Pots and pans ammunition used against british in the battle of north point at baltimore

Commercial ports at various locations on the upper Chesapeake Bay were founded during the 17th century and called “Baltimore.” In 1706, the Maryland colonial General Assembly created the port at Locust Point as a tobacco port of entry. The present city of Baltimore dates from July 30, 1729 and is named after Lord Baltimore. Lord Baltimore was the first Proprietary governor of the Province of Maryland.

Baltimore’s growth seem to be boundless in the mid - to late 18th century as a granary for sugar-producing colonies in the Caribbean. This growth was partly due to the fact that Baltimore was shorter in distance from the Caribbean as compared to other large port cities such as New York City and Boston, which reduced transportation time and minimized the spoilage of flour. The profit gained from Baltimore’s sugar-producing abilities encouraged the cultivation of cane and the importation of food.

Baltimore and other cities joined together in protesting Boston’s punishment by the British and signed agreements to not import from or export to Britain due to the British taxation. Prominent city leaders such as Jonathan Plowman Jr. encouraged the city to join the resistance to British taxation. These agreements enabled Baltimore to play a key part in the events leading to and including the American Revolution.

The British declared Baltimore a “nest of Pirates” during the War of 1812. The British burned Washington, D. C., however, the American forces won by repulsing joint land and naval attacks.

The British landed at Sparrows Point and when the local residents run out of ammunition, they threw pots, pans and anything else they could get hold of at the British. At the Battle of North Point, local residents killed the British commander, General Ross. General Ross thought he would the battle and made the strong statement of: “We will win this battle or I eat dinner in hell tonight.” The British lost this battle. British reinforcements were not possible and their forces just withdrew. This naval engagement inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which became the lyrics to the United States’ national anthem. The battled was memorialized in the Battle Monument on the city seal.

Following the Battle of North Point, Baltimore’s population grew significantly. This growth was attributed mainly to the increased commerce abroad and more importantly with points west in the interior of the United States. Two major transportation accomplishments of the federally funded National Road and the privately funded Baltimore & Ohio Railroad made Baltimore a major shipping and manufacturing center. Fortunes were made and the city’s distinctive local culture started taking shape. Baltimore started to develop a unique skyline peppered with churches and monuments. John Quincy Adams visited the city in 1827 and nicknamed it “Monument City,” a nickname that remained popular for well over a century.

Baltimore was separated from Baltimore County in 1851 and became an independent city at that time.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

© 2007 Connie Limon All rights reserved

A closer look at gun security

The local and national news programs seem to feature stories about shooting accidents on a weekly basis. So often the lack of gun security is the reason these disaster occur. Gun security is not rocket science, it is common sense, yet many homes that have firearms do not follow basic steps to insure for safety. This lack of responsibility leads many people to call for national firearm controls. We have firearm control policies we just need people to practice gun security.

Gun security can be as complicated or as simple as you want to make it. The gun security system that works best for you will depend on what type of firearms you own and the purpose of owning it.

For people that own firearms for hunting, gun security usually involves a gun safe. This is often due to the high cost of these firearms. The gun safes protect the firearms from moisture and theft as well as keeping them out of the reach of curious children.

A safe adds greatly to gun security because they are extremely heavy so they are difficult to walk off with, and the locking system stops casual theft. Most gun safes have a separate area to lock and store ammunition, separate from the firearms. This is one of the key elements in gun security, having ammunition and firearms located in different areas.

Many gun collectors like to display their collections in glass cases. These cases often come with locks however they are not the best method when it comes to gun security because the cases can be easily broken into. Also these cases are usually light weight enough that thieves could carry them away.

When considering gun security for your home there are a number of factors to consider. You want to make sure that your firearm is not used against you in the case of a robbery. The easiest way to avoid this is to make sure that none of your firearms are left loaded, and that both the firearm and ammunition are locked in separate areas of your home. You also want to make sure that children that are living in your home or visiting your home do not have access to firearms.

