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Making a donation to a charity is a true act of generosity that millions of Canadians do each year. But raising money for your favourite charity by holding a fundraising event can be more fun and even more rewarding. Here are nine tips to get you started.

1. Keep it fun and simple
Remember: you need to make sure that both you and your participants enjoy the event, so keep it simple and make sure that you add an element of fun, whether it's special decoration, a tote bag for each participant or guest, or a special theme.

2. Share the load—get team support
Turn to friends to help share ideas and workload. Brainstorming at the beginning may give you some new ideas and help give a unique twist to your event. Make sure that you break down the work among your team and delegate so that you are not overstretched. Again, sometimes the simplest ideas are the ones that work the best. Your goal is to work towards your ambitious fundraising goal and aim to beat it.

3. Plan for the 'what ifs?'
If you are planning to hold an event outdoors, or if you are relying on a local celebrity as a guest of honour, make sure you think of a few possible alternatives if it starts raining or if your celebrity doesn't show up. This is the key to successful event planning.

4. Timing is everything
Check your community calendar to make sure there are no important community events and fundraisers on the day that you are planning your event. You might want to check with other community or regional non-profit organizations. Try to pick the date that will bring in optimal attendance.

5. Watch the dollars
Keep your costs down by getting items donated. Many grocery stores or restaurants will donate food or other items to your event. Very often events do not raise money as a result of overspending.

6. Take stock
If your event is a large one, make sure you assign a reliable volunteer to collect all the money and send it back to your charity within 30 days of the event taking place.

7. Say Thank-you!
A warm 'thank you' goes a long way: Always remember to thank your guests or anyone who has donated towards your fundraising efforts.

8. Tell your charity about your event
Once you choose how you'd like to raise money for your favourite charity, make sure to tell the charity about your event.

9. Check out your favourite charity's website for ideas
Many charities' websites offer advice on how to raise money. For example, the human rights charity Amnesty International lists events and ideas at amnesty.ca/special-events.
-newscanada.com

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Honeymoon Travel Destinations

Wedding planning can be full of details and tension.  For example, how involved will your future spouse be in the decision-making? Will you find your perfect wedding gown? What will the wedding party wear? What food are you going to have at the reception? What music is going to be played?

All of these decisions require a great deal of thought.  But there is one decision to be made very carefully –– where to spend the honeymoon!  The honeymoon is the culmination and reward for the stress and tension of planning the wedding.  It marks the beginning of your new life together as a family.  That is why you want to research and plan your honeymoon holiday with both you and your future spouse’s desires and needs in mind. From international destinations to places closer to home there is a vast number of locations to choose from and activities to take part in. 

Hawaii is one favourite of honeymooning couples. There are also many romantic waterfalls to see. You will not want to miss the Hawaiian sunset.  This can be one of the most romantic parts of your holiday. Hawaii has beautiful beaches, awesome scenery, and great food, along with a plethora of different activities for you to take part in.  

If you are contemplating a honeymoon in Europe you may want to consider spending it in Italy.  Italy has a wide range of beautiful scenery from mountains to the sea.  You will find that the cities offer you many sightseeing activities to enjoy.  Rome is not to be missed with all of its historical charm and interest.  From the Roman ruins to Italian food to classic architecture, you can find many things to do in this beautiful and romantic city.  Venice, Florence, and Milan are other cities that you will want to consider visiting on your honeymoon.   

If your idea of a honeymoon includes beaches and palm trees, then Tahiti might be calling to you.  This island offers you a paradise that is beautiful and romantic for your honeymoon.  There are many things that you can do on this island, including scuba diving, taking a boat cruise, or just relaxing on the beach. 

Anguilla is another beautiful island to enjoy a honeymoon holiday.  This tranquil paradise is perfect for honeymooners. There are beautiful beaches, excellent lodging, and great food.   

Fiji is known for being one of the most visually stunning places in the world.  The beautiful mountains and crystal blue water create a paradise that you will never want to leave.  There is also the opportunity to rent an entire island for a day to spend some romantic time with your new spouse.  You can lie on the beach, have a picnic, and frolic and love to your hearts content.  This could be the honeymoon destination that dreams are made of. 

It is best to ensure that you and your future spouse are in agreement to where you plan to honeymoon and what activities you will undertake.  Remember, the honeymoon is not only the culmination and reward for planning the wedding it also marks your new life together.  You want it to be perfect for both of you!

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On the first day of your seven day plan to self-improvement take out time to think about what you would like to accomplish? Are you wandering through life with little direction - hoping that you'll find happiness, health and prosperity? Write down your life purpose or mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to your true north.

