So you messed up… you know you’ve made a mistake and now you need to confess you are sorry. Whether you know you were wrong because your girl- or boyfriend is giving you the cold shoulder, or you just realized it all on your own, it is important to own up to your mistake and restore the relationship.

Simply saying “I’m sorry” is not always enough though. You may very well be sorry, but will you do it again? Have you done the same thing before? If you are a repeat-offender in the relationship game, then your “sorry” will be worth less and less over time.

Even if you have made the same mistakes again and again, if you finally realize you were wrong after all and want to make things right, you can simply change up how you say you are sorry.

How to apologize
Ever heard an apology that sounds a little like this: “I’m really sorry I called you a bitch, BUT…”?
The “but” might be followed with something like “you drove me to it”, or “I was very frustrated”, or a range of other excuses. This, my friend, is NOT an apology. Here you are saying you’re sorry, but you are actually shifting the responsibility over to the other person again. You are not saying sorry, you are instead blaming the other person for ‘making’ you do something you now regret.

You may still be forgiven, but the relationship will never be what it was, or could be.
A better way to apologize and actually restore your relationship, you truly have to own what you say, and mean it. It will depend on the person you are apologizing to in terms of how you will end up phrasing things. However, you will generally say you are sorry for a specific action or comment, and then explain you will try your best not to do it again.

If you are a repeat offender, then just saying you won’t be doing it again holds little value after three times. Your promise will be greeted with the “yeah yeah” it is worth. Instead, explain what you will to do prevent making the same mistake.

If you call your loved-one names, and although you would like to stop it seems you keep doing it again, make sure you distance yourself from a situation where this behavior is triggered. If you yell during fights about particular topics, then take some distance. Go for a walk, clear your head, and only return when you are calm enough to face this issue like an adult and talk it through.

Dealing with the emotional trigger
Having said that, it takes two to tango and if your partner acts like a child during a disagreement, then perhaps you should have a chat about communication skills. There isn’t a thing in the world that really requires raising your voice for, so if your name-calling is triggered by her yelling, then although you have to own up to your mistakes, you still need to find a way to peacefully discuss a hot topic. That’s for another article though…

Spring is in the air and soon enough things should be heating up. Hopefully not just due to the sun… To cool yourself down again, and enjoy a cheap date, how about make some home-made ice cream for your date?

The process is simple enough, and even without a professional ice cream maker you can still whip up a date -worthy batch of creme glacee.

For some peach ice cream, stock up on the following before you plan to seduce your date with some frigid sweets:

* 4 cups milk
* 2 1/2 cups sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 4 eggs, beaten
* 5 cups heavy cream
* 2 cups pureed peaches or nectarines
* 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)

To create the peach ice cream, heat the milk in a heavy sauce pan over low heat. Do not let the milk boil though! Stir in the sugar and salt until dissolved.
Stir a quarters of the hot mix into the eggs, and keep stirring. Continue to cook the remainder of the milk mixture for about 10-12 minutes, or until it coats the back of a spoon.
After chilling for at least a couple of hours, or overnight (plan in advance!) you can combine the cream, fruit, vanilla and almond extract. Add the cold milk mixture and stir well. Now freeze, wait, and enjoy!

Traditionally (at least in the Western world), men present rings to the women they intend to marry, and custom design engagement rings are the best choice. Such custom handcrafted jewelry is one-of-a-kind; there are no two custom design engagement rings that will ever look exactly alike.

Ancient Tradition
During Hellenistic times, men formalized marriage agreements with the unique piece of custom made jewelry that has come to be known as the engagement ring by placing it on the fourth finger of his betrothed’s left hand. In ancient Rome, it was said that this particular finger contained the vena amoris - literally, the “vein of love.”

This tradition as continued to the present day, as this form of custom designed jewelry continues to be worn on what we now call the “ring finger” of the left hand, at least in North America and the U.K. In some cultures however - such as those of Poland and among orthodox Jews - custom design engagement rings are actually worn on the right hand.

