New Hope Soap Blog

By Linda Hilliard - Author of the Book
E-mail Your Weight Away - Diet Dialoges for Women

Someone asked me to write about an experience she had while visiting with a friend. Both women are faithful to their diets. They support one another’s efforts and always try hard to choose wisely at every meal.

But every so often, the friendship reward/sabotage mentality slipped in. Knowing her friend loves ice cream, one asks the innocent question: “Do you want to get an ice cream?” The other thinks, “Well, I don’t need an ice cream, but since she is asking, she must want to have one.” So she responds: “Well, I’ll have on if you have one.”

While shopping for a unique wedding presents, make sure that it is something that they will always cherish. For example, if you're a photographer, utilize your expertise to frame a black and white picture of an abstract part of the special day, like a picture of the chapel of the church. These will hold true meanings. Alternatively, you can also create a painting from a picture that you may have seen in their social media accounts. If you know the couple particularly well, you can also create a scrapbook showcasing their relationships with their friends and family.

1. Match the wedding dress without outshining it. Make the dresses a similar style, but more plain and simple.
2. Don’t limit yourself to bridal stores. You just might find the perfect dresses at a prom store or a department store, or even online.
3. Don’t even look at dresses outside the price range. It just creates problems. If you are paying for them yourself, don’t let your bridesmaids talk you into extravagant dresses. If your bridesmaids are pitching in, keep in mind their limited budgets, too.
4. If the maid of honor has a different dress…
5. Keep in mind the different body types. Some dresses work better with bustier bridesmaids, while some work better with the long and thin girls. Look for dresses that will be flattering on all of your bridesmaids.
   

By Linda Hilliard - Author of the Book
E-mail Your Weight Away - Diet Dialoges for Women

This piece was going to be entitled “Twelve Things I HATE About Sticking to My Diet,” but, shish, what would be original about that? There isn’t an overweight person who couldn’t write easily make it a list of 100++ things to hate about a diet commitment.

Master bathrooms evolved from standard hallway bathrooms to a mini spa retreat.  It has become everyone's personal sanctuary: a home away from home.  You can get the same experience in your bathroom.  It doesn't matter what your bathroom looked like before; it's going to become the area you'll never leave.  Here are eight Tips for the Master Bath Renovation.

Planning a baby shower? Lucky you! A baby shower is such a special and memorable occasion. It’s also one that requires a lot of thought and preparation. Here are some tips to help you master the art of  baby shower planning.

• Consult with the Mother-to-be. (Or, if it is a surprise shower, the Dad, Grandmother, or Aunt-to-be.) Does the new mom want a large shower or only a few friends? Would she like a Jack-and-Jill shower, that is, one that includes both male and female friends and family members? This is the new mom’s day, so do your best to make it exactly what would make her happiest.
• Decide on the budget. Are you paying for this shower yourself, or splitting the cost with other relatives and friends? You’ll need to know what you have to spend before you can start making other decisions.
• Make your guest list. Big or small, you need a formal guest list. You need to know the number of guests before you can pick a location.
• Pick a date. If you plan a shower a month or two before the due date, it will give the new mom time to unpack everything and have it ready when baby arrives.
• Choose a location. You can choose a home, restaurant or other outside facility. If you are having the shower outside the home, you’ll need to visit locations, get prices, and see if your chosen date is available. If you are having a catered shower at home, you will need to call caterers to discuss menus, dates, and prices.
• Plan the menu. Home showers can be catered, or you, close friends, and family members can share in the cooking. Order a cake, or plan the desserts that you will make yourself. 
• Choose a theme. Do you know if the new baby is a boy or a girl? This may influence your choice of colors, decorations, and invitations.
• Send invitations. Provide an RSVP phone number and email address. Include a map and directions. A popular feature at baby showers is to ask each guest to bring their favorite storybook for the new baby, or write some advice for the new mom. Include these requests with the invitations.
• Get the decorations. You can order almost any color and theme for decorations both online and at large party stores.
• Order and assemble the party favors. New Hope Soap carries a line of beautiful products, perfect for gift giving.
• Assign tasks. Depending on your needs, delegate someone to get the mom-to-be to the shower, someone to pick up the cake, and someone to be the “official” photographer.

