YOUR Greek Islands fantasy wedding

The Greek islands are among the most popular holiday destinations in the globe. Mykonos and Santorini stand out as the most favorite vacation spots for thousands of people from all over the world. Mykonos is known for its wild nightlife, its great beaches and the small whitewashed houses with their blue windows spread in its narrow streets among other things, while Santorini is famous for its black beaches, its magical sunsets, the volcano and the breathtaking view of the caldera. Both islands are also known for the number of commitment ceremonies performed during the season. Many gay and lesbian couples choose to exchange loyalty vows while they are on vacation.Modern Greece has not followed the reputation of Ancient Greece for liberalism on matters of homosexuality. Between these two different worlds is a Greek culture slowly changing to accommodate new concepts of Human Rights with Orthodox traditions.

The Greek gay situation in everyday life is pretty austere. Greece retains much discriminatory law on homosexuality and is probably the least open-minded country in the European Union. Compared to the other Mediterranean countries they can lead a good life, but in comparison to other parts of Europe, Greek gays still have to grow in self-confidence and respect. Athens and Thessaloniki have very active gay groups , but their activities do not reach for beyond the town limits. Most gays vacation are on the Cyclades, and principally on the island of Mykonos, however other islands like Santorini and Paros are becoming equal.

There are a few discriminatory requirements in the Greek criminal code for example Article 347 which offers for a higher age of Consent of 17 for seducing a male person if the partner is over 18. Male prostitution is also illegal while no such ban exists for female prostitution. The police are empowered to to forcibly require gay men to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. In addition sexual orientation as a non-discrimination category is not incorporated in the Greek constitution. Homosexuality is banned in the army. Public sector employment rules require 'decent' behaviour and homosexual orientation is not considered decent.

The best time to visit Greece is from April to October. If you find warmth a problem go early or late in the season. Athens is evidently Greece's main gay location with 11 bars and clubs, 4 coffee shops, 4 adult theatres, 2 saunas, 2 gyms, 4 video clubs and one gay beach. There are also several political and social organizations, half a dozen publications and a network of activists and friends. Most Athens gay life is concentrated in the very central parts of Mykonos is an notable Greek island of the Cyclades group, located in the middle of the Aegean Sea, at coordinates 37°27' N 25°26' E, near to Paros and Santorini. It spans an area of 86 km²and rises at an elevation of 364 m at its highest point. The island is composed primarily of granite. It has little natural fresh water and relies on the desalination of sea water to meet its needs. It has approximately one population of 6200 people. The greatest town is Mykonos, also known as Chora (i.e. the Town in Greek, a common denomination in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town), which sits on the west coast. It is believed that the island was named after a local hero, who is considered an offspring of the god Apollo and was worshipped locally in ancient times. Mykonos Greece is the most well-known and admired island of the Greek Islands and fascinates thousands of tourists every year.

In the last few years, Mykonos has partially lost its special essence and has been frequented mostly by young people who want to enjoy the island great nightlife (which is often compared to Ibiza and Ayia Napa); but apart from this, Mykonos island is popular for its multicultural atmosphere, its picturesque Cycladic capital full of whitewashed houses and blue domed churches and its splendid sandy beaches. Here you can choose whether to relax yourself and enjoy the great sea, or to stay in the middle of the crowd and start celebrating in the afternoon. August is, of course, the most costly month and in this period the island is mostly frequented by young Italians .

The island is also famous for being the Greek capital and oasis for homosexuals, as it recommends an extensive diversity of gay friendly hotels in Mykonos town, as well as the areas nearby Super Paradise Beach and Paradise Beach. Mykonos is the ideal holiday destination for both gay couples and gay singles who want to have a fun and relaxing gay vacation, without being under examination, as fellow visitors and locals are tactful and respectful of other people's sexual orientation, be it gay or straight.
If your dream is to visit the Greek islands with your other half and combine a nice holiday along with a commitment ceremony just send us an e-mail and we will take care of this for you.

We can prepare:

Custom made holiday packages to the Greek islands and the mainland
Commitment ceremonies to Santorini and Mykonos
Accommodation
Transfers
Car rentals
Parties
Cruises
Tours

A Minnesota White Christmas

Not much else can be said except thank God for pictures... and memories. Because sometimes you just HAVE to be there.....

