money doing your own flowers.

A florist needs to make money and in order for them to this they need to spike up cost tremendously. What you are paying for is not only the flowers but you are paying for the cost of the flowers, vases and containers (which they buy wholesale and mark up 50% to 75%), the salaries of the people making the arrangements, paying for the driver and gas and other incidentals. This is their business and they need to do this in order to be successful.

But if you are somewhat artistic and want to save some money, you can do your own flowers. Here are some basic things you need to do:

1) Look through bridal magazines or online to get an idea of what kind of arrangements you are interested in. Having pictures of what you like can help you decide the colors and styles. Investing in a flower arranging book can be of enormous value to you as it gives you the complete how too and what tools you need and lots and lots of pictures.

2) Without having experience in floral design, simple may be a better choice but that does not mean it’s less effective. Something like a tall vase with white gladiolas in them placed on each table looks incredible and is about the easiest arrangement you can put together. This also works very well as altar pieces. If you want a low arrangement you can do something like a low vase with just roses of your color choice and sprinkle rose petals around it on each table. If roses are too expensive you can do the same with cheaper flowers such as carnations, daisies, Gerber daisies or mums. Whatever you like that fits your budget.

3) Do the table arrangements and altar pieces before tackling the bridal and bridesmaid bouquets. These also typically take the most time to do. There are two ways you can go. You can go to a craft store and buy ready made floral foam with a handle and lace skirt that you will soak with water to insert your flowers into or you put freshly cut stems together and bind them with floral tape and then ribbon.

4) A simple but beautiful bouquet can be made by taking roses that have been cleaned of most of their leaves and thorns. In one hand hold the first few roses and keep adding a rose one at a time until you have the desired amount of roses. Make sure they are not all flat at the top. You want your bouquet to be rounded. You do this by carefully taking the outer roses and pulling them down gently all around until you have the desired effect. The center of your roses will be the highest roses while the rest of the roses will gently slope downward.

5) When you have decided what you want then gather up your bridesmaids or whom ever you think could best help you and well before the wedding, do a test run and make one of each arrangement you would like to do. This will give you an idea of how it is going to look and how long it takes to do each one. Take a close up picture of each arrangement once you are satisfied. Doing a run through also lets you determine the cost. Just multiply by the number of arrangements you need to do. If you are happy about your work and you really want to know what your savings will be, then take your pictures to a flower shop and get them to give an estimate for making the same arrangements. You will know what you paid, now compare that to the florists quote.

Doing your own flowers will take more of your time but if you have a good support system helping you, (which can be a really fun time) you can take pride in your accomplishments and save a lot of money.

Using seed packets for wedding favors is a lovely idea and is very cost effective as well. You can present your wedding guests with seeds for annual flowers, perennials, trees, shrubs or even houseplants. The options are practically limitless.

Should you be having a theme that incorporates flowers, such as a daisy wedding theme, this makes choosing flower seed packets pretty easy. A nice idea would be to determine how many different varieties of a particular flower there is that you could hand out as favors, rather than using all of the same color or type. For a wedding that isn't focused on flowers as an actual theme, you could package your chosen seed types in themed containers instead. Here are a few examples:

Should you be having a beach/seashore wedding, choose flowers and shrub seeds that would normally grow near an ocean. Bayberry (bush), Sweet Pea (vine), or Rosemary (herb) are all good choices. Use miniature treasure chests, large sea shells, or beach themed favor bags or boxes to hold your seed packets.

Coneflower (Mexican Hat), Desert Baileya (Desert Marigold) or Purple Sage bushes are ideal for a Western theme wedding. Place the seed packets in miniature cowboy hats or boots, small colorful southwestern clay pots, or wrapped in gingham fabric.

Although Roses seem to be the first choice for a Valentine's Day, sweetheart or romantic theme, there are several other flower choices that are just as romantic. Try using forget-me-nots, orchids, Amaranth (Globe), Bell Flower or Sunflower. These are just a few of the flowers that are associated with meanings of romance, which you can include on your thank-you favor tags.

Weddings that are based on colors can also use seed packages that will grow flowers related to a particular color combination. For example, if you choose to have a white and black themed wedding, use pure white flower seeds packs placed in black velvet-like material bags. Purple and gold makes a stunning color combination and flower seeds such as violets, purple irises, or purple lilacs placed in gold-toned favor boxes would be ideal as favors.

When it comes to choosing what types of flower seeds you could give out as favors, the variety of ideas are endless. All it takes is a little bit of imagination and creativity. Hopefully the above ideas will provide you with some inspiration to come up with your own combination of wedding favors.

