Lilac City Momma

Lynn

How To Save Money On Your Wedding Cake

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The speeches have concluded, the music starts, and everyone leaves their seats to feast on the plethora of platters that you took five loans out to afford. Then, dessert comes and it’s time to cut the cake. The cake you spent hundreds of dollars on is now going to be devoured by uncle Steve’s five toddlers and aunt Sharon’s seven cousins who came uninvited. Nobody even bothered saying thanks.

Now you’re sitting and thinking, was it really all necessary? Of course not! You could do with a much more budget-friendly cake while still keeping your guests satisfied and adhering to the traditional ceremony of cutting it. By saving money on your wedding cake, you’re left with more money to put towards other aspects of your wedding such as the wedding venue, or simply more money to save for the future. After all, this is likely the time when you’ll need every cent you can get.

Tone Down On The Flowers

While tasty icing flowers may look great, each piece takes between 30 minutes and two hours to be completely created and implemented on your cake. Naturally, this will result in a hefty labor cost, especially if you decide to have a whole bouquet of the things stuck to your cake. Instead, you could use fresh, real flowers, provided they’re properly clean.

Of course, you could go the full frugal route and simply use fake flowers, but they likely won’t look particularly flattering. Another alternative would be to use simple sugar flower designs such as hydrangeas and calla lilies. More mainstream options such as roses and peonies aren’t nearly as affordable.

Skimp on Specialists

Chances are there’s a boutique or local baker nearby that can make your cake for even cheaper than a full-blown specialist would. Sure, it won’t look as intricate and extravagant, but the point is to save money. The catering service at your wedding location might also have some affordable options.

As a matter of fact, some caterers will even charge a fee if you decide to use another baker. Scummy, but that’s business. Take a look at allcakeprices.com to get a better idea of the options you have for each type of baker.

Watch Where You’re Putting It

Many couples often overlook other aspects of the cake, such as the stand, and end up wasting tons of money purchasing an unnecessarily extravagant one. After all, who’s going to look at the stand? Many bakers provide decorated stands and boards free of charge, so purchasing a whole tower is completely unnecessary.

If your cake is more on the bland side and you want to spruce it up with some nice accessories, consider adding some candles, linen, and repurposed bridesmaid boutiques to keep it looking as great as the rest of your wedding setup. There are numerous guides available that can help you decide which stand will work best.

Conclusion

If you’re skeptical as to how your frugal cake will be received, keep in mind that’s it’s just a tiny part of a huge event where most attendees will likely be so hopped up on emotions (or alcohol) that they seriously won’t even remember your cake.

5 Ways For Entrepreneurs To Reduce Their Stress Levels

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As an entrepreneur, you are in complete control of your own destiny. Instead of leaving it to others to manage your workload and dictate your monthly earnings, you have taken matters into your own hands. It is a fantastic opportunity for you to achieve your goals and to secure success on your own terms. However, going it alone also involves tons of responsibilities and plenty of stress. If you are struggling with this factor, now is the time to take control. Below are five tips that will help you to reduce your stress levels and embrace a positive frame of mind.

Have a backup plan in place

In order to enjoy peace of mind, it is important that you have a backup plan in place for all of the essential areas of your business. For instance, if your company relies heavily on technology, you will need to invest in your data protection and know exactly what you are going to do if something goes wrong. Instead of giving into a panic, you should reach out to Secure Data Recovery to explore their services. Thinking ahead will help you to stay calm in stressful situations and will save you from fretting about the future of your company.

Take control of your schedule

The next step is to take control of your schedule and ensure you are making the most of your time. If you are going to manage your stress levels effectively, you need to avoid taking on too many responsibilities. You should also look out for opportunities to multi-task, as this will allow you to power through your workload.

Enjoy plenty of downtime

Organizing your schedule will also make it easier for you to find time to relax. This is essential if you are going to avoid running yourself into the ground. If you find it difficult to switch off at the end of a long day, you should look out for a calming activity to enjoy such as meditation or arts and crafts. Another idea is to take up exercise, as this will come as a welcome distraction and provide you with a rush of endorphins.

Accept help

Even if you prefer to work alone, it is important that you learn to accept help from others. It could involve anything from hiring a cleaner to booking a childminder for your young family. Or, if the problem is at work, you should consider hiring an assistant or setting up an internship program. Whatever you decide, the most important thing is that you understand your limitations and only take on what you can handle.

