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Holiday News For Savvy Spenders And Stylish Shoppers

Posted: 12/21/2011

Savvy holiday shoppers can download “The Club” mobile app to connect, shop and save at 150-plus GGP malls.

(NAPSI)—Whether you’re the “fashionista” among your friends or aspiring to be one, advice from Steve Kemble can help.

To help make this year’s holiday shopping experience the most fun yet, Kemble, America’s sassiest lifestyle guru and General Growth Properties’ (GGP) gift-giving expert, outlines his holiday shopping secrets and the hottest items of the season.

• Don’t Strip Your Wardrobe of Color: Choose your favorite color to wear—just tone down the hue. Think lavender and rose.

• Add Prints for a Splash of Excitement: Prints add a pop of excitement to your holiday getup. Try pairing a printed sweater with a monotone and neutral-colored outfit. If you have the confidence, wear multiple patterns in one look.

• “Buy Two, Get the Third Free” Deal: Keep an eye out for “Buy Two, Get the Third Free” or “Buy One, Get the Second Half Off” sales and make your move. Just be sure to have a list of everyone you plan to buy for and how much you plan to spend on each person. Don’t forget co-workers, teachers, neighbors and friends. By having your list handy, you’ll be time efficient and money conscious.

• Personalize Your Gift: No matter what you’re giving, add your own touch to make it even more special. You can personalize almost anything. For example, for Mom, choose an apron with a picture of the both of you on it or a hanging calendar filled with cherished family photos. For Dad, personalize a sweatshirt with his favorite college team or upload family memories to a digital photo frame for his desk.

• Plan Your Day to Save Time and Money: Make a list of all the stores you need to hit and plan your day so there’s no need to backtrack. Android and iPhone users can download GGP’s free mobile app “The Club,” which offers today’s on-the-go shopper real-time retail sales and mall event updates, Google® Maps navigation, live Facebook® feeds, Shop Etc. gift card balance updates, play-a-day games and more. Download the free application through the App Store or Android Market by searching The Club Shopping Mall Guide.

• Give the Gift of Choice: Consider giving GGP Shop Etc. mall gift cards. It lets your special gift recipients decide what they really want most. They can buy that hot new iPad they’ve been eyeing or treat themselves to a nice dinner. Become a fan of your local GGP mall on Facebook. Join The Club. Membership is free. Visit at www.GGP.com, choose your mall and sign up for event activities, special offers and retailer savings.

Hiring an Officiant for Sacramento Weddings

Posted: 1/25/2012

Your wedding officiant is probably the mort important person you will hire for your wedding, because of course, he (or she) will be running the whole show for the most important part of your day: the actual wedding ceremony. Just as with every other category of wedding vendor, there are many questions to ask yourself in order to come up with an idea of the type of person you’re looking for; as well as questions to ask potential Sacramento wedding officiants in order to figure out who fits the description you’ve come up with.

Your choice of officiant may be a simple matter if you’re a member of a church, as usually your pastor will marry you. But what if you decide not to have your ceremony at your church? Or what if you don’t go to church on a regular basis, or you don’t go to a church or temple at all?

When you speak with a potential officiant, here are some important questions to ask:

Are they legally able to marry you in your county/state? · Are they available on your selected date?
Are there any restrictions on who they will and will not marry? For example, will they marry you if you are not a member of their church, if you’ve been divorced, etc.
Will they marry a couple of different faiths? Can another officiant (of a different faith) take part in the ceremony?
Will they marry you at your choice of Sacramento wedding venues?
Are they willing to perform a ceremony that’s as religious, spiritual or non-religious as you would like it to be?
Do they require any religious marriage counseling before they perform the ceremony? If so, how much counseling and when does it need to be completed?
How many pre-wedding meetings will they have with you?
What are the required fees, expenses or donations? · What is their policy and back-up plan in case of an emergency on your part or theirs?
What is their standard ceremony outline and how long is it and how flexible is it? How much customization can you do?
Can you write our own vows? If so, will they provide guidance? · Will there be a sermon as part of the ceremony? If so, can you see a copy of what you’ll say before the wedding?
Are there any restrictions on the readings or the kind of music you can play? Religious only?
When and where will the marriage license be signed? Who will be responsible for mailing it after the ceremony?
Are there any restrictions on photography during the ceremony?
Will they attend the rehearsal?

Just as with the vendors at Sacramento wedding receptions, you should be sure to get all agreements in writing. The professional you hire to conduct your wedding ceremony should offer you a Contract for Services that spells out exactly what he/she will be doing for you on The Wedding Day and the plan for payment.

How much should you pay the officiant? If your own pastor is marrying you, a gift of $100 to $200 is appropriate to give to him for the ceremony. But you have to remember, he is also being paid a salary by you and the other members of the church. The professional officiant who does not have a church is running a business and has expenses to pay. If you hire a professional officiant, be prepared to pay between $250 and $700.

Protocol dictates that you formally invite your wedding officiant to the rehearsal dinner and the reception. Many will decline the dinner and the reception or just come to the cocktail hour, but they should be invited.

Your wedding ceremony is a very personal event, so just as you choose your Sacramento wedding locations carefully, choose the person you’re entrusting with an incredibly important moment in your life very carefully.