It’s More Than Gold and Diamonds
Those who work in the field of custom jewelry design create a wide variety of custom design engagement rings, which can range from plain metal bands made from white, yellow or red gold, silver, or even platinum. Tradition dictates that diamond be used in such custom made jewelry, but such tradition hardly has the force of law - which is the great thing about custom jewelry design. “Custom” means you can have it your way - so if your betrothed for some reason prefers sapphires to diamonds, there’s no reason why such a piece of custom handcrafted jewelry be created!

They’re Not Just For Women Anymore
It’s a rare custom at present, but the practice is becoming increasingly common: women who at the time of an engagement, purchase custom design engagement rings for their men. In Northern Europe, it is actually quite common for both the man and the woman to wear rings during the engagement. In Spain, a woman’s choice for custom men’s jewelry when she accepts a marriage proposal is a wristwatch.

Do What You Want
Traditions are made to be broken - it’s not like the Middle Ages when the Church provided literal “engagement police.” If both want to wear custom design engagement rings that are elaborate and feature expensive gem settings or simple gold or silver bands, an online ring designer is available to provide those one or two-of-a-kind custom handcrafted jewelry pieces. After all, the best custom design engagement rings are the ones that please you and your betrothed. Find a company that will let you design your jewelry, instead of choosing from options they present, to make sure you receive exactly what you want. Also ask for samples, and remember: custom jewelry does not have to be just an engagement ring. Custom design anything for a more personal touch. In a world where you can even get personalized corporate gifts, you should definitely get a custom gift for that extra special someone. You design we create.com is one company that offers both personal, and corporate, custom gifts. The whole point is getting something personalized, and it doesn’t have to be very expensive. Custom jewelry can also be made in silver, which makes it a more accessible option available from youdesignwecreate.com than gold alternatives.

As a couple searching for romantic travel destinations, it can be hard to agree on something you both will enjoy. You can narrow down your list by finding out what each of you enjoys the most, then putting your lists together to agree upon a final destination you both love. After trying these simple steps, you should find the planning to go a lot smoother.

Here are some simple questions you can ask yourselves to narrow down your list..

* Are you interested in travelling to famous landmarks? There are some amazing historic monuments and museums that some couples find very romantic.

* Are you looking to relax in a tropical setting? Some popular destinations are Mexico and the Caribbean. (For a complete list, check out the website below).

* Do you want to do any extreme sports while your there? Skydiving, snowboarding, para-sailing…there are tons of them you may want to look in to.

* Are you looking to go somewhere that has a lot of fun activities to keep you busy? Some examples are scuba diving, going to concerts or taking day trips.

* Are you looking for a trip that is all inclusive? There are many websites that can offer you great deals if you book a package deal. These are usually flight + hotel + meals. Some also may include transportation or activities. (If you book your trip during a low season, or book a last minute deal, you can save huge amounts of money)

* Would you prefer joining tour groups, or doing things on your own? Many European trip companies offer tour groups. Many people enjoy these because it gives them an opportunity to meet different people and they may feel more safety as a group.

* Do you enjoy nature? Would you like to go somewhere that you can ‘take it all in’? There are so many beautiful countries filled with waterfalls, mountains, rivers and majestic scenery. Do some research to find the perfect on for you and your partner.

*Are you looking to stay in one place or would you enjoy a cruise to several different locations? Cruise bring more variety which many people like. However, you must adhere to the cruise’s time schedule.

Try going over these questions with your partner to narrow down you list. Answering them will hopefully help you identify a romantic adult getaway you both will enjoy.

Good Luck!

What happens in Las Vegas, Stays in Las Vegas

The same is true for Cher, and her performance at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Cher fans who are about to get hitched can combine the wedding, honeymoon and wedding gift all in one easy step: get married in Vegas, and give each other tickets to the Cher show. Hockey? Maybe… but weddings can be. Memorable? For Cher fans, Definitely!

Cher is replacing Celine Dion’s show. Essentially you have to hurry to get Cher Tickets at Caesars Palace, if you are fan enough to attend, because the show will only run for about a month, starting on May 6th.