Children are naturally curious, especially about weapons. Often times the shooting accidents involve children that are playing with a loaded firearm. Children are going to push, pull and press on all areas of a gun, so they can easily take it off safety, without knowing what they are doing. Also when playing with a gun children naturally point and pull a trigger, which leads to disaster if the firearm is loaded. It is important to talk to your children about gun security and to also have them attend gun safety educational courses.

The right to bear arms is one of the basic rights of Americans. As with all of our rights this comes with the need for responsibility. Gun security is using common sense to insure the safety of everyone living in and visiting the home that has firearms. Very simple steps can insure gun safety in your home.

How to make your own wedding favors

Everybody knows that a wedding is a costly event to organize. Gone are the days where the parents of the bride paid for the day in full. Now it is common for those actually getting married to contribute to the costs and many people feel that they do not wish to begin their married lives in debt, courtesy of the wedding itself.

There are simple ways in which you can reduce the costs at a wedding without compromising on tradition, taste and quality. One of the easiest things to do at a lower price is the making of your own wedding favors. These can be expensive if bought for all of your guests and making your own allows you to reduce this cost significantly. It also gives you the opportunity to personalise them to your color themes and the fact that they are handmade makes them more special for your guests to receive.

The first thing to do is to decide what to put in your favors. Most people choose to use pot pourri or confectionery in them. Once you have decided this it is important to gather all of the materials you will need together. The best place to make these is at a table where you have sufficient room to lay everything out but have it close to hand for when you need it.

You will need to decide on a color for your favors. This can be to match the dйcor of the room where they will be displayed or a color found in your bouquet or bridesmaid dresses. Then select an accent color to compliment this. For example, should you decide on yellow as your main color you may choose purple to compliment it.

You will need to purchase pre-cut wedding favor wraps. These can start at as little as $10 for 50. Then you simply place an amount of the filling in the centre, gather the wrap around it and tie the top with a small length of ribbon. The easiest way to do them quickly is to take your time making the first one and add or remove the filling until the amount is perfect. Then try different lengths of ribbon until you have the one you like best. Once you have one favor which is exactly how you want it, dismantle it again. Keep the parts together and use them as a guide for all of the others. Cut multiple pieces of ribbon, using the length of the completed favor to ensure it is the length you require.

Planning a wedding can be stressful and making your own favors may seem like an additional burden. However, it is a great way of lowering costs. Why not get your bridesmaids round, open a bottle of wine (or two!) and between you they will all be made in no time.

The mother of all baby names lists - top baby names of the 20th century

We often see "top lists" of baby names -- top ten names of 2005, the trendiest, the coolest, the most popular names of the decade -- and so on. Readers find these lists endlessly fascinating, often using such lists to help them choose the name for their own offspring. But now, in what is most likely the first appearance of this set of data, comes the mother of all names lists: The Top 100 Baby Names Of The 20th Century (USA). For parents who want to know what the really enduring names are, at least in the United States, this is the list to beat all lists.

This definitive compilation of data, spanning the years from 1900 to 1999, is based on an analysis performed by the publishers of the baby names website babynamesgarden. com. This "best of the century" list, based on Social Security Card applications for births in the United States, determines and ranks the top 50 boys' names and the top 50 girls' names spanning the entire 20th century. It was compiled using the same methodology as used by the Social Security Administration in compiling their most popular names of the decade lists, i. e. by totaling the raw numbers. But in the analysis by Baby Names Garden, the time period studied is the entire 20th Century.

There are plenty of surprises: Donald in the # 13 all time spot; Dorothy in the # 9 spot for girls, followed by Betty at # 10, to name a few. It may surprise people to see Patricia at the # 2 all-time girl's spot. Plus, there are some fascinating trends revealed by the data, such as the top 10 boys' names accounting for nearly 35 million names over the century, while the top 10 girls' account for only about 15 million names, clearly demonstrating the huge variety of girls' names versus boys' names, going back to 1900.

Just as they do today, Biblical names make a strong showing on the list. On the boy's side, no fewer than six biblical names appear in the all-time top ten; on the girl's side, two names have biblical roots. This discrepancy between boys' and girls' biblical names, with boys' always being more popular, holds true today.