SanMar is an interesting, popular company supplying 16 labels both retail and private. This Seattle, Washington based company is family owned since its conception in 1971. Starting as a college project, SanMar has definitely changed how we view imprintable apparel and other useful accessories.

SanMar has exclusive rights to distribute such names as Nike Golf, Tiger Woods Collection, Red House ™, and OGIO®. If you have not heard of those highly popular names, you have probably heard of at least one of the following labels distributed by this mega-company: Outer Banks®, Jerzees®, Gildan®, or Hanes®. Yes, this is a busy company with a huge reputation – not bad for a college project.

You will find there are other popular names produces by this powerhouse company such as the private labels Port Authority®, Port & Company®, Sport Tek®, District Threads®, Precious Cargo™, and finally Cornerstrone™. SanMar definitely helps clothe the people in our world today!

SanMar Official Mission Statement

“Our Goal is to become the industry's leading distributor. We will achieve this by listening to our customers, consistently meeting and exceeding their needs and expectations, and, by providing a work environment where every individual has the opportunity to contribute to this common goal.”

You will find that when you are looking for high quality, superior work wear, that this is one company that has you covered – literally. With a mission statement like that, you can be guaranteed of the best quality constructed with a careful, exacting eye for detail.

Whether you are looking for outerwear, shirts, pants, or another accessory to make your life a bit easier when you are at work or on the job, this is the distributor that wants to insure you the best deal for your money. But the promise goes further than simply saving money. You get a high quality product that has a reputation for reliability and performance.

Port Authority®, for example, is one of the leading private labels for work wear in the world today. Port Authority® is an award winning work wear designer producing some of the best work wear in the industry. There is no room for error, because this is a company that enjoys the reputation as a leader.

SanMar has won numerous awards as being the leading supplier of work wear in the United States today!

When you demand the best in colors, choices, sizes, and construction, you have found the best supplier of private and retail brand names in America. These styles are only surpassed by the quality of the materials utilized, but you will find that the customer service is second to none. Because you may get the best products, but if the customer service is bad, you will likely find a new supplier.

The best is a lot closer than you think. SanMar provides high quality work wear to America in a reliable, professional, and timely manner. No need to worry when you work with this superior company because you are backed by the best customer service in the industry. Because when it comes to keeping you covered, this is your company – a company who has your back.

Sanmar does not sell direct to the public, they are a supplier to your local distributor. Don't fret, you can find many suppliers either online or in your local town. Most leading clothing imprinters and embroiderers use Sanmar as their main supplier, so that you also receive the same superior customer service and brands.

A 2007 research project conducted by condom manufacturer Durex has found that Austrian men are the most promiscuous in the world. With this interesting revelation, many officials are now asking whether there are already appropriate safe sex measures in the country for men to engage in sexual activity with appropriate protection from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy.

The study conducted in the year found that out of the 26,000 people from all across 26 countries globally, Austrian men stood out as having the most open and admitted activity with multiple partners. On the average, each of the respondents from Austria has about 29 sexual partners over the course of their lifetime. The study did not cover whether safe sex practices are already is use.

Among other countries, Durex said its research found that people from New Zealand are also among the most promiscuous. Kiwis on the average have about 20 sexual partners each over the course of their lifetimes. Comparatively, global averages for sex partners in both genders stand at just 7. Many conservative societies assert that the result of the study suggests that more people are embracing the act of sex as a normal physical activity that can now be done casually with just about anyone. That assertion of course comes with warnings about the value of practicing safe sex.

What is safe sex? The topic is very common nowadays. In the past, safe sex was exclusively concerned with unwanted and accidental pregnancies. Safe sex also has been discussed as the effective answer to ballooning population, which has been identified as a factor that hinders economic development that leads almost always to poverty among poorer countries.

Now, safe sex is the answer to more problems. The rising volume of cases of contraction of sexually transmitted diseases has led to the advocacy to safe sex. Because acquired immune deficiency is a much dreaded and deadly ailment transmitted through sexual intercourse, safe sex has been promoted to prevent the spread of the disease. Because sex is an act that is hard to avoid and neglect, experts advise people to simply be educated on the subject of safe sex before engaging in activity.

The figures obtained in the study by Durex can be used by condom manufacturers and safe advocates to identify the areas around the globe where a more aggressive marketing effort towards safe  campaigns is needed. Durex said it would use the data it obtained to identify and determine pressures and inhibitions encountered by partners and nationalities. That way, the proper design, packaging and type of condoms for use, for example in New Zealand and in Austria, would be specifically and especially allotted and designated to further popularize safe sex practices.