Some info on Cher: She was born as “Cherilyn Sarkisian” on May 20, 1946, and on Feb 7th 2008, at age 61, she announced she would perform 200 shows over three years at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. This new show, titled “Cher at the Colosseum” includes 18 dancers, 4 aerialists, and multiple costumes designed by Bob Mackie. Choreography will be directed by Doriana Sanchez who also worked with Cher on her past three major tours. After the month of four shows a week, it will continue in August again. Cher will share the stage on a rotating basis with contemporaries Bette Midler (whose The Showgirl Must Go On opened on February 20, 2008) and Elton John (whose The Red Piano, which opened in 2004, will continues its run of about 50 shows a year).

Girls just want to have fun

My friend Ryan was in tears: he had booked an Italian cruise for him and his current boyfriend, when his boyfriend broke up with him, and that’s how I ended up going on my first gay friendly holiday. To be honest, I was unaware that gay friendly holidays even existed, but I wasn’t complaining because I knew that if it’s gay it must be glamorous!

Legend of the Seas

Our ocean liner was absolutely stunning. In-between all the bars and lounges there were pools, a rock-climbing wall and even an 18-hole mini-golf course. Of course every little detail, from the bottom to the top, was done with great style and formed part of an overall beautiful and grand look. The same could be said for our room which we were sharing. Ryan looked upset at first over the whole scenario, because of course he wanted his loved one to be here with him, but I assured him that we were going to have fun on this cruise, like we always do when we go on holiday together.

Our trip started in Italy moving along the coast towards Croatia and back towards Rome for our flight back home. Almost everyday we anchored for a day of exploring the local sites and cultures, sometimes travelling more inland to experience the big cities. It is astonishing when you start to notice how two cities in one country, speaking the same language, from the same culture, could differ so much. Venice compared to Sicily would be a good example although difficult to explain, it just has a different atmosphere, both good in their own way.

A little bit of vino please

Ryan is a chef, so of course he was beside himself every time we would walk through a city and find a local food market. Fresh, locally produced products that he savoured like only a passionate chef like he can. Since my cooking expertise goes as far as boiling an egg I was more interested in the architecture and history. In Florence, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, we had lunch at one of the local restaurants, and yes, it was by far the best bowl of spaghetti I’ve ever had. Ryan explained to me some of the history of spaghetti, how it’s prepared differently in the Southern and Northern parts of Italy and how he loves the simplicity of the Italian culinary arts. Our food was paired with a local Italian red wine, the taste of which perfectly complimented our meal.

We travelled between Florence and Pisa before we set sail again. I couldn’t wait to go to Sicily! This might be because of watching The Godfather one too many times, but my curiosity was getting the better of me. I wanted to see the place so commonly associated with the mafia, and I was not disappointed. Even though there weren’t any mafia lords driving around like I was hoping, the city proved to be more than entertaining. Sicilians are heart-warming people and you really do feel welcome when entering a shop or simply walking down the street.

Cruising along

After Sicily, we cruised towards Split, and for the whole day Ryan and I were on the deck, lying next to the pool and sipping on some cocktails. For the next six days we were cruising between Italy and Croatia. It is wonderful how easily you can travel between countries, so distinctly different, and both unique and great in their own way.

I loved Dubrovnik. My knowledge of Croatia before embarking on this cruise was limited, so when we first arrived at Dubrovnik I was all smiles. You could see this was a city filled with history. The architecture was stunning. Ryan, although agreeing with me that it was more beautiful than expected, was more impressed when we eventually got back to Rome.

Rome is known as the perfect destination for shopping and as a gay man, Ryan was again beside himself when he entered the Piazza di Spagna. This street, we were told, is the best place for shopping. With designer names like Gucci, Versace, Prada and Dolce and Gabbana, it made perfect sense. I was even more impressed when he offered to buy me a pair of Gucci shoes to thank me for coming with him. Now although I felt that it was totally unnecessary, I’m still a woman and a shoe fanatic, so I accepted this gift. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, well shoes are the way to a woman’s.

The trip really proved to me that in future, should I want to go on a glamorous holiday, to book myself a gay friendly holiday, because then you know you’ll experience a trip like no other, with all the bells and whistles a girl could want.

Author Bio:

CompuTravel specializes in providing gay friendly holidays for the South African market. CompuTravel serves as an online South African travel agent, boasting highly professional experts with years in the tourism and hospitality industries.