Evaluate your working environment

Finally, you should evaluate your working environment and make sure that it is a space you enjoy spending time in. If you work in a communal office, you should begin by cleaning your office area and organizing your possessions. You could also invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones, a subtle air freshener, or back support for your chair. Alternatively, if you work from home, you should create a home office and endeavor to keep it separate from the rest of your family. Doing so will make it easier for you to enjoy a healthy work-life balance.

How Do I Prepare for a CoolSculpting Session?

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CoolSculpting is a process that involves freezing fat, and there is no surgery required at all. The FDA has cleared this interesting process, which reduces the amount fat that consumers have in stubborn areas, despite numerous efforts to exercise and diet the weight away. There are many customers that have reviewed this process on the official website, along with over message boards throughout the internet.

This type of fat reduction process helps to target several areas of the body, including the:

• Abdomen

• Flanks/sides

• Chin

• Inner thighs

• Outer thighs

• Upper arms

It’s important that you consider the difference between losing weight in a treatment and losing fat cells. The procedure specifically targets the existence of fat cells in certain areas, so it’s important to know what to expect in a session before they start.

What to Expect Before the Session

Before anything happens with your CoolSculpting session, you will meet with the medical professional that is skilled in this process. You need to meet with a doctor or clinician for the procedure. They will explain the advantages of having a holistic approach for fat loss. This reshaping method will be customized to your body, which means that you can change the way that your body handles its fatty areas. Every person is different, so the amount of sessions you need will depend on the area you want to treat.

This treatment is meant for you, if you don’t have loose skin or skin tone. Your doctor will be able to tell you if there are any concerns about the procedure, but these sessions are performed in a way that almost everyone can use it.

What Happens to the Fat?

The reason that this process is so effective comes from a discovery by Harvard scientists, who developed a process called Cryolipolysis®. Cryolipolysis brings the temperature of fat cells down, between +5 to −5 °C, concentrating fat loss to a specific area. The process kills the cells, and then eliminates them from the body to contour it. Many people use it as an alternative to liposuction, though the most effective method will need to be discussed with your doctor.

Even though the treatment happens with topical application, your skin and hairs will not be injured or even impacted at all. The remedy penetrates the skin’s layers with the coldness, but no other cells are damaged.

The process has had the approval of the FDA since 2010. Since the remedy was first created, over 450,000 sessions around the world have been performed.

During the Treatment

The biggest appeal of this treatment, as said above, is that it’s noninvasive, meaning there’s no surgery needed to eliminate the cells. At the beginning of the session, a gel pad and an applicator will be placed on the area you discussed beforehand with your doctor. Then, the professional will manage the controlled cooling that is directed into that area. The whole procedure takes an hour for each of the areas that you chose to contour. You will be awake and alert, and no anesthesia is administered. However, some people find the session so relaxing that they take the time to sleep.

While the CoolSculpting session takes place, it’s common to experience a little coldness. The fat is literally being frozen, after all. The area should numb within about 5 to 10 minutes, so you won’t feel anything coldness after that. Additionally, since the applicator often includes a vacuum you might feel a sensation similar to pulling or even a mild pinch. These experiences are normal.

After the procedure is over, the medical professional will massage the area for about 2 to 3 minutes, which should end any remaining tingling.

The Results and Healing Process

The effects of losing fat cells may appear as soon as three weeks after the treatment, since your body has to adjust to its new composition. The most prominent results are seen about 8 to 9 weeks after the procedure, which is much different than the way that liposuction and other invasive remedies work. These changes will continue for the next 6 months following the original session.

The healing process is basically nonexistent. You won’t need to take time off from work, and there’s no incision to heal. In fact, a lot of people go right back to their regular routine in the same day, which is part of the immense appeal of CoolSculpting. Even though you may feel motivated to get healthier and change your habits, these changes aren’t required for upkeep. Instead, there’s no diet and exercise needed, and you won’t even need to take a supplement.

Dr. Ruth L. Hillelson, MD is one of the most experienced plastic surgeons in the Eastern U.S. As a former research chemist associate at Harvard, she has spent five years researching, developing, and testing breakthrough technology for real skin rejuvenation. The result is Iridesse, a skin care line that will make skin healthier instead of just giving the appearance of health.