Day 2- Know your values

Make a list of what you value most in life: security, freedom, family, spiritual development, learning? Make a list of your top 5 values.  As you set your goals – check them against your values. If the goal doesn't align with any of your top five values - you may want to revise it or completely reconsider it.

Day 3 - Know your needs

Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically. Take care of yourself. Do you have a need to be acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to be loved? There are so many people who lived their lives without realizing their dreams and most of them end up being stressed or even depressed for that matter. List your top four needs and get them met before it's too late!

Day 4 - Know your passions

Obstacles like doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only hinder you, but will not derail your chance to become the person you ought to be. Realize your passions and express yourself. Make a list of the people who have inspired you to become the very person you wanted to be and then honour them!

Day 5- Live from the inside out

Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom by regularly reflecting in silence. Commune with nature.  Breathe deeply to quiet your distracted mind. For most of us it's hard to even find the peace and quiet we want in our own home. Why not sit in a dimly lit room and listen to classical music. There's sound, yes, but music does soothe the savage beast.

Day 6 - Honour your strengths

To realize self-improvement you must realize your positive traits? What special talents do you have? Are you imaginative, witty, good with your hands? Write down three of your talents - if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help. Think about ways to express your authentic self through your strengths.

Day 7 - Serve others

When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an interconnected sense of being. You can increase your self-confidence when you can share what you know with others. When you are true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give back in service what you came to share with others -your spirit - your essence.

Work shouldn't always be about how to get ahead in business. The best type of work is spent getting to know what your propose is and how you can improve and sharing your talents with others. That is indeed one type of work that is worth it. Use your seven day plan to self-improvement to guide you along your life's path.

photo: canstockphoto.com

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Recipe by Margaret Dickenson| Photos by Larry Dickenson

Recipe by Margaret Dickenson|

Makes 4 Servings

Grilled Steak +Truffle Mayonnaise

One of the easiest, quickest and most satisfying meals to prepare is grilled steak. It’s important to keep the ‘treatment’ of the meat relatively simple so the real flavour of the beef can be recognized and appreciated. However, I have found that served with my unique ‘Truffle Mayonnaise’ (which functions more like a dipping sauce), an intriguing and luscious flavour dimension is added to the steak. It’s all so unexpected; it’s all so impressively memorable. With this recipe, dining at home (with or without guests) is certain to be a gourmet experience.

Ingredients

1 1/3 lb (800 g) strip loin* steak (thickness: 1 inch or 2.5 cm)

2 tbsp (30 mL) teriyaki marinade/sauce

2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil (preferably garlic infused)

To taste steak seasoning (peppery type)

Truffle Mayonnaise: 1 cup (250 mL) mayonnaise (low calorie or regular)

1 1/3 tsp (7 mL)** truffle oil***

Method

 1. To make the Truffle Mayonnaise, whisk together mayonnaise and truffle oil to form a smooth mixture. (Makes 1 cup or 250 mL.) Keep refrigerated until ready to serve or for up to several weeks.

 2. Allow steaks to come to room temperature.

 3. Twenty minutes before grilling, drizzle steaks (all sides) with teriyaki marinade/sauce and then olive oil.

 4. Place steaks on a lightly-oiled preheated (high) barbecue grill over direct heat. Immediately reduce heat to medium and cook with hood up. Grill steaks to desired degree of doneness, turning once. (Use tongs to avoid piercing the meat and to prevent juices from escaping.) Generally, for medium-rare, cook the steaks about 2 to 3 minutes per side. (Note: Alternative Cooking Technique follows.)

 5. Transfer steaks to a platter, cover with aluminum foil (shiny side down) and let rest for 5 minutes to allow for the redistribution of juices. If necessary, keep steak warm in preheated (125 °F or about 50 °C) oven.

 6. Serve with Truffle Mayonnaise.

 * Alternative: Other types of steak may also be used (e.g., T-bone, rib, filet). Choose the size that suits you. (Note: In general, steaks that are more heavily marbled with fat are juicier and usually more flavourful; however, they are also higher in calories.) If price were not a factor, my first choice would be beef tenderloin filets (each: 5 oz or 150 g), but they are rather expensive.

 ** Different brands of truffle oil may vary in strength; therefore, if necessary, adjust the quantity used. Remember, the scent of truffle oil should be rather subtle – definitely not aggressive.

*** Available at gourmet or specialty food stores at a very reasonable price.

Alternate Cooking Technique

(Step 4)

 Place steaks on a preheated (medium-high) lightly-oiled grill pan (or heavy skillet). Immediately reduce heat and cook to desired degree of doneness, turning once.