Looking for a break from cell phones, bosses, traffic lights, and noise pollution? Enjoy camping with a little adventure? Give an overnight, multi-day river trip a try! Challenge the whitewater rapids during the day, and enjoy gourmet camp cuisine by fire light at night. This is the perfect alternative, active vacation. A chance to escape from it all with a little taste of wilderness adventure! Multi-day river trips are the perfect way to experience great whitewater, stunning scenery, wildlife, and some of the world’s best camping. Not sure where to start? Read on for a few tips on planning your next adventure! The first step is choosing who, where, and when. Who will be going on the trip? Where do you want to go? When will you and all other participants be going? If you can answer these 3 questions, at least vaguely, then you’ve got a start to your next adventure.

Deciding where to go and which river to raft can be a fun task for everyone going on the trip to participate in. There are a lot of good regional websites out there. Doing a search on Google, or Yahoo for whitewater rafting, followed by your state of choice will yield good results for outfitters who provide river trips. For example, Lehigh River rafting will generate the ideas on rafting on the lehigh river. Surf through the various outfitter websites narrowing it down to the ones who offer trips with in your groups’ ability range and desired level of difficulty. Choose which outfitters appeal to your group the most.

The time of year you choose to go should largely be determined by the weather and seasonal river conditions. Many of the rivers in the west are dependent upon spring snow-melt for water. This limits the rafting season to about 3 or 4 months a year. Peak spring run-off usually occurs in early June. It can be a very wild ride during the peak melt. A class IV rapid can become class V. The water can be swift and cold, yet very exciting. June is usually reserved for those with previous rafting experience, good physical conditioning, and a real thirst for adrenaline! Chose your trip within your ability level, on more difficult trips the ability to swim well is a must! If the water is high consider doing an easier trip. The water will generally recede by July allowing for warmer air and water temps. Summer water levels are generally more user friendly. Trips vary in range of difficulty from class I, the easiest, to class V the most challenging rapids out there! Appoint a group leader to contact outfitters to get a better feel for what they provide on the trip. Ask about quality of gear, experience of guides, what is provided for in the cost, what you are required to bring, and what trips they offer. This will help you decide which outfitters will be a good fit with your group, as well learning what you’re getting for your money. Most outfitters will take the time to get to know you and your group on the phone to help them make informed recommendations for your trip. River outfitters generally provide group planning kits which include: Roster, payment information, “what to bring” list, and directions to the meeting location. Expect a 50% down payment to secure your launch date. This guarantees you will have a seat for everyone on the trip.

For an overnight river trip, it is recommended to get your reservation made 3 to 4 months in advance. Occasionally, short notice trips can be accommodated. Dates fill in fast, and outfitters operate on a first come, first serve basis. So get on the web and discover where your next adventure awaits! Get out there and get wet!

About the Author: Jim Wick has been guiding class IV and V whitewater for over 9 years, and has logged over 12,000 river miles. He currently owns and operates Lost Paddle Rafting based in Canon City, Colorado along with his wife Kelly and their wolf-dog Baxter. You can visit them on the web at Whitewater Rafting Colorado| Royal Gorge Rafting

By Rick Chapo

Rafting the river rapids is a major adrenaline rush. If you are going to hit the rapids, you need to know some of the basic language thrown around in the sport.

As with any sport, it helps to have a basic understanding of the tools of the trade, techniques and such. Not only does this help you sound like you know what you are doing, but it actually gives you some insight into the process. Let’s take a look at some of the key components.

Dry Bag – A dry bag is a waterproof bag you can keep things in on the raft such as wallets, keys and such. Water is going to get all over the boat, so consider yourself warned. Most whitewater rafting companies provide them with trips.

CFS – This abbreviation refers to cubic feet per second, a measure of the speed and ferocity of the current. The more cubic feet of water moving per second, the more aggressive the rapids and, in my humble opinion, the more fun!

Eddie – An eddie is an area where the current stops or heads back up stream. This typically occurs on the down current side of boulders. It can be a good place to collect yourself for the next rapids.