Given the greater volatility over time of girls' names, it is not surprising to see that some superstars of the 20th Century, such as Linda, which ranks # 3 in the century, has fallen precipitously -- all the way to # 416 by 2005. Poor Betty, # 10 in the 20th Century, has fared even worse -- the name has not ranked in the top 1000 since squeaking onto the list at # 918 in 1996.

What names are still hot? Amazingly, five boys' names from the top dozen of the 20th Century - Michael, Daniel, Christopher, Joseph and William - are still in the top twelve today. For girls, only Elizabeth (#12 in 2005) shows that kind of endurance. For more than 100 years, parents have been very traditional in picking boys' names but ready to take a chance on something new when it comes to girls' names.

So what were the Top Baby Names of 20th Century? Here are the top ten for each gender:

Boys:

1 James

2 John

3 Robert

4 Michael

5 William

6 David

7 Richard

8 Joseph

9 Charles

10 Thomas

Girls:

1 Mary

2 Patricia

3 Linda

4 Barbara

5 Jennifer

6 Elizabeth

7 Margaret

8 Susan

9 Dorothy

10 Betty

How are the superstars of the 20th Century, James and Mary, performing today? True to form, the boy's name, James, is still not far from the top. It ranked # 17 in 2005. Mary, while not slumping like some of her sister names, is not doing so well. In 2005, she was # 73. More ominous for Mary, she has been trending downward since she last held the # 1 spot back in 1961. But even if Mary falls out of the top 100, it may only be temporary. Consider the name Emily, the hottest girl's name for the last ten years. 45 years ago, when Mary was # 1, Emily was # 265. Names, like most fashions, ebb and flow with the tastes of the day.

You can see the numbers behind these rankings, plus the full list of top 50 boys' and top 50 girls' names of the 20th Century, at babynamesgarden. com/decade. aspx

Say your own personalized wedding vows

This article was written to answer many of the most frequently asked questions on wedding vows.

Your wedding is your own.

And in todays society, people have been constantly scouring every book for any way to make their wedding as personal and as unique as possible.

One way to do this is to whip up your own wedding vows.

Traditionally, couples to be wed do not have much of a say in what goes into many of the words spoken during the wedding ceremony. Today, it is increasingly getting easier to personalize and influence what is said during the ceremony within reasonable bounds, though.

If you desire to make your wedding vows unique and personal, you are not alone. Many other couples incorporate feelings, and intimate messages into their wedding vows. It has an added effect of making your wedding more touching, dramatic, and memorable.

Talk with the Officiant Ahead of Time

If you would like to personalize your wedding vows, first notify your Officiant to find out the legalities, guidelines and rules in drafting your own wedding vows. He or she will typically give pointers and examples to help you draw up your own vows. Furthermore, the Officiant will inform you of the parts of the vow that are expected to be said.

The Topic

It may include promises, such as “I will swear upon my life to do …” or it may be heartfelt messages for each other, or even hopes for each other plans for the future and such. You may also opt to create a mixture of each to spice up your wedding vows. Although norms vary from culture to culture, as a general rule, the wedding vow should not take too long to recite. Keep it concise yet meaningful. Remember, you will have to recite this, and long recitations tend to make the memory suffer.

Make it Official

After creating a draft of the vows you wish to exchange, it would do well to meet up with the Officiant again and show him a draft of your vows. Although in the end, it is ultimately your decision that is followed, do take heed of the Officiants advice, as it is usually sound and has been honed by experience.

Practice

It is a good idea to practice your vows before the wedding. Although there is no rule against reading vows, a thoroughly practiced, heartfelt rendition of the vow will definitely make a lasting impact on your partner and the people witnessing the ceremony. As mentioned earlier, avoid overly long vows as they tend to be less remembered and are harder to memorize, not to mention quite inconvenient to others. You may do so, however, if you feel the need is justified.

The Performance

When reciting your vows during the wedding, always keep calm. People who are tense tend to speak to fast, and since the wedding vow is a very important part of the wedding, you will want to take your time in the spotlight. Loosen up, so that in case you forget a line or two during the exchange of vows, you will at least be able to bounce back with something from your heart. If you desire so, you may also keep a written version of you vows with you. You might want to read it surreptitiously though.