What is the Youngest Age That Ear Pinning Can Be Performed?

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Your child is your most precious gift and beautiful on the inside as well as the inside. You only want the best for your little one. You want your kids to be active, healthy, successful and doors of opportunities to open. You want your child to have confidence and excellent self-esteem. There is one concern that you are afraid will have an impact on your child’s self-image. It’s your little one’s ears. They stick out at the side of your child’s head in a way that is quite pronounced. You have waited since infancy to see if this condition would change in any way. Unfortunately, it is an issue that won’t go away and you can’t make any changes on your own.

Even though your child’s hair has grown, it is still not enough to hide protruding ears. You want to do something to help your child. You are considering ear pinning, a form of otoplasty, that is performed by a plastic surgeon. You know this is a serious step, but you feel that it will have a positive impact on your child’s life. You don’t want your little one to go through life feeling self-conscious about large ears that are poking out in such a way that everyone will notice them. You know what peer pressure is like and how much children want to fit in with peers, especially when they get older. You want to find a solution now, but you don’t know the appropriate age for this common procedure.

What is the Youngest Age that Ear Pinning Can be Performed?

You’ve decided that the sooner otoplasty, or ear surgery that is cosmetic is performed, the better. Ear pinning can be performed as early as the age of four, although some surgeons recommend waiting until the age of six to ensure that the ears have fully developed. In most cases, doctors will advise to have the procedure performed before children are of school age. However, it can be performed at any time after the age of four if your child has already passed that milestone. Ear pinning is a simple procedure that will make your child’s ears press flat against his or her head in the way that is expected. Once it is over, you will not have to worry anymore about your little one’s ears sticking out too far.

What Happens During an Ear Pinning Procedure?

You can expect that this procedure will be performed on an outpatient basis for your child. For young children, general anesthesia is recommended. Older patients may be able to use local anesthesia and sedation. Typically, an incision will be made in your child’s ears in such a way that scarring will not be noticeable. Behind the ear is one of the most common sites for an incision. If there is too much cartilage or an excess amount of tissue that is making your child’s ears protrude from the side of his or her head, your child’s plastic surgeon can trim away any excess and reshape the cartilage. Once the cartilage has been molded into the desired shape and the ears lay flat against your child’s head, the incisions will be closed with stitches.

How to Prepare Your Child for Ear Pinning

Your child should wear something that is comfortable on the day of surgery. Pajamas are appropriate if that is what your little one would like to wear. No food should be eaten before the procedure. Talk with your child’s plastic surgeon about scheduling early in the morning to make it easier on your child. Small sips of water are the most that your child may have before undergoing general anesthesia. Your child will be closely monitored by a surgical team while your plastic surgeon is performing the ear pinning surgery. It is a relatively minor procedure and will take a short amount of time. Once the procedure is over, your child will be sent to recovery where you will be able to wait with your child until release is possible.

Recovery for Otoplasty at Home

Once your child has been given clearance from their Otoplasty by the plastic surgeon to be released, you can take your little one home. Now the healing time begins. Your child will have bandages to protect his or her ears. Your plastic surgeon will give you instructions about how often to change the bandages. You can expect to apply an antibiotic ointment to protect the incisions from infection. You will also be given instructions for cleaning the incisions. Your child will need to sleep in a slightly elevated position. You can prop up pillows to make your little one comfortable. It is important to rest in the week that follows surgery. Your child will not be able to do anything that is extremely active at this time.

Expect to go back to the plastic surgeon for a follow-up appointment one week after the procedure. At this point, your child’s ears will be checked for any signs of infection or any other concerns. Stitches can be removed if this is necessary. As long as there are no complications, your child should be able to return to normal activities. The final results will be noticeable for everyone. Any swelling will have gone down, allowing your child to enjoy ears that are flat against his or her head. Your child will have a boost of confidence every time he or she looks at the results of ear pinning surgery.

If you are serious about ear pinning for your child, you need to seek advice from an expert in cosmetic procedures involving the ears. Call Dr. Anurag Agarwal, MD to find out if your child is a good candidate for this procedure. Dr. Agarwal of the Aesthetic Surgery Center is a board certified plastic surgeon with years of experience in performing otoplasty, surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic treatments in Naples, FL.