Experts, however, warn that the data obtained over promiscuity of men and women should be used productively and appropriately and should not be seen as judgmental towards the identified nationalities. Safe sex should be practiced by everyone regardless of nationalities.

Most of the time these statements are true, but at an alarming rate rural homeowners are having trouble with their water supplies. More and more rural inhabitants are discovering that their once-pristine wells are now contaminated with bacteria. Interestingly, there has been no nation-wide assessment of the health of our rural water wells. But two smaller scale studies suggest that 20 – 40 percent of the private wells in any given area are contaminated with bacteria.

So what is a rural well owner to do? As it should be with any health related issue, the best thing you can do is educate yourself first, and take action second. So before you pour a gallon of Javex down your well, let’s take a closer look at what bacterial contamination entails and what you can do to solve your problem.

Bacteria are everywhere. They carpet virtually all the surfaces we come into contact with and are found in every nook and cranny of the Earth. Most of them are harmless to humans, but a small percentage has the ability to cause disease.

The most common bacteria found in water supplies are coliform bacteria and e.coli. Coliform bacteria are a family of bacteria that are found in many places including soil. Coliform is not particularly concerning unless water supplies contain massive amounts. In any laboratory water test the presence of coliform bacteria is always investigated because its presence in a well indicates that there is a pathway through which bacteria can travel from the soil to your water. In a properly constructed and maintained well, there should be no such pathway. More about this later.

The presence of any e.coli bacteria in your water is a much more serious issue. E. coli has gained much notoriety because of several national outbreaks of the disease from contaminated ground beef. While most people are aware of the possibility of e.coli contamination in food, many people are not aware that it can turn up in a water test. E.coli contamination of water is common enough that all testing facilities will test for it’s presence as part of their standard battery of tests.

E.coli normally resides in the guts of many mammals including humans and cattle. The presence of e.coli in your water indicates that fecal matter has made its way into your water supply. Consuming water that contains e.coli will usually result in cramping and diarrhea. However, there are some strains of e.coli that are much more aggressive. Consuming these dangerous strains of e.coli can result in liver damage and ultimately death.

The first line of defense in avoiding bacterial contamination of your well is to ensure that it was constructed properly, and that it has been maintained as required. The most critical part of well construction and maintenance is to strive to keep all surface water out of the well. Groundwater, except in rare cases, is free from bacteria. Virtually all bacterial contamination of a drilled well occurs when surface water is allowed enter the well. Note that surface water includes water that drains over the ground but also water that travels through the first few feet of soil.

When a well is constructed there are rules that well drillers must follow. These rules vary by jurisdiction but the themes are consistent. Ensuring these steps were followed will go a long way to ensuring you avoid a bacteria problem, or cure the one you’ve got.

First, figure out where your well is located. It sounds like an elementary step, but it’s surprising how many rural homeowners can’t tell you where their well is situated.

Second, it’s critical that a well is not located close to a pollution source. Keep wells far away from septic tanks and weeping beds, or containers of manure. These are notorious sources of e.coli bacteria.

Third, ensure that the well is sealed. When a well is constructed, there is a space between the well casing and the hole into which this casing fits. This is known as the annular space. To ensure that no surface water is allowed to collect around the casing this space must be filled with watertight material to a certain depth. A visual inspecting will at least confirm that the top of the annular space has been filled and sealed.

Fourth, make sure the well casing extends above the level of the ground. It’s important that the well casing is at least several inches higher than the surrounding ground to ensure that no surface water can run into the well.

Fifth, ensure that the top of your well is sealed with a vermin proof well cap. Some bacterial problems arise when animals climb into the well cap, fall into the well and die. The rotting material will cause bacterial levels to skyrocket.

Despite taking these measures, you may still find that a bacterial problem persists. At this point the well owner is faced with the expensive prospect of drilling another well. Fortunately, technology provides us with a very reliable and much less expensive solution: ultraviolet light water disinfection.

Ultraviolet light (UV for short) is able to render bacteria harmless. A UV system for water purification is simply a device that is plumbed on the main water line in the home. It consists of a steel chamber into which is inserted a high-output UV lamp. As bacteria move past the lamp they are zapped and eventually die. A UV system will take care of e.coli, coliform bacteria as well as most other bacteria, viruses and cysts that might be found in your water supply.

So take the time to know where your well is, and inspect it to make sure nothing is visibly wrong. Adding a UV system can solve a recurring problem or act as added peace of mind. Remember, whatever road you take, there is no substitute for frequent water testing to ensure your well water is safe to drink.