A "DON'T ASK/DON'T TELL" HERO, & then some...

Moments ago, the Senate took a key vote that will lead to the end of the discriminatory “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which for 17 years has forced brave American troops to lie in order to serve their country. Along with the passage of the hate crimes bill last year, this victory makes the 111th Congress the first in U.S. history to recognize that LGBT Americans deserve the freedom and fairness our country promises.

Today I am especially mindful of the brave men and women who have worn the uniform—the ones who lost their jobs to an unjust policy, those who served in silence, and the many active duty and reserve personnel who this year told their superiors that sexual orientation shouldn’t matter in the U.S. military. Everyone who has served to defend our country deserves our profound thanks.

I'm also proud to congratulate and thank the many organizations that have worked so hard on this issue both in Congress and the courts, including: Servicemembers Legal Defense Network; the Human Rights Campaign; Servicemembers United; the Palm Center; the Center for American Progress; OutServe; the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; National Black Justice Coalition; Get Equal; Log Cabin Republicans; and Stonewall Democrats.

As you know, the Victory Fund does not lobby on Capitol Hill, but our community has been well-represented by these and so many other organizations and individuals who stand together in this fight.

You were another crucial part of this victory. Just as your support helped the Victory Fund elect more openly LGBT candidates this year than ever before, insisting that elected officials keep their promises and stand on the side of fairness has once again made a huge difference.

Some predict that the next two years will see little progress on issues important to LGBT Americans, and maybe even attempts to roll back our progress, but I think our community is more creative and committed than that.

Today's victory is proof that together we can and will continue the fight to expand freedom for LGBT Americans--in Washington, in state capitals and on city councils and school boards across the country.

Thanks for standing with us this year, and congratulations.

Yours in Victory,

Chuck Wolfe
President and CEO

What your flowers say about YOUR Wedding...

When choosing the flowers for your wedding, you'll certainly want to think about the color, size, and shape of different flowers, but it's also nice to think of their significance. In Victorian times, hundreds of flowers, plants, and herbs were assigned meanings. Men and women selected them to communicate matters of the heart. For the flowers in your bouquet or in boutonnieres, consider flowers that best express the feelings you share to make the arrangements more special.Here I've listed individual flowers and their meanings to help you decide.
Baby's breath = Everlasting love
Bachelor's button = Celibacy, delicacy
Calla lily = Magnificent beauty
Carnation (pink) = Woman's love
Carnation = Pure love
Cornflower = Delicacy
Crocus = Cheerfulness
Daisy = Innocence
Dogwood = Duration
Fern = Magic
Forget-me-not = Remember me
Freesia = Innocence
Fuchsia = Confiding love
Geranium = True friendship
Hellebore = Calming
Hyacinth = Sport and play
Iris = I have a message for you
Ivy = Friendship
Jasmine (pink) = I attach myself to you
Jasmine (white) = Amiability
Lady's mantle = Comfort
Lilac = First emotions of love
Lily-of-the-valley = Return of happiness
Mint = Virtue
Myrtle = Love
Oak leaf = Bravery
Orchid = You're in my thoughts
Peony = Bashful
Peppermint = Warmth of feeling
Primrose = Youth
Ranunculus = Radiant with charms
Rose (white) = I am worthy of you
Rose = Love
Rosemary = Remembrance
Snowdrop = Hope
Sweet pea = Delicate pleasures
Sweet violet = Modesty
Sweet William = Sensitivity
Tulip (pink) = Caring
Tulip (variegated) = Beautiful eyes
Tulip = Declaration of love
Violet (blue) = Faithfulness
Last but not least, contemplate the fragrances of your blooms... especially if there's an allergy-related issue, and take consideration of where flowers will be placed; especially centerpieces, as fragrances can conflict w/ foods.

Putting the "GAY" in Engagement...