Good luck on your wedding, and may the sweet words you utter during the exchange of vows never lose their meaning for rest of your days!

Baby boomer issues health money and retirement

As the Baby Boomer generation continues to grow older, their primary concerns have shifted to their health, money and retirement. The days of idly wondering where their next vacation should be and whether their bonus check will be as much as they deserve are quietly passing. Today, Baby Boomer issues are mostly about concerns with maintaining their dwindling health and having enough money to live comfortably through their twilight years.

Health Concerns For Baby Boomers

As people grow older, they often experience problems with their health. Their bodies grow more fragile and susceptible to diseases and bacteria. In addition, many people 50 years of age and older are reporting health problems that were not experienced by people in their same age group long ago.

This problem is exacerbated by rising health care costs. As the Boomer generation begins to require more medical care, the cost of that medical care continues to increase. Health issues and their ability to cope with them and find the proper medical support is a major concern for Baby Boomers.

Money And Retirement Concerns For Baby Boomers

Along with rising health care costs, Baby Boomers also worry about money and retirement. During the last several years of their careers before retiring, people usually enjoy salaries and bonuses that are larger than at any other point in their career. As a result, money is rarely a major concern.

However, many people fail to save that money. Instead, they spend it on vacations, their families and in the pursuit of living fun and fulfilling lives. This can lead to a rude awakening when they retire. Because they have not saved much money during their career, a lot of people discover that they do not have enough money to live comfortably during their retirement years.

When they retire, they no longer earn a salary. They no longer receive bonus checks. Instead, they are forced to live off the income that can be generated by the investments they have made throughout their lives. Unfortunately, many have not invested any money that can generate this income.

Other Baby Boomer issues complicate this money problem. People live longer lives today. When a Baby Boomer retires, he can expect to live many years in retirement. In the past, a 65-year old man could expect to live approximately 10 years in retirement before passing away. The financial requirements of living comfortably for these 10 years were manageable for most people.

Today, financial planners use a life expectancy of 90 to 95 years. That is, when a person retires at 65 years of age, he can expect to live up to 30 years in retirement. With dwindling health, rising health care costs and a lack of savings to generate a fixed income, the financial requirements of living 30 years in retirement are out of reach for many people.

These health, money and retirement concerns will grow as more of the Baby Boomer generation moves into retirement. Some will choose to work part-time jobs to keep active, stay healthy and generate supplemental income. Others will require the aid of family and friends. Still others may require more help than is available to them. As the Baby Boomer issues are beginning to emerge the Boomers will experience the issues that have been quietly gaining momentum for years, their health, money and retirement concerns will continue to grow.

Wedding bands - various purchasing options how to save big bucks

They are the sign of eternal love and their endless circle symbolizes a never-ending bond. Wedding bands are most commonly made of precious metals, including gold or silver. Wedding bands are worn on the ring finger of the left had because, as rumor has it, the left hand is closer to the heart.

Although a plain yellow gold band is the most popular, wedding bands are designed in a variety of various gold colors and designs. Some feature diamonds while others are done in solid white or rose gold. For the newlyweds on a budget, or for those who simply do not want to spend a fortune on jewelry, sterling silver wedding bands may be the economical choice.

So, just what is the difference between gold and sterling silver if they are both precious metals? Gold is a metal that is designed to last a lifetime with very little maintenance and never tarnishes. Sterling silver, also classified as a precious metal, is also designed to last but will require frequent polishing in order to maintain it’s shine. Sterling silver is much more affordable than gold, but is so because of the regular maintenance required. If left unpolished, sterling silver will lose it’s luster when exposed to light or the open air for lengthy periods.

When selecting wedding bands, it is very important that both the bride and groom be fitted to ensure the proper ring size. It is also important to note that various ring types may fit differently depending upon the band width. Wedding bands that are slim in their design will fit more true to size than one with a thicker width. Rings that are wide or especially thick will fit more snugly and often requires that the wearer move up to the next size.