Gradient – This term refers to the general verticality of the river. The higher the gradient, the “steeper” the river is. This higher gradient means faster water and typically a more exhilarating ride.

Hydraulic – Also referred to as a hole or various cuss words, a hydraulic is an area where water is super turbulent and can suck your raft under if sufficient in size. It is typically found at the bottom of a fall or behind a large obstacle where the gradient is high and the CFS is large.

Rapid – This is why you live to whitewater raft. Rapids are turbulent areas of the water which gives the sport its name. You pop in, out, over and every which way through them.

Life-Jacket – A flotation device. Wear them always. Don’t try to be cool. If you get thrown from the raft, which can happen, these will save you. This is particularly true if you smack your head on something.

This short list of terms should give you a head start on enjoying your trip. Get out there and fling yourself down one of Mother Nature’s roller coasters.

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of journals.

You used to want to be with your honey at all times… then baby came along… and now all you need is some time to yourself.
Believe it or not; the more you carry your baby, the sooner it will become independent and have less separation issues.

You can’t possibly carry a baby all day though: you need to do laundry, walk the dog, watch TV, exercise, and do a thousand more things you do every day. Through most of these acts you can actually keep your baby quiet, and close, using a baby sling.

Infants who are carried around everywhere in a baby sling either on the hip, on the stomach or on their mother’s back develop better than those who spend most of the day in a baby cot or crib. Their motor development, cognitive and emotional development progress faster when the baby has increased physical contact with their mother. The fact that they see more of their world when being carried around certainly helps with this as well. The increased stimulus for the baby’s eyes helps brain development, and mom’s movements stimulate skin receptors and organ movement of the baby.

Aside from this, the baby feels safe and you can be the ultimate multi-tasking yummy mummy (or daddy!) by boding with the baby, and doing the dishes at the same time.

Slinglings is a company that makes baby slings, here is their latest press release:
Slinglings Baby Slings Adds a New Line of Exclusive Prints to Their Vast Selection of Pouch Slings–
Slinglings Baby Slings LLC, a Seattle-based baby sling company, has just introduced a new line of 12 fabrics to their already vast selection of over 60 prints. Five of these 12 new prints are Slinglings exclusives that were designed by Stephen Gower, co-owner. These new prints are just more ways for hip moms to wear their babies in style.
With so many baby slings on the market, it is easy for new mothers to get overwhelmed. Why choose a Slinglings baby sling? Pouch slings are simple, quick, and lightweight. They promote bonding with your baby while keeping your hands free to tend to other responsibilities. Slinglings baby slings are affordable with prices starting at just $36.95. They have over 10,000 slings in-stock and most slings ship within 24 hours. Slinglings advanced size calculator takes the guesswork out of sizing, so that you and your baby have a secure and comfortable fit.
Slinglings baby slings are top quality, trendy, and most importantly comfortable! Their numerous customer testimonials and reviews reflect what a great product they have. Angela, a Slinglings customer from FL, sums it up well in her testimonial, “I LOVE my slings! I love the fabric’s design and comfort. I love the freedom they have given me so I can keep up with my preschooler while providing the security and comfort my infant needs. I love how fashionable I appear around town and on vacation…I cannot thank you enough for providing a reasonably priced product for busy moms. I simply LOVE my slings.”
Sara and Stephen Gower, owners of Slinglings Baby Slings are committed to making “parenting easier and babies happier. A top quality baby carrier and a top notch customer service experience have always been important to us.”
Every baby should be a Slingling.

When you are coupled up, or dating, there are times you might feel like your significant other is being “too good” to you. You either feel you are not giving back enough, or would like to do something nice for them. There are times when couples are a great personality match, but their checkbooks do not match at all: one may be more financially blessed than the other.

This does not mean you have to feel inadequate as a partner; there are ways to give back that don’t cost very much more than your time. Here are some sweet ideas to be good to the person you love:

- Cook dinner/breakfast/lunch
- Make a tray of brownies or muffins, put them in a nice box or tin and deliver personally
- Do the dishes, or an equally unpleasant household task to help out your partner
- Surprise him/her with something little they appreciate: a cup of coffee or tea
- Put a card under her/his pillow, or send a funny e-card to brighten the day