Since there are no gay-marriage proposal cultural traditions I could establish for you quite yet, my personal opinion is to "JUST ASK"... however YOU CHOOSE to... (just sayin'...)
Engagement Ring 101:

Engagements, or betrothal, rings date back to the ancient days of marriage by purchase when gold rings were circulated as currency. The groom-to-be would offer his bride-to-be a gold ring both as his partial payment and as a symbol of his intentions.
Brides-to-be in these earlier times wore woven bands made of rush (a flexible marsh plant with hollow stems), and replaced them each year. Roman brides-to-be wore rings made of iron to symbolize the permanent, unending nature of marriage. During Medieval times, grooms-to-be placed the ring on three of the bride's fingers in turn to represent the Holy Trinity -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The gimmal ring originated during the Elizabethan period and is a set of three interlocking rings. During the engagement, the bride-to-be, groom to-be, and their witness each wore one of the rings until the wedding day when the three pieces were united as a single ring for the bride.
The type and style of ring GAY couples use when formalizing their commitment to each other is dependent on several factors, including, of course, budget. A consideration when deciding whether or not to add an engagement ring to the equation is what sort of message you are trying to send to the community about your relationship.
Engagement rings are a good idea as they serve as a sign of your current commitment, your dedication to each other and silently announce the upcoming wedding. The combination of a wedding and engagement ring in lesbian commitment rings is a statement of the well thought out and dedicated approach the couple has taken in getting married. And, of course, many women would not object to being given another ring from their loving partner.

LUCCA & bagni di lucca

Two of Des Moines East Villages' BEST!!!

OMG...ROCKSTAR chefs that will customize menus & follow thru @ 100%, a wanna-be George Clooney look-alike owner (the somewhat handsome, but uber-gracious owner Steven Logsdon) a service staff that is THE BEST and most beautiful, in Des Moines, (unfortunately the local celebrity model/mixologist, Jason Garnett, was having lypo & isn't pictured...)and during this Holiday season you will not find better prepared or more fabulously decorated restaurants/venues in Des Moines East Village for your Holiday entertaining!!!
Just MAKE SURE to call for reservations!!!

LUCCA 515-243-1115

bagni di lucca 515-243-0844

Cakes, cookies, candy & COCKTAILS!!!

OMG... THE perfect palettes for winter white Weddings & Holiday parties... and the inspiration of friends, both past & present, & family, are what have me dreaming of a white Christmas in as many ways possible for this years' end... (along w/ compression undershirts!)

"Belles On A Budget",(HomeBelles)A FABULOUS BLOG, says:
One of our favorite wedding trends of recent years is the Candy Buffet or Cookie Bar. What could be better than a table full of yummy goodness in the form of candy coated chocolate, brightly colored sugar, or comforting chocolate chip cookies? We love how candy buffets can add splashes of color to the reception (whether in your wedding colors or an array of bright colors), how they can serve as dessert or a favor and how they appeal to guests of all ages! The downside of this beautiful and delicious wedding detail? The cost can often be quite expensive. Read the tips below to create a gorgeous, professional looking candy buffet or cookie bar on a budget!

1. Get your containers at a discount. Since these buffets display candy and cookies in containers of many shapes and sizes, you can piece together mismatched serving dishes to create the overall effect. To assemble this collection on a budget, first ask family members if you can borrow glass cookie jars, cake stands, canisters and other containers to save on costs. There are many ways to personalize these dishes without permanently altering them, so you can return them to Grandma good as new. Still need more? Hit up yard sales and flea markets to find dishes that will work. There is always an overabundance of these kinds of jars and containers at yard sales, so you and your team of wedding helpers should be able to find plenty. And you can’t beat the yard sale prices of a couple of dollars for each. If these don’t work, or you are looking or one or two specific kinds of containers, check out your local Dollar Tree or our standbys of A.C. Moore, Michael’s, Joann’s, and Hobby Lobby, coupons in hand.

2. Get that candy! Pull out all the stops when trying to score that candy for cheap. Identify one or two must-haves and some of the colors or looks of candy or cookies that you want to go after. Then, start clipping those coupons and get ready for sales…

3. Hit up those after holiday sales! Have you noticed how basically every holiday has themed candy that comes with it? That means that chances are at some point in the year there is candy in your wedding colors! Take advantage of this by grabbing all leftover candy in the after-holiday sale of your choice. Of course, be sure to check those expiration dates, but most candy has a long shelf life. By waiting until after the holiday, you can score all of the M&Ms, Hershey kisses, peanut butter cups, peppermint patties, etc. that your heart desires (and in colors that will match or complement your wedding) for 50-90% off. Score!