During a customary American wedding ceremony, wedding bands are exchanged immediately following the wedding vows. It is expected that the groom place the wedding band on the ring finger of the bride and the bride does the same for the groom.

A final thought to consider when selecting wedding bands is to make sure that it is a design that both the bride and groom are happy with because these rings will be with them for many years to come. If the couple does their research, wedding bands can be found at a very affordable price. Jewelry store sales, internet specialty shops and online auctions are just a few of the ways that the newlywed couple can find a terrific deal on wedding bands and use the money that they saved to help plan the perfect honeymoon.

Sherlock reloaded the advent of online private investigation

Private investigation has a lot of imagery and clichйs attached to it. There is the “lone wolf” investigator who, for one reason or the other is unattached to the government. There is the trusty sidekick/chronicler who manages to either accidentally make discoveries which are crucial to the case or get himself into a situation where he needs rescuing. There is also the scene where the hapless client (often a beautiful blonde) goes to the office of the private investigator to seek his help. However, this last scene is slowly becoming obsolete simply because of the advent of online private investigation

Online private investigation can be defined in two ways. It could be the usage of the internet to contact private investigation agencies. It could also be the actual investigation of internet crimes through private agencies.

Let us discuss the first definition. Private Investigation agencies need clients in order to keep the business rolling. This means that they have to advertise. The internet is the best media to advertise in today. This is because it also allows people to contact a private investigation agency directly.

People who contact private investigation agencies often need discretion. Because of the advent of online private investigation a client doesn't even need to show his or her face to anyone in order to present a case. Online private investigation services will only ask the required information and the method of payment. After that, you only need to wait for the results of your inquiry.

Another thing that people need is convenience. In the past, private investigation agencies were often located in “seedy” parts of a city where rent is cheap. This means that people needed to go to great lengths in order to even present their case to a private investigator. However, online private investigation services now allow people to access the services of a private investigator right from their homes. In fact, because of the development of mobile technology, people today have access to the services of online private investigation from practically anywhere in the world.

Let us now talk about the other form of online private investigation. As we all know the internet is open to all types of people. There are those who make use of the internet to make their lives a little easier and there are those who use the internet to make others' lives harder. Because of this, many people call on the services of experts to make sure that their internet lives aren't interrupted or in any way vandalized by hackers.

There are also certain crimes which are done through the internet. Some, like embezzling and stealing electronic funds need experts in order to solve them. Online private investigation involves the investigation of various electronic records in reviews2.info order to crack a case.

There are experts in the field who specialize in internet security. There are also those online private investigation agencies which specialize in tracking hackers. These online private investigation agencies actually have the expertise and the training required to break through the defenses of hackers. This is because of the fact that most online private investigators used to be hackers themselves.

Online private investigation is just one way of showing how much technology has changed our lives. Online private investigation shows both the good and the bad sides of progress. On one hand, we have easier access to people who might help us with our problems. On the other hand, we create whole new areas where we are vulnerable to attacks.

Tips to find that perfect wedding gown

:
As they say, “beauty comes in different sizes and shapes”. A gown of the same design can’t look good on all types of women. It is better to ensure that you buy a gown which looks the most flattering on your figure. Looks and comfort both matter. Find something that suits your figure so that you will not only look amazing, but also feel comfortable in it.

Here are tips to select the wedding gown that best fits your body type:

Pear shaped – A pear shaped figure is smaller at the top and fuller at the bottom. For this type of figure, a full ball gown is the ideal choice with an accented waistline, as it will minimize the hips and focus more on the smaller upper bodice. Avoid sheath gowns as fuller bottom will look more prominent in such kind of style.

Tall/thin brides – A bride who is blessed with a good height and slim looks would look amazing in a sheath gown. The sheath or mermaid gown is very well fitting and tapers narrowly to the floor, frequently featuring a train. Tall and thin brides are the only ones who can carry off such a gown with panache and style.