Finally, have a great time! Enjoy the day and seeing all your hard work delight your guest of honor and all the other attendees.

Please contact us for information about our products. We have great gifts for both the new Mom and her guests.

New Hope Soap – Unique gift ideas for Baby Showers,  Wedding Favors, Wedding Gifts, Bridesmaids Gifts. Great gift ideas for the women in your life – gifts for Persoanlized Gifts, Valentine's Day, anniversaries, birthdays or just because! Personalized gift ideas for your Wife, Girlfriend, Mom, Sisters, and so much more. Let New Hope Soap help you find that perfect personalized gift for that special someone, with the touch of the luxury lifestyle.

By Linda Hilliard - Author of the Book
E-mail Your Weight Away - Diet Dialoges for Women

Every bride looks beautiful on her wedding day (and let’s hear it for the mothers-of-the-bride and groom, too).

As the guests ooh and aah over the loveliness of the wedding party, it’s probably just as well if they don’t know about some of the behind-the-scenes angst. Didn’t there used to be a television show called Bridezilla? I never saw it but I can imagine losing weight so a dress fits could take up several episodes and reveal the worse side of a bride’s personality.

Mother's Day is not too far off. Surprise your mother with a unique gift. There are many run-of-the-mill gifts that are usually given mothers. Flowers and a card are one of those gifts. Even though they are appreciated by your mother, you can change things up this year by offering a unique personalized gift for Mother's Day that is practical, different, and memorable.

Mother's Day Gifts - Ideas - Gift Basket Full of Her Favorite Things

A gift basket full of her favorite things will surely bring a smile to her face. Instead of buying a ready-made gift basket, make your own. You can purchase an empty basket at most craft stores. You can then start filling it up with things that she adores. If she is into soaps and creams, you can fill the gift basket with amenities that are made with her favorite amenities. Your can personalize these gifts by having them engraved with a sentiment such is "I love you" or "Mom", or her monogram. Personalized mother's day gifts show that you put some real thought into your gifts. Personalizing the gifts adds an even greater touch of unuqeness that she will adore.For an even more unique touch, you can make handmade creams and lotions. Outside of purchasing and making her things to fill up the gift basket, you can also find coupons to place inside of the gift basket. This will allow her to go to her favorite vendors and boutiques to purchase even more of her favorite things.

Its’ not every day that the whole world connives with you to celebrate the most important woman in your life. We’re talking Mother’s day, a universal day set aside to show love, respect and appreciation for mothers everywhere. You want to make her feel loved and another indiscriminate gift will not do. It has to make a mark on her heart; after all, you stole hers when you’re born. Nothing says special like a personalized gift. Here are some ideas for personalized gifts that will take her breath away (I know, it sounds like a familiar line from a jewelry commercial), but these ideas may do exactly that:

Write a Poem

Mothers love any expression of heartfelt feelings. So, even if you’re not Maya Angelou or the reincarnation of William Shakespeare, if you love words and how words can convey nuances of meaning, go ahead and craft that poem. She will love the effort that goes into doing that. Frame it up for added effect, even though a gift like that doesn’t need much embellishment.

Don't forget the flowers and candy this year, but why not go one step further and find Unique Gifts For Mom that are both tasteful and affordable!

1. For the mom with a sense of humor and an affinity for the outdoors, a horse head squirrel feeder is the perfect gift! At only $15, you can give your mom years of laughs with this unique gift.  (incrediblethings.com)

2. Does your mom like wine? Try a recycle a bottle plant nanny stake! Now she can take her old bottles and put them to good use! Purchase a set of 4 for $17. She'll never have an excuse to not recycle :). (uncommongoods.com)