Things To do Post-Surgery To Achieve the Best Facelift Result

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A facelift is a great way to brighten your face, smooth out your skin, and reduce the effects of aging. Your doctor will put great care and effort into ensuring that you achieve the results you hope for, but your choices after the procedure will also have an effect on your results. Here are eight steps you can take to achieve the best possible results from your facelift:

1. Follow your doctor’s post-op instructions.

It takes a full year for your face to fully heal after the surgery, but the way you take care of your face in the first couple weeks of recovery can have a huge impact on your results. Your doctor will give you thorough instructions for how to care for the incisions and scars to make sure that they heal quickly. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call your doctor and ask. If your doctor doesn’t give you written instructions for caring for your face during recovery, make sure you write everything down yourself.

2. Have a healthy skincare routine.

A regular skincare routine is essential for maintaining your results and keeping your skin bright and healthy. You should wash your face twice per day with a cleanser that works well for your skin type. If you’re not sure what cleanser to use, you can consult a skincare specialist or just try a few options until you find the best one. You should also use a moisturizer with SPF every day. Even when it’s cloudy or cold outside, the sun can damage the skin on your face.

3. Avoid sun exposure.

The sun’s UV rays can damage the collagen and elastin in your skin, which will cause wrinkles. Excessive sun exposure can also cause age spots or liver spots. Sun damage is irreversible, so it’s important to prevent it by wearing sunscreen or moisturizer with SPF every single day. If your skin is very sensitive to the sun, you should get a clinical grade sunscreen from a skincare specialist or from your doctor.

You should also limit your exposure to harsh or direct sunlight with hats or umbrellas. When possible, stand in the shade or plan outdoor activities for the morning or late afternoon, so the sun won’t shine directly on you. Even if you don’t get sunburns easily, you should be careful about your sun exposure. Damage can happen even when you don’t burn.

4. Eat a healthy diet.

The food you eat has a big impact on your skin and face. Your diet should be full of greens, fruits and veggies, complex carbohydrates, and protein. All of these foods will keep your skin nourished and maintain its elasticity, which will prevent wrinkles. Eat plenty of citrus fruits to get vitamin C, which promotes collagen production and strengthens your skin. Eat nuts and spinach for vitamin E, which smooths out scars and rough skin. Eat sweet potatoes, fish, and fruit for vitamin A, which helps your skin stay moisturized and heal without scarring.

5. Drink plenty of water.

Drinking lots of water is one of the most important things you can do to keep your skin healthy. It will keep your skin strong, elastic, and smooth. You should drink at least eight cups of water per day to achieve the best facelift results. If you’re not in the habit of drinking a lot of water, write reminders to yourself in your kitchen, your bedroom, your car, or on your phone. Whenever you see the reminder, drink a cup of water.

6. Quit smoking.

There are lots of negative effects of smoking, including skin damage. Nicotine dries out your skin and causes premature aging. It also affects your skin’s ability to heal, so smoking shortly after your surgery could make your scar more noticeable and long-lasting. Your doctor will probably require that you stop smoking while you recover. However, you should consider quitting permanently to maintain good results.

7. Reduce stress.

Stress can take a serious toll on your physical health, and it can prevent you from achieving optimal results. Over time, chronic stress can cause wrinkles and premature aging. If you tend to get worried or stressed out easily, try to incorporate relaxation techniques into your everyday life. Practice breathing exercises or mindfulness meditation, and find a hobby that relaxes you. Many people find that exercise is a great stress reliever, and it has plenty of other health benefits. Reducing stress in your life will bring about countless physical and mental health benefits, and it will keep your face looking young and fresh.

8. Have maintenance procedures.

You can get regular, noninvasive procedures that will help you achieve the best results. For example, you could get laser treatments or microneedling, which both boost collagen production and prevent wrinkles. You could also get Botox injections to minimize lines and wrinkles. Another option is chemical peels, which reduce the appearance of age spots and fine lines.

You could also get additional surgical procedures to boost the results of your facelift. One popular procedure is a facial fat transfer, which smooths out areas of your face by transferring fat from another part of your body. Eye lifts and brow lifts can also help your face look younger and brighter.

Dr. Stephen Weber, MD and his colleagues at Weber Facial Plastic Surgery in Denver have years of experience with a variety of cosmetic procedures, including facelifts. Dr. Weber is a board certified facial plastic surgeon who completed a prestigious fellowship at the University of Michigan.