Broad Shouldered brides – A gown that has spaghetti straps or a scoop neckline looks best on brides with broad shoulders. An elongated bodice with a dropped waist also elongates the bodice and narrows the shoulders. Steer clear of oversized sleeves or off the shoulder sleeves with ruffles or accents.

Petite brides - Full ball gowns with many pleats are not the ideal option for petite brides as they are too big for a woman of a short stature. A gown with dropped waistlines too can mar the look as it makes them look even shorter. Keep your wedding dress in proportion to your body. Modified A-line or a Princess A-line with natural waistlines gowns are the best options as it elongates a silhouette making a petite woman appear taller.

Thick waist brides – Brides with thick waist look their best in empire gowns which have a high waistline. Empire waistlines are usually right below the bust line that flow into long slimming skirts. Any bride would not like to look fat on her D-day, so stay away from natural waistline gowns that emphasize the waist.

Hourglass figure – An A-line gown with a dropped waist would look stunning on you if you have curves like an hourglass. It flaunts the perfect, svelte figure while accentuating the appropriate areas of the body. Apart from that, a gown with a sweetheart neckline will also accent the bodice if it covers enough of the full bust line.

All designers make wedding gowns in five basic styles - the ball gown, the A-line gown, the empire style, the sheath and the slip dress. The bridal dress is either a floor-length formal gown with a long train or a modern above the knee dress.

You can approach a bridal store near you or you can even buy online. For instance, check out SampleGowns. com - it provides a one stop shop for unique and exclusive wedding dresses at affordable prices. You can select any style but keep in mind that each silhouette compliments different body styles, so you should first determine which style is most flattering to your particular figure. And look your stunning best ever!

Top 5 most populated u. s. states for minorities

The United States Census Bureau released data in May 2007 detailing minority populations by state. Of the approximately 300 million people in the United States, approximately 100 million of them are members of a minority group.

Some states have a large minority population, while others have smaller populations. Listed below are top 5 most populated states for people who are members of a minority group.

California Ranks #1

The State of California has the largest number of residents from a minority group. Specifically, of an estimated total population of 36,457,549 residents, about 21,690,766 belong to a minority group. The breakdown of the population is as follows:

1.White Alone Not Hispanic - 15,722,701

2.Hispanic - 13,074,156 residents.

3.Asian alone or in combination - 4,961,633 residents.

4.Black or African-American alone or in combination - 2,706,205 residents.

5.American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in combination - 688,547 residents.

6.Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination - 260,225 residents.

Texas Ranks #2

Texas ranked number 2 in terms of the number of residents from a minority group. Texas has a total population of about 23,507,783 residents, of which 12,486,169 are members of a minority group. The breakdown of the population is as follows:

1.White Alone Not Hispanic - 11,351,060 residents.

2.Hispanic – 8,385,139 residents.

3.Black or African-American alone or in combination – 2,908,563 residents.

4.Asian alone or in combination - 881,542 residents.

5.American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in combination - 267,281 residents.

6.Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination – 43,644 residents.

New York Ranks #3

New York ranked number 3 in terms of the number of residents from a minority group. New York has a total population of about 19,306,183 residents, of which 8,312,784 are members of a minority group. The breakdown of the population is as follows:

1.White Alone Not Hispanic - 11,677,402 residents.

2.Black or African-American alone or in combination – 3,519,135 residents.

3.Hispanic – 3,139,456 residents.

4.Asian alone or in combination - 1,427,559 residents.

5.American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in combination - 188,153 residents.

6.Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination – 38,481 residents.

Florida Ranks #4

Florida ranked number 4 in terms of the number of residents from a minority group. Florida has a total population of about 18,089,888 residents, of which 7,281,538 are members of a minority group. The breakdown of the population is as follows:

1.White Alone Not Hispanic - 11,092,932 residents.

2.Hispanic – 3,646,499 residents.

3.Black or African-American alone or in combination – 2,971,181 residents.

4.Asian alone or in combination - 476,306 residents.

5.American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in combination - 153,650 residents.

6.Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination – 33,902 residents.