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Margaret Dickenson is the author of the International award winning cookbook, Margaret’s Table – Easy Cooking & Inspiring Entertaining, as well as creator and host of the TV series, Margaret’s Table. Visit www.margaretstable.ca

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Yet another party has made its way onto your calendar and as you stare blankly into your closet, the irritating thought plagues you once again: You need another special event dress to wear?  A black dress and pearls will certainly work. For more ideas, fashion stylist Judy Gordon offers the following tips for looking your very best at the next party.

Fabric and Fit

Selecting the right fabric and fit is important in making sure you look your best. If your outfit is made out of a body-hugging fabric, make sure you wear the right undergarment, especially if you are full-figured.Body shapers, for instance, offer full-figured women slimming yet stylish intimates to complete any outfit, whether it's a clingy black dress or a lacy top. With shapers, you'll look slimmer instantly, as the bras eliminate bulges and gaping blouse fronts. They are available at department stores nationwide.  

Accessories

 Make the perfect transition from work to nighttime party with a few simple accessories. Ditch the conservative flats for a fun pair of coloured heels. Replace your chandelier earrings for long, linear earrings. And leave the big bag at the office; a fancy clutch adds just the right amount of sizzle.

Your little black dress is right for any occasion. Pearls and fancy pattern pantyhose can transform your black dress from plain to all-dressed-up in less than a minute!  You can also make the most of it by adding a faux fur capelet or stole with a satin ribbon tie.  

When you are choosing a special event dress consider that it should be something you are comfortable wearing and can be worn again. When you like and feel good with what you wear – then you are wearing your best.  Accessorize with pearls in all colours, lengths and styles. Pearls can dress any dress and their classy look will show your fashion savvy.     

photo: Bigstockphoto.com

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bigstock.com 

Different Types of Anxiety Disorders

Today’s hustle and bustle, and the high expectation to succeed, has contributed to many of us developing an increased level of stress and anxiety. However, if you experience unexpected and unexplained apprehension you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety is a common occurrence when a person faces potentially problematic or dangerous situations. It is also felt when a person perceives an external threat. However, chronic and irrational anxiety can lead to forms of anxiety disorders. An anxiety disorder can be characterized by a persistent and irrational fear of a situation. Yet, why a panic disorder is triggered in some situations and not in others is not clear. There are numerous types of anxiety disorders. Here we summarized the more common ones.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

A person who has this type of anxiety disorder usually experience prolonged anxiety that is often without basis. More accurately, people with generalized anxiety disorders cannot articulate the reason behind their anxiety. This type of anxiety usually last for six months and often affect women.  Due to the persistence of the anxiety, people affected with generalized anxiety disorder constantly fret and worry. This results to heart palpitations, insomnia, headaches, and dizzy spells. 

Specific Phobia

Specific phobia is when a person experiences extreme and often irrational fear of a certain situation or object. When this person is exposed to the object or situation they exhibit signs of intense fear like shaking, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and nausea. Common specific phobias include fear of heights, enclosed spaces, blood, and animals.  A person's phobia maybe so extreme that they may disregard safety to escape the situation. 

Panic Disorder

A panic disorder is also known as a panic attack or anxiety attack. It is characterized by a recurring anxiety which occurs expectedly and is unexplained. Symptoms include a deep sense of foreboding, shaking, chest pains, dizziness, trembling, sweating, fear of losing control, and a fear of being alone. People with panic disorder are aware their anxiety is usually unfounded and often illogical. Yet, a panic attack can be so severe it causes one to lose control and unintentionally harm themselves. 

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a form of panic disorder that is brought on by the fear of being unable to easily escape one’s environment.  It can strike when one is in an enclosed space like a plane, train, subway etc.

Social Anxiety and Social phobia

The symptoms of  social anxiety (social phobia) are similar to those of panic disorder. Anxiety, shaking, dizziness, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations may ensue when a person with this disorder finds him/herself at the centre of attention or in the company of many people. 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder tend to avoid experiencing anxiety by resorting to repetitive actions or behaviours that prevent their anxiety from occurring. For example, a person who is obsessed about neatness may experience anxiety at the mere sight of a vase placed slightly off-centre. To prevent anxiety, he or she will clean and organize everything compulsively or without reason. 

Management

Disorders are often treated using methods designed to target symptoms and techniques to learn coping mechanisms for the anxiety triggers. Knowing which method to use in the treatment largely depends on the kind of disorder a person has. If you experience a high degree of anxiety or panic speak to your healthcare professional to help you resolve the disorder.

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