4. Go with the homemade trend. Homemade by you and your family that is. One of our favorite ways of putting together a cookie bar or candy buffet is to ask family members and friends to each make a few dozen cookies, bars, or homemade candy to include in the buffet. Then display each variety with a label identifying its baker, like Aunt Sandy’s Kiss Cookies, Grandma’s Peanut Butter Eggs, Mom’s Chocolate Chip Cookies, Uncle Dan’s Gingersnaps, etc. This approach gives a personalized charm that beats out any manufactured dessert and is always a huge hit with guests, since they will recognize some of the contributors. Many family members looooooooooooove being asked to make something to contribute, and this is a way to have various relatives and future in-laws play a part in the wedding. And besides all of the warm fuzzies that this approach will give you, your wallet will enjoy it too—homemade cookies and candy by relatives= a free gift to you.

5. Don’t get fancy with the goodies. There’s really no need to have gourmet chocolate, hand decorated personalized cookies, or elaborate candied apples in your cookie or candy bar- dessert is dessert! Although adorable, resist the urge to have that caricature of you hand painted on a cookie, and go with your more affordable and classic options.

6. Decorate! The secret to all of those designer candy buffets and cookie bars? Well-placed decoration! Use your mass of containers strategically to best display the kinds of goodies at your table and then personalize with decorations to match your wedding theme and atmosphere. Some of our favorite low-cost ways to decorate? Spray paint your jars! Or hot glue ribbon to the outside of the container, personalize with wedding labels, place color marbles in the base of some containers, or have some well-placed candles and flowers around the table. And don’t forget that the candy and cookies themselves are decorations! Select at least one or two eyecatching (but affordable) desserts to make everyone drool and make those your focal points!

7. Grab some cute treat bags. If you want to make the cookie bar or candy buffet a favor of sorts and have your guests fill up a bag to take home with them, you’ll need some cute but inexpensive treat bags. Check out some good options at Oriental Trading, Michael’s, Joann’s, Hobby Lobby, and A.C. Moore. Remember to use your coupons and coupon codes for an extra discount! And keep those oh so cute treat bags on the small side, or you’ll run out of goodies fast!

8. Finish the look with a personalized seal. We can’t help it- we just love wedding labels! Another perfect use for a monogrammed sticker is to seal your treat bag. Or you could have special ones made for the occasion with a cutesy saying like “love is sweet” or “sweets for the sweet”. This could look like a splurge, but really this precious detail will only set you back a few bucks.

And Voila! You have a gorgeous, yummy, inexpensive cookie bar or candy buffet with all of your personal touches that every guest can dig in to!

So... partying, proposing, partying, engaging, partying or MARRYING... dessert is A GOOD THING!!!
I know the holidays can also be horrific for some of us too, so hence the addition of COCKTAILS!!!( Part of the new collection of ideas & recipes from "PANACHE everyday"... LOL!)

I'm humbled by this blog expeience, as well... THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING, POSTING, AND CONFIDING IN ME... I'm extremely humbled...And feeling SO grateful for what I've accomplished in these past 11 months...
Famous retailer "Macy's" advertising campaign says to "BELIEVE" this holiday season, so I'm going w/ that... and trusting in God (big daddy), Oprah and the Pilgrims... (OH, and of course, MARTHA...)

WE NEED TO DO MORE ABOUT AIDS... It's been 27 years...

First Lady Responds To Letter About Display Of Aids Quilt

March 23, 1991|by ANN WLAZELEK, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.

It was only three paragraphs, but the letter, signed "warmly, Barbara Bush," ran long on sentiment.

Addressed to Beau Fodor of Easton, it thanked him for telling her about the international AIDS Memorial Quilt display in Allentown three weeks ago.

The first lady was unable to attend the four-day display at Muhlenberg College, but wrote:

"I know that for so many, the stitching and display of a quilt in memory of a loved one can be such a comfort and act of love and remembrance. You are so good to write and to share your thoughts."

Fodor, who arranged for the local display in memory of Matthew Groman, a childhood friend who died from AIDS, said he was both stunned and gratified by the letter from the White House.

The display not only helped visitors understand the enormity of the problem and raise money for local AIDS service agencies, but also proved there are many people interested in helping those infected with the AIDS virus, Fodor said.

An estimated 17,000 people went to see the portion of the quilt displayed in the college Life Sports Center, and 300 more volunteered to read names, counsel visitors and help with whatever needed to be done.