Illinois Ranks #5

Illinois ranked number 5 in terms of the number of residents from a minority group. Illinois has a total population of about 12,831,970 residents, of which 4,573,308 are members of a minority group. The breakdown of the population is as follows:

1.White Alone Not Hispanic - 8,373,496

2.Black or African-American alone or in combination – 1,997,141

3.Hispanic – 1,886,933

4.Asian alone or in combination - 592,568

5.American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in combination - 81,642

6.Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination – 15,024

For a detailed ranking of minority populations by state, visit the web site of the United States Census Bureau.

Wedding cake it s importance to your wedding

Once the wedding is over then the partying begins, it is your reception and what happens there? You cut your cake. Many people order in cakes from large bakeries and wedding shops but they can be made just as nice at home or from a local baker. Many couples have tiered wedding cakes which usually consist of three tiers and a model bride and groom at the top.

When choosing your Wedding Cake Designer you should give at least 6 months notice. Not only does this give time for your fruit cakes to be matured but good cake designers do get booked very quickly. Some take bookings a year or more in advance. Some people stick to the usual fruit cake but others like to be a little bit more experimental and have maybe a flavoured sponge or even more daring than that, a carrot cake!!

The new trends in wedding cakes allow brides to have a cake that not only looks good - it tastes good too! Brides don’t need to settle for the traditional white vanilla cake with the plastic bride and groom on top any more. So go all out and get cheesecake or crumpets! All that matters is that it tastes and looks good.

Wedding cakes are a special part of the wedding, this is where the bride and groom do their first real action together as a married couple, they pull together and cut a cake, although it does not seem much to the ordinary person but its significance is highly relevant!

The wedding cake is unique to all couples, they choose their own decorations, style and taste. Usually most of the planning is left to the women when it comes to wedding so the cake usually matches her tastes!

Weddings are beautiful and wonderful places to be, they are full of happy thoughts and feelings. A wedding is a joyous time for family and friends to get together to celebrate the marriage of two people that they care for, so why not celebrate it with cake?! We celebrate everything else with cake!

Top 5 ideas for personalized wedding favors for spring of 2006

Are you completely bored with seeing the same old key chains and candies whenever you go shopping for wedding favors? Even the most boring wedding favors can be made remarkable with a little bit of thought and effort on your part.

Personalized wedding favors are all the rage. Taking the effort to personalize a wedding favor indicates to the guest that you care and appreciate their presence. Here are the top 5 ideas for personalized wedding favors.

- Miniature Wedding Books - The miniature editions books are perfect for weddings and celebrations of all kinds. These collectible books can have covers custom designed by you, your message printed on the cover, spine of the book and even on the inside flaps! You can choose from a variety of titles like The Kiss, Love Letters and Passion. Miniature wedding books make fantastic personalized wedding favors and you really cannot go wrong with them.

- Frog Prince Soap With Keepsake Crown - The delightful glycerine soap frogs come in a clear box with a personalized ribbon that reads "…At last I found my Prince!" followed by the names of the bridal couple and the wedding date. The guests can use the soap and keep the crown as a memory of the wedding. A truly royal personalized wedding favor!

- Custom Designed Candy Filled Wedding Tins - Candies are a pretty common wedding favor. However, to make your own unique wedding favor, try personalizing the candies. You can choose to personalize the lid of the tins with the names of the bridal couple and the wedding date or even have a photograph of the couple custom made into a label for the mint tins. Fill the tin with heart shaped candies and you'll have a lovely personalized wedding favor.

- Personalized Swizzle Sticks - Now here's something that will really stir things up. You can choose to have the names of the bridal couple and the wedding date printed on white swizzle sticks with a sculpted bride and groom on top to boot! Now not only can guests get fancy stirrers with the drinks they want, they even get personalized wedding favors to take home!

- Wedding Coffee Collection - personalized coffee present a wedding favor idea right in step with today's wedding celebrations. An exclusive blend of finest coffee is custom packed with the names of the bridal couple and the wedding date. A heady personalized wedding favor for sure!

These are just some of the personalized wedding favor ideas that would work well. However, you may choose to come up with a wedding favor idea that is totally unique and